The Redstart. 313 



They generally leave the nest in fourteen days, and in about a fortnight's time will be able to 

 forage for themselves. 



The bird is subject to much the same ailments as the Nightingale, and should be treated 

 accordingly. 



The Redstart is a handsome little songster. It seems alternately shy and familiar, 

 sometimes choosing the most retired and sequestered spots, and at others even building in 

 a hole in the wall of an inhabited house. It has a very pretty song, though composed 

 of but few notes. It is, however, very imitative, and will sometimes acquire the song of a 

 Garden Warbler or Lesser Whitethroat ; and can be taught to pipe a tune almost as well as 

 a Blackbird. 



It becomes very tame in captivity, and will show great affection for those who feed and 

 tend it, eating out of their hands, &c.; when wild it has a habit of darting to and from 

 the hedgerows, showing its pretty colours in a striking manner. It is a somewhat timid bird, 

 and readily detects the approach of danger. It is lively and graceful, though rather restless. 



Its length is about five and a quarter inches. The beak is black, except at the corners, 

 which are yellow, as is also the inside ; the forehead is white ; the neck and back lead-grey, 

 slightly tinged with red ; the chin and throat black, the feathers being generally slightly 

 edged with grey ; the wing-feathers are brown, with the outer edges rather lighter ; the breast, 

 sides, upper part of the belly, and the rump are a bright rust-red, the belly being clouded 

 with white ; the under part of the belly and vent are rusty yellow ; the tail is rust-red, with 

 the two centre feathers brown. The female, unlike most birds of this class, differs materially 

 from her mate. She is a trifle smaller ; the upper part of the body is a uniform greyish- 

 brown ; the chin and throat dusky white ; the breast dirty rust-colour ; the wings lighter than 

 the male's, and the tail not so bright. The adult males in winter, as also the young males 

 of the year after their autumn moult, lack the white forehead, the feathers being edged with 

 brown ; the chin, throat, and breast are variegated with wliitish-grey ; the upper part of the 

 body pale reddish-brown, tinged with grey. 



When wild this bird feeds principally on insects, such as ants and their larvse, flies and 

 moths, worms, spiders, caterpillars, and beetles. It will pursue and catch flies and moths 

 when on the wing as well as when on the ground. They build a loosely constructed nest of 

 roots and grasses, and a little feathers and hair; the eggs, from five to seven in number, are 

 apple-green in colour. As soon as the tail-feathers appear, the young birds hop out of their 

 nest on to the branches of any bush or tree that may be closely adjoining, and the parent 

 birds may be seen feeding them there until they are old enough to forage for themselves. 



The Redstart may be kept in a Nightingale cage, or if tame in a pagoda or wagon, as 

 it will then show off its handsome plumage to more advantage. It makes a very bright 

 and pretty addition to an aviary. 



A correspondent favours us with the following : — " I kept one from April to December, 

 during that time feeding it on scraped beef and &g^, ants' eggs, mealworms, gentles, fruit, 

 bread, and German paste. It grew very tame, and when allowed out of its cage it would 

 pick off the flies from the walls and ceiling of the room. It was a merry bird, constantly 

 singing. It raoulted well, but always felt the cold when the thermometer fell to 40°. I 

 regret to say that some cold weather in November sent it into a decline, of which it died. 

 I have tried some since, but find they cannot stand the winter without a fire." 



The food should be similar to that of a Nightingale, and the nestlings will thrive on 

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