The Redstart 205 



land-route to northern South America. Here they remain, Hving luxuriously 

 on the insect-life that inhabits the Tropics, until the spell of the mating-sea- 

 son begins to come over them. Then, following the general lines of the migra- 

 tion-routes by which they went south, they turn their wing-beats back toward 

 the northern United States and Canada. 



Here are some of the dates when Redstarts have been known to reach 

 different points along the Atlantic seaboard during their spring migration: 

 Southern Florida, April 3; Atlanta, Georgia, April 6; Englewood, New Jersey, 

 April 26; Portland, Connecticut, May 3; Durham, New Hampshire, May 10; 

 Nova Scotia, May 21. From this it would appear that it takes about six weeks 

 for the birds to journey from southern Florida to their summer home in south- 

 ern Canada. Of course, they could make this trip much more quickly if it were 

 necessary, but they follow the opening of the spring and the consequent 

 reappearance of insect-life. 



Somewhat similar facts have been recorded of the coming of the Redstarts 

 that pass up the Mississippi Valley, as are indicated by the following dates of 

 the first appearance at different localities along the inland route: New Orleans, 

 Louisiana, April 5; St. Louis, Missouri, April 17; Oberlin, Ohio, April 27; 

 Lake Forest, Illinois, May 3 ; Columbia Falls, Montana, May 20. 



As the Redstart is a beautiful, attractive, and exceedingly useful bird, it is 

 perfectly apparent that the legislatures of the various states, as well as Con- 

 gress, have been wise in enacting laws for its protection. In virtually every 

 state where the Redstart is found, the so-called Audubon Law has been written 

 on the statute books. No one should ever kill a Redstart. 



The Painted Redstart {Setophaga picta) is a closely related species, which 

 is mainly Mexican in its habitat, but appears north of the Mexican border in 

 southern Arizona and New Mexico. It has a gaudy beauty — lustrous black, 

 with a large white patch on the wings, white edging on the tail and the middle 

 of the breast, and abdomen rose-red. It occupies the valleys and canons 

 among the foot-hills of the mountains, where a sparse growth of oaks seems to 

 favor its habits. "Their motions," H. W. Henshaw writes of these birds, "are 

 almost an exact reflection of those of the common Redstart, which they so much 

 resemble in form. With half-shut wings and outspread tail, they pass rapidly 

 along the limbs of trees, now and then making a sudden dart for a passing fly, 

 which secured, they again alight and resume their search." 



Mr. Henshaw was unable to find the nest of this Redstart; but it is now 

 known to be placed on the ground, usuaUy concealed under some overhanging 

 stone or stump amid shrubbery, and preferably in a stream-bank. The nests 

 are made of finely shredded materials and lined with hair. The eggs are white, 

 dotted with reddish brown. 



