( 202 ) 

 THE AMERICAN REDSTART. 



MUSCICAPA RUTICILLA, LlNN. 

 PLATE XL. Male and Female. 



This is one of the most lively, as well as one of the handsomest, of our 

 Fly-catchers, and ornaments our woods during spring and summer, when 

 it cannot fail to attract the attention of any person who may visit the in- 

 terior of the shady forests. It is to be met with over the whole of the 

 United States, where it arrives, according to the different localities, be- 

 tween the beginning of March and the 1st of May. It takes its depart- 

 ure, on its way southward, ^ate in September, and in the beginning of 

 October. 



It keeps in perpetual motion, hunting along the branches sidewise, 

 jumping to either side in search of insects and larvae, opening its beautiful 

 tail at every movement which it makes, then closing it, and flirting it from 

 side to side, just allowing the transparent beauty of the feathers to be 

 seen for a moment. The wings are observed gently drooping during 

 these motions, and its pleasing notes, which resemble the sounds of Tetee- 

 whee, Tetee-whee, are then emitted. Should it observe an insect on the 

 wing, it immediately flies in pursuit of it, either mounts into the air in 

 its wake, or comes towards the ground spirally and in many zig-zags. 

 The insect secured, the lovely Redstart reascends, perches, and sings a 

 different note, equally clear, and which may be expressed by the syllables 

 wizzy wizz, wizz. While following insects on the wing, it keeps its 

 bin constantly open, snapping as if it procured several of them on the 

 same excursion. It is frequently observed balancing itself in the air, 

 opposite the extremity of a bunch of leaves, and darting into the midst 

 of them after the insects there concealed. 



When one approaches the nest of this species, the male exhibits the 

 greatest anxiety respecting its safety, passes and repasses, fluttering and 

 snapping its bill within a few feet, as if determined to repel the intruder. 

 They now and then alight on the ground, to secure an insect, but this 

 only for a moment. They are more frequently seen climbing along the 

 trunks and large branches of trees for an instant, and then shifting to a 

 branch, being, as I have said, in perpetual motion. It is also fond of 



