REDSTART, 263 
the quill-feathers of the wings grey; legs, toes, and claws, 
brown. 
The whole length of the bird five inches and one quarter. 
From the carpal joint of the wing to the end of the longest 
wing-feather, three inches: the first wing-feather very short ; 
the second equal in length to the sixth; the third, fourth, 
and fifth nearly equal, but the fourth the longest. 
The female has neither the white nor the black on the 
head; the upper surface of the body greyish brown; the 
chestnut colour of the tail-feathers, and their upper coverts, 
rather less bright than im the males; under surface of the 
body and tail-feathers pale reddish brown. Very old females 
obtain plumage somewhat similar to that of the males; but 
the colours are neither so pure nor so bright. 
The young in their nestling plumage very closely resemble 
the young of the Robin, except on the rump and tail; all 
the upper parts are of a dusky brown, with a pale spot upon 
each feather: wing-coverts broadly edged with pale brown ; 
tail and tail-coverts rufous ; breast mottled with yellowish 
and dusky brown. 
Young males of the year after their autumn moult, and 
adult males in winter, have the black and chestnut parts of 
the throat and breast varied with white lines; no white on 
the forehead of the young males; and the upper parts of 
the body are pale reddish brown, tinged with grey. 
