BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
189 
practised only during the season of mating. But as they are to be noticed 
throughout the entire stay of these birds, and always while engaged in 
feeding, it seems to us that they ai'e expressive of delight and satisfaction. 
The capture of an insect evokes them, and from being habitual, it is no 
more than natural to sup^^ose that the sight of a loved one — the partner 
of former joys and sorrows — would produce feelings akin, but stronger, and 
lead to similar manifestations. Unlike what is customary among birds, the 
female Redstart rivals the male in powers of song. 
Never gregarious, for three weeks and more from the time of arrival 
the sexes lead solitary lives, and spend the time in feeding. At first their 
foraging is confined to high, open woods, but as the days flit by, they 
become more friendly and visit orchards and lawns, or glean among the 
trees that line our roads and lanes. They now become quite tame, and 
may be approached with comparative ease. In the j^rocurement of food 
they are as often found upon the iqjper branches of trees as upon the lower, 
and do not deem themselves too ^^I’ond to come down to lower growths, 
or betake themselves to the ground. As the males are the first to show 
themselves, it is to be presumed that they are the earliest to migrate. 
They seem to be several days in advance of the females. But perhaps 
the latter are more modest and retired, and do not emerge from their 
sylvan quarters as soon as their lords, which would account for their 
apparent delay. But whether or not they arrive together, it is evident 
that they pay little regard to each other for a fortnight, and only care 
for selfish gratification. 
This condition of things continues until the last of May or the begin- 
ning of June, when the males seek out their partners, and prepare for the 
work which has called them through many a weary league of country. 
From the time of mutual recognition until the construction of the nest, 
affairs progress with wonderful rapidity. The selection of a building-spot, 
as also does the labor of building, dejDends upon the female. She is rather 
whimsical, and, above all, hard to j^lease. The male occasionally assists, 
but things often go wrong, and rather than provoke a tempest, he takes a 
