Class II. REDSTART WARBLER. 501 



nearly at the same time with the nightingale. 



It makes its nest in hollow trees, and holes in " ~ 



walls and other buildings, which it forms with 



moss on the outside, and lines with hair and fea- - 



thers. It lays four or five eggs, very like those 



of the hedge-sparrow, but rather paler, and more 



taper at the lesser end. This bird is so remark- . 



ably shy, that it will forsake its nest, if the 



eggs are only touched. It has a very fine soft 



note, but being a sullen bird, is with difficulty 



kept alive in confinement. It is remarkable in 



shaking its tail, and moves it horizontally as a 



dog does when fawning. 



The bill and legs of the male are black ; the Descrip- 

 forehead w^hite; the crown of the head, hind 

 part of the neck, and the back are of a deep blue 

 grey ; the cheeks and throat black ; the breast, : 

 rump and sides are red ; the two middle feathers 

 of the tail brown, the others red ; the wings 

 brown. In the female, the top of the head and 

 back are of a deep ash-color; the rump and 

 tail of a duller red than those of the male; the 

 chin white ; the lower side of the neck cinere- 

 ous ; the breast of a paler red. 



It visits and departs from Italy sooner than 

 the red-breast. 



" The redstart inhabits various parts of 

 Europe, and may be traced to the Cape of Good 



TION. 



