32 REDSTART. 
autumn migrations. Eastward it stretches in summer as far as 
Lake Baikal; in winter it migrates to Madeira, the Canaries, 
the northern half of Africa, Arabia, and. Persia; and Mr. E. 
Lort Phillips recently found it breeding on the high ground of 
North Somaliland. In Cyprus, Asia Minor, Persia, and the 
Caucasus—wandering to Turkey and Greece—-the representative 
species is 2. mesoleuca, the male of which has a white patch on the 
wing, like the Black Redstart; from the Lebanon eastward pre- 
dominates the Indian Redstart, 2. rufvenéris, with black throat 
and mantle and chestnut underwing ; in the Caucasus and Armenia, 
R. ochrurus, with a black underwing, prevails. 
The nest is generally placed in hollow trees or in the holes of 
walls ; exceptionally in such localities as the inside of an inverted 
flower-pot, or in the gable ends of inhabited buildings. It is rather 
loosely constructed of moss, dry grass, and fine roots, with a lining 
of hair and feathers; the eggs, usually 6, being of a light blue— 
paler than those of the Hedge Sparrow—occasionally speckled with 
reddish: measurements ‘7 by °55 in. Nesting commences early in 
May, and while the female is sitting the male is conspicuous in the 
vicinity, uttering his slight but pleasant song, or, when alarmed, a 
plaintive weet. The food consists of flies, gnats, small butterflies, 
and other insects, spiders, &c.; the young being fed largely on 
caterpillars. Departure for the south takes place in September. In 
many parts of England this bird is known as the ‘Firetail’; the 
second syllable of the name Redstart being derived from the Anglo- 
Saxon séeort, a tail. ‘ 
Adult male: forehead and eye-streak white ; crown, nape and 
upper back slate-grey ; wings brown, with pale outer edges ; rump 
and tail chestnut, except the two central feathers, which are brown ; 
chin, throat and cheeks jet-black ; breast and axillaries chestnut ; 
abdomen buff ; bill black ; legs and feet dark brown. Total length 
5°4 in; wing to the end of the third and longest primary 3'r in. 
The female has no bright colours on the head, being greyish-brown 
above, and lighter on the under parts, while the chestnut of the tail 
is less brilliant. Occasionally, however, a plumage resembling that 
of the male is assumed, and a bird exemplifying this was caught on 
her eggs in June 1882 (Tr. Norw. Soc. iv. p. 182). Birds of the 
year resemble the female. The nestlings are spotted above and 
below, and, but for the chestnut tail, are rather like young Red- 
breasts. In autumn the new feathers of both sexes are broadly 
tipped with white, producing a greyish appearance, but these edges 
disappear by the following spring. 
