230 REDSTART. 



back is grayish brown, but this Warbler may always he 

 known by its four patches of yellow and its characteristic 

 call-note of tcJiij:). 



The Eedstart belongs to the group of fly-catching 



Warl)lers, and, as an indication of its manner of feeding, 



Eedstart ^^^^ ^^^'^ ^® much broader and flatter than 



Sttophaga ruticilia. is usual in this family. The Redstart is 



Plate LXii. jjQ^ gQ patient and methodic a flycatcher 



as the birds to whom this name rightly belongs. They 

 sit quietly until some insect comes within reach, and then 

 with unerring aim launch out at it, returning to their 

 perch to devour it at leisure. Biit the Eedstart darts 

 here and tliere, falls and rises and spins about, catching 

 an insect at every turn and at the same time displaying 

 his bright colors to such advantage that he seems the 

 most beautiful as he is the most animated bird of the 

 woods. As he pirouettes from limb to limb, with drooped 

 wings and spread tail, he sings ner-wee swee, sivee-ee, a 

 simple but merry little jingle. 



The Redstart's bright colors, like some mark of 

 special distinction, are not acquired at once. The young 

 male must pass through a period of probation before he 

 is worthy to \vear the orange-red and black. In the 

 meantime he appears flrst in the costume of the female, 

 and by successive changes reaches the full dignity of 

 Redstart estate at the age of three years. He nests, 

 however, the first year, when his plumage closely re- 

 sembles that of his mate. The nest, of fine strips of 

 bark, plant-down, and other materials, is built in the 

 crotch of a sapling ten to twenty feet from tlie ground. 

 The eggs are grayish white or bluish white, spotted and 

 blotched, chiefly at the larger end, with cinnamon and 

 olive-l)rown. They are laid about May 28 — four weeks 

 after the bird's arrival from the South. 



All the Warblers thuo far mentioned are tree-inhabit- 



