THE REDSTART. 75 



a jet-black throat, contrasts strongly with the 

 bright chestnut of the breast, upper tail coverts, 

 and tail. From the bright colour of its tail, in 

 fact, it has derived the name Redstart, which is 

 simply the Anglo-Saxon equivalent for " Red- 

 tail." " Fire-tail," " Brand-tail," and " Quick- 

 start," are other local names by which it is 

 variously known. The last-named has refer- 

 ence to the singularly characteristic movement 

 of the tail, which is rapidly flirted horizontally 

 instead of vertically, as in the case of most 

 other birds. 



Upon this point, however, there seems to be 

 some difference of opinion. Macgillivray, a 

 high authority in such matters, observes, " As 

 to the motion of the tail in this bird, which has 

 supplied some observers with a subject of dis- 

 pute, I am convinced that it is vertical — that is, 

 up and down, and not alternately to either side, 

 although at each jerk the feathers are a little 

 spread out, as is the case with those of many 

 other birds of this order, as the Stonechat and 

 Whinchat." I feel sure, notwithstanding this 



