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AMERICAN REDSTART. 69 
Its notes, or twitter, though animated and sprightly, are not deserving 
the name of song; soinetimes they are weése, weése, weése, repeated 
every quarter of a minute, as it skips among the branches; at other 
times this twitter varies to several other chants, which I can instantly 
distinguish in the woods, but cannot find words to imitate. The in- 
terior of the forest, the borders of swamps and meadows, deep glens 
covered with wood,and wherever flying insects abound, there this 
little bird is sure to be seen. It makes its appearance in Pennsylvania, 
from the south, late in April; and leaves us again about the beginning 
of September. It is very generally found over the whole United States, 
and has been taken at sea, in the fall, on its way to St. Domingo,* and 
other of the West India islands, where it winters, along with many 
more of our summer visitants. It is also found in Jamaica, where it 
remains all winter.} 
The name Redstart, evidently derived from the German rothsterts, 
(red tail,) has been given this bird from its supposed resemblance to 
the Redstart of Europe, (Motacilla phenicurus ;) but besides being 
decisively of a different genus, it is very different both in size and in 
the tints and: disposition of the colors of its plumage. Buffon goes 
even so far as to question whether the differences between the two be 
more than what might be naturally expected from change of climate. 
This eternal reference of every animal of the New World to that of 
the Old, if adopted to the extent of this writer, with all the transmu- 
tations it is supposed to have produced, would leave us in doubt 
whether even the Ka-te-dids ¢ of America were not originally Night- 
ingales of the Old: World, degenerated by the inferiority of the food 
and climate of this upstart continent. We have in America many 
different species of birds that approach so near in resemblance to one 
another, as not to be distinguished but by the eye of a naturalist, and 
on a close comparison; these live in the same climate, feed on the 
same food, and are, I doubt not, the same now as they were five thousand 
years ago; and, ten thousand years hence, if the species then exist, 
will be found marked with the same nice discriminations as at present. 
It is therefore surprising, that two different species, placed in different 
quarters of the world, should have certain near resemblances to one 
another, without being bastards, or degenerated descendants, the one 
of the other, when the whole chain of created beings seems united to 
each other by such amazing gradations, that bespeak, not random 
chance and accidental] degeneracy, but the magnificent design of an 
incomprehensibly wise and omnipotent Creator. 
The American Redstart builds frequently in low bushes, in the 
fork of a small sapling, or on the drooping branches of the elm, within 
a few feet of the ground; outwardly it is formed of flax, well wound 
together, and moistened with its saliva, interspersed here and there 
with pieces of lichen, and lined with a. very soft, downy substance. 
The female lays five white eggs, sprinkled with gray, and specks of 
blackish. The male is extremely anxious for its preservation; and, 
* EpWaRbs. 
{ SLoaNe. 
+ A species of Gryllus, well known for its lively chatter during the evenings and 
nights of September and October. 
