THE REDSTART 



Almost a fourth of the birds usually seen by a good observer 

 in a morning's walk in May or June, belong to a family known 

 as Warblers. If they were really as musical as their name suggests, 

 people might know them better; but even as it is, their colors are 

 often so bright that the birds well repay one who takes the trouble 

 to make their acquaintance. Perhaps the best known of the family 

 is the Yellow Warbler, not to be confused with the Goldfinch, 

 from which the absence of the latter's black cap, wings, and tail 

 will distinguish it. The Oven-bird, whose loud teach-er, teach-er, 

 teach-er is so common a sound in dry woods in summer, is another 

 member of the Warbler family. The gayest of them all, however, 

 in most parts of our country, is the Redstart. His coal black head, 

 with bright orange patches at the shoulders, and yellowish bands 

 across the wings and tail, suggest a miniature Oriole. 



The Redstart is a splendid bit of color; in Cuba he is known, 

 according to Mr. Chapman, as "Candelita," the little torch. Black 

 and orange is a not uncommon combination of color among birds, 

 and never fails to be effective. The Redstart, moreover, makes the 

 most of his color by keeping both wings and tail spread, so that 

 the yellow and orange is constantly displayed. He flits from one 

 twig to another, spreading his little black-and-yellow fan, flying 

 out, turning his black head and glowing shoulders toward one, and 

 continually uttering a little song, not much in itself, and only full 

 of meaning and association to the bird's friends, to whom it suggests 

 leafy shade near brooks in the summer heat. 



