240 THE AMERICAN REDSTART. 



web; a narrow white ring surrounding the eye; two bands of dull white on 

 the wing; sides of the head and neck greenish-yellow, the rest of the lower 

 parts pale yellow, gradually fading into white behind. 



Male, 5, 8± 



Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Exceedingly rare. Migra- 

 tory. 



The Virginian Spider-Wort. 



Tradescantia Virginica, Willd. Sp. PL, vol. ii. p. 16. Pursh, Fl. Amer., vol. i. p. 218. 

 — Hexandria Monogynia, Linn. — J unci, Juss. 



This species is distinguished by its erect, succulent stem; elongated, lanceo- 

 late, smooth leaves; and umbellate, subsessile flowers, which are of a deep 

 purple colour, with yellow anthers. 



THE AMERICAN REDSTART. 



^ Muscicapa Ruticilla, Linn. 



PLATE LXVIIL— Male and Female. 



This is one of the most lively, as well as one of the handsomest, of our 

 Flycatchers, and ornaments our woods during spring and summer, when it 

 cannot fail to attract the attention of any person who may visit the interior 

 of the shady forests. It is to be met with over the whole of the United 

 States, where it arrives, according to the different localities, between the be- 

 ginning of March and the 1st of May. It takes its departure, on its way 

 southward, late in September, and in the beginning of October. 



It keeps in perpetual motion, hunting along the branches sidewise, jump- 

 ing to either side in search of insects and larvae, opening its beautiful tail at 

 every movement which it makes, then closing it, and flirting it from side to 

 side, just allowing the transparent beauty of the feathers to be seen for a 

 moment. The wings are observed gently drooping during these motions, 

 and its pleasing notes, which resemble the sounds of Tetee-whee, Tetee-ivhee, 

 are then emitted. Should it observe an insect on the wing, it immediately 

 flies in pursuit of it, either mounts into the air in its wake, or comes towards 

 the ground spirally and in many zig-zags. The insect secured, the lovely 

 Redstart reascends, perches, and sings a different note, equally clear, and 



