Class II. REDSTART WARBLER. 501 



nearly at the same time with the nightingale. 

 It makes its nest in hollow trees, and holes in 

 walls and other buildings, which it forms with 

 moss on the outside, and lines with hair and fea- 

 thers. It lays four or five eggs, very like those 

 of the hedge-sparrow, but rather paler, and more 

 taper at the lesser end. This bird is so remark- 

 ably shy, that it will forsake its nest, if the 

 eggs are only touched. It has a very fine soft 

 note, but being a sullen bird, is with difficulty 

 kept alive in confinement. It is remarkable in 

 shaking its tail, and moves it horizontally as a 

 dog does when fawning. 



The bill and legs of the male are black ; the Descrip- 

 forehead white; the crown of the head, hind 

 part of the neck, and the back are of a deep blue 

 grey ; the cheeks and throat black ; the breast, 

 rump and sides are red ; the two middle feathers 

 of the tail brown, the others red; the wings 

 brown. In the female, the top of the head and 

 back are of a deep ash-color; the rump and 

 tail of a duller red than those of the male; the 

 chin white ; the lower side of the neck cinere- 

 ous ; the breast of a paler red. 



It visits and departs from Italy sooner than 

 the red-breast. 



" The redstart inhabits various parts of 

 Europe, and may be traced to the Cape of Good 



