THE REDSTART. 

 Ruticilla phcenicurus (Linnaeus). 

 Plate 4. 



The Redstart is a conspicuous bird, on account of his bright and strongly- 

 contrasted colouring, and his curious habit of spreading and flirting the feathers of 

 the tail, which is at the same time moved upwards and downwards. A summer 

 migrant, it reaches the British Islands in April, returning south in autumn. 



The Redstart can hardly be called a common bird, but is widely distributed, 

 though local, in many parts of England and Scotland ; much rarer in Ireland. 



Abroad this species ranges from northern Scandinavia southwards to the 

 Mediterranean, and across Siberia as far as Lake Baikal, wintering in Africa and 

 Persia. 



The nest, which is loosely made of moss, dead grasses, and rootlets, lined with 

 some hairs and feathers, is placed in a hole in a wall or tree, and contains six or 

 seven eggs, resembling those of the Hedge-Sparrow, but of a paler blue. Occasion- 

 ally they are marked with small reddish dots. 



The Redstart frequents gardens and orchards, and is often found near ruins 

 and old ivy-covered walls, or among the rocks and birch-trees by the side of a 

 Highland loch. 



Its food consists of insects and grubs, and the song, though short, is soft and 

 pleasing. 



The female lacks the bright colouring of the male, the upper parts generally 

 being of a brownish-grey, and the chestnut tail of a duller tint. 



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