412 REDSTART. 



transversely barred with black, small and numerous ; leg's long, of an 

 orange-colour. In some, the rump is of a pure white. *In this state 

 they appear on the coast of Holland in the month of March.* 



It is not an uncommon bird upon many of our shores in winter ; 

 many breed in our marshes, on the verge of large pools, and in exten- 

 sive swampy places. It lays four eggs of an olivaceous-brown, spotted 

 and blotched with black, most numerous at the larger end ; in shape 

 and appearance much like that of the lapwing, but rather smaller. 



We have seen these birds on Romney Marsh, in the breeding season ; 

 and when disturbed from their nest, they fly round like the lapwing. 



*The young of this species are distinguished by having the plumage 

 above brown, with yellow margins ; breast cinereous, with narrow 

 brown streaks ; the tips of the tail feathers reddish ; base of the bill 

 yellow. Little difference seems to exist between this and the red- 

 legged sandpiper, (T. Bewickii, Montagu,) which is doubtless a 

 variety of this species.* 



REDSTART (Sylvia phoenicurus, Latham.) 



*Sylvia phoenicurus. Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 511. sp. 15.— Flem. Br. Anim. p. 68. — 

 Motacilla phoenicurus, 1. p. 335. 34. — Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 987. sp. 34. — Rutacilla, 

 Raii, Syn. p. 78. A. 5.— Will. p. 159.— Briss. 3. p. 403. 15.— Le Rossignolde 



murailles, Buf. Ois. 5. p. 170. t. 6. f. 2.— Ib. pi. Enl. 351. f. 1. and 2 Becfat. 



Man. des Ois. Fr. p, 624. — Bec-fin de murailles, Temm. Man. d'Orn. l.p, 220. — 

 Schwarzkeliger Sanger, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 1. p. 244. — Bechst. Naturg. 

 Deut. 3. p. 607 — Frisch, t. 19. f. l.male. t. 20. f. 1. A. andfig. 2. A. female, fig. 

 2. B. young male. — Geckraagde Roodstaart, Sepp. Nedrel. Vog. 4. p. 361. — 

 Redstart, Br. Zool. 1. No. 146.— Arct. Zool. 2. p. 416. B. — Will. (Angl.) p. 



218 Lath. Syn. 4. p. 421. 11.— Lewin's Br. Birds, 3. t. 108 Albin, l.t. 50. 



—Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 8.— Mont. Orn. Diet.— Ib. Supp.— Bon. Br. Birds. 4. 

 t. 82.— Bewick's Br. Birds, 1. f. 208.— Syme, p. 135.— .Wt's Br. Warblers, p. 

 2 Selby, pi. 46. fig. 3. p. 184. 



Provincial. — Redtail. Brantail. Firetail. * 



This species of warbler weighs about three drams and three quarters ; 



length five inches and a half ; bill black ; irides hazel ; forehead white ; 



the crown of the head, hind part of the neck, and back, deep bluish grey ; 



cheeks and throat black ; breast, sides, and rump, rusty red ; tail red, 



except the two middle feathers, which, as well as the wings, are brown; 



legs black. 



The Redstart comes to us early in April, and leaves us the latter end 

 of September. It is not uncommon in many parts of England ; makes 

 its nest in a hole of a wall or of a tree, which is composed of moss, and 

 lined with hair and feathers ; lays live or six eggs of a fine blue colour, 

 rather less than those of the hedge chanter, and of a lighter shade. 

 The young are at first speckled all over, not very unlike the young of 

 the redbreast. 



The female is of a light brown, with a dash of grey on the head and 



