104 



AMERICAN REDSTART. 



is sure to be seen. It makes its appearance in Pennsylvania, from 

 the south, late in April; and leaves us again about the beginning 

 of September. It is very generally found over the whole United 

 States ; and has been taken at sea in the Fall on its way to St. Do- 

 mingo,* and other of the West India islands, where it winters, 

 along with many more of our summer visitants. It is also found 

 in Jamaica, where it remains all winter. t 



The name Redstart, evidently derived from the German Roth- 

 sterts (red tail), has been given this bird from its supposed resem- 

 blance to the Redstart of Europe (Motacilla phoenicurus) ; but be- 

 sides being decisively of a different genus, it is very different both 

 in size and in the tints and disposition of the colors of its plumage. 

 Buffon goes even so far as to question whether the differences be- 

 tween the two be more than what might be naturally expected 

 from change of climate. This eternal reference of every animal 

 of the new world to that of the old, if adopted to the extent of this 

 writer, with all the transmutations it is supposed to have produced, 

 would leave us in doubt whether even the Ka-te'didsX of America 

 were not originally Nightingales of the old world, degenerated by 

 the inferiority of the food and climate of this upstart continent. 

 We have in America many different species of birds that approach 

 so near in resemblance to one another as not to be distinguished 

 but by the eye of a naturalist, and on a close comparison; these 

 live in the same climate, feed on the same food, and are, I doubt 

 not, the same now, as they were five thousand years ago; and ten 

 thousand years hence, if the species then exist, will be found mark- 

 ed with the same nice discriminations as at present. Is it, there- 

 fore surprising, that two different species, placed in different quar- 

 ters of the world, should have certain near resemblances to one 

 another without being bastards, or degenerated descendants, the 



* Edwards, f Sloane. 



X A species of Gryllus, well known for its lively chatter during the evenings and nights 

 of September and October. 



