Species VI. MUSCICAPA RUTICILLA. 
AMERICAN REDSTART. 
[Plate VI. Fig. 6, Male.] 
Muscicapa Ruticilla, Linn. Syst. i., 236, 10. — Gmel. Sijst. i., 935. — Motacilla 
Jtavicauda, Gmel. Si/st. i., 997 (female). — Le Gobe-moache d'Amerique, Briss. 
Orn. ii., 383, 14. PL Enl. 566, fig. 1, 2.— Small American Redstart, Edw. 80. 
Id. 257 (female).— Yellow-tailed Warbler, Arct. Zool. n., No. 301. Id. n., No. 282. 
— Latham, Syn. iv., 427, 18. — Arct. Zorf. n., No. 301 (female). 
Though this bird has been classed by several of our most respectable 
ornithologists among the Warblers, yet in no species are the character- 
istics of the genus 3Iuscicapa more decisively marked ; and in fact it 
is one of the most expert Flycatchers of its tribe. It is almost perpetu- 
ally in motion ; and Avill pursue a retreating party of flies from the tops 
of the tallest trees, in an almost perpendicular, but zigzag direction, 
to the ground, while the clicking of its bill is distinctly heard, and I 
doubt not but it often secures ten or twelve of these in a descent of 
three or four seconds. It then alights on an adjoining branch, traverses 
it lengthwise for a few moments, flirting its expanded tail from side to 
side, and suddenly shoots off, in a direction quite unexpected, after fresh 
game, which it can discover at a great distance. Its notes, or twitter, 
though animated and sprightly, are not deserving the name of sonc : 
sometimes they are weese, iveesc, weese, repeated every quarter of a 
minute, as it skips among the branches ; at other times this twitter varies 
to several other chants, which I can instantly distinguish in the woods, 
but cannot find words to imitate. The interior of the forest, the borders 
of swamps and meadows, deep glens covered with wood, and wherever 
flying insects abound, there this little bird 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. Domingo,* 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. f 
The name Redstart, evidently derived from the German Rotlisterts 
(red tail), has been given this bird from its supposed resemblance to the 
* Edwards. 
f Sloane. 
(139) 
