The redstart is no idler. The bird seems to be moving constantly, 
darting back and forth, up and down, and around about in h.s search 
for insects The male sec.ns to know that he is beautiful. He w.U 
spread his tail like a fan and assume attitudes that will best display h,s 
bright colors. The male does not reach full plumage until tire third year. 
in tl first year he has the colors of the female, in the second the plumage 
is mottled with black. 
CATBIRD— (Galcoscoptcs carolinensis.) 
Body slaty gray; crown and tail black; a reddish brown patch under 
the base of the tail. 
Length about nine inches. 
Arrival. April 29 to May 12. 
fZite Haunts. In the vicimty of houses, along highways, and m- 
the dense growth along banks of streams. 
Field Marks. In color slaty gray, in size somewhat smaller than, 
the robin, having a brown patch under the tail. 
Sons A brilliant recitative, varied and inimitable, beginning, Prut, 
pi-ut coquilHcat! really, really coquillicat! Hey, coquillicat! Hey, vic- 
tory!" Note resembles the mewing of a cat. 
61 
