86 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
AMERICAN REDSTART. 
MUSCICAPA RUTICILLA. 
[Plate VIII. Vol. 2. Size of life.] 
Muscicapa Ruticilla, Linn. Syst. i. 236, 10. — Gmel. 
Syst. i. 935. — Motacilla flavicauda, Gmel. Syst. i. 
997. (female.) — Le Gobemouche d’ Amerique, Briss. 
Orn. ii. 383, 14. PL Enl. 566, fig. 1, 2. — Small Ame- 
rican Redstart, Edw. 80, Id. 257. (female.) — Yelloiv- 
t ailed Warbler, Arct. Zool. n. No. 301. Id. n. No. 
282. — Latham Syn. iv. 427, 18. — Arct. Zool. n. No. 
301. — J. Doughty’s Collection. 
Though this bird has been classed by several of our 
most respectable ornithologists, among the Warblers, yet 
in no species are the characteristics of the genus Muscicapa 
more decisively marked; and in fact it is one of the most 
expert Flycatchers of its tribe. It is almost perpetually 
in motion; and will pursue a retreating party of flies from 
the tops of the tallest trees, in an almost perpendicular but 
zig-zag 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 length- 
wise 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 song; sometimes 
they are weese , weese, 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 mea- 
dows, 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. 
The name Redstart, evidently derived from the German 
Rothsterts, (red tail,) has been given this bird from its 
supposed resemblance to the Redstart of Europe, (Mota- 
cilla phoenicurus ;) but besides being decisively of a dif- 
ferent genus, it is very different both in size and in the 
tints and disposition of the colours of its plumage. Buffon 
goes even so far as to question whether the differences 
between 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 transmu- 
tations it is supposed to have produced, would leave us in 
doubt whether even the Ka-te-dids of America, (a species 
of Gryllus, well known for its lively chatter during the 
evenings and nights of September and October,) were not 
originally Nightingales of the old world, degenerated by 
the inferiority of the food and climate of this upstart con- 
tinent. 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 marked with 
the same nice discriminations as at present. Is it therefore 
surprising, that two different species, placed indifferent quar- 
ters of the world, should have certain near resemblances to 
one another, without being bastards, or degenerated de- 
scendants, the one of the other, when the whole chain of 
created beings seem united to each other by such amazing- 
gradations, that bespeak, not random chance and accidental 
degeneracy, but the magnificent design of an incomprehen- 
sively wise and omnipotent Creator? 
The American Redstart builds frequently in low bushes, 
in the fork of a small sapling, or on the drooping branches 
of the elm, within a few feet of the ground; outwardly it is 
formed of flax well wound together, and moistened with 
its saliva, interspersed here and there with pieces of 
lichen, and lined with a very soft downy substance. The 
female lays five white eggs, sprinkled with gray, and 
specks of blackish. The male is extremely anxious for 
its preservation; and on a person’s approaching the place 
will flirt about within a few feet, seeming greatly dis- 
tressed. 
The length of this species is five inches, extent six and 
a quarter; the general colour above is black, which covers 
the whole head and neck, and spreads on the upper part of 
the breast in a rounding form; where, as well as on the 
head and neck, it is glossed with steel blue; sides of the 
breast, below this black, the inside of the wings, and upper 
half of the wing-quills, are of a fine aurora colour; but 
the greater and lesser coverts of the wings being black con- 
ceal this; and the orange, or aurora colour, appears only as 
a broad transverse band across the wings; from thence to 
the tip they are brownish; the four middle feathers of the 
tail are black, the other eight of the same aurora colour, 
