66 
MUSCICAPA RUTICILLA. 
The name of redstart, evidently derived from th^ 
German rothsterts, (red tail,) has been »)ven this bird 
from its supposed resemblance to the redstart of Europ® 
(motacillu p/ioemcu7tis^ ; but besides being- decisively 
of a different genus, it is very different both in size and 
in the tints and disposition of the colours of its plumage- 
Buftbn goes even so far as to question whether thf 
differences between the two be more than what mighl- 
naturally be expected from change of climate. Thi» 
eternal reference of every animal of the Kew World t® 
that of the Old, if adopted to the extent of this writcfi 
with all the transmutations it is supposed to have prO" 
duced, would leave us in doubt whether even th® 
ka-te-dids* of America were not originally nightingales 
of the Old World, degenerated by the inferiority of th® 
food and climate of tin's u[)start continent. We haV® 
in America many different species of birds that approach 
so near in resemblance to one another, as not to b® 
distinguished but by the eye of a naturalist, and on ® 
close comparison ; these live in the same climate, fec^ 
on the same food, and are, I doubt not, the same uo't 
as they were five thousand years ago j and, ten thousaO'^ 
years hence, if the species then exist, will be foun^ 
marked with the same nice discriminations as atpreseut- 
Is it therefore surprising, that two different specie* 
placed in different quarters of the world, should hai'® 
certain near resemblances to one another, without beinl 
bastards, or degenerated descendants, the one of tb® 
other, when the whole chain of created beings secH* 
united to each other by such amazing gradations, tha^ 
bespeak, not random chance and accidental degeneracy’ 
but the magnificent design of an incomprehensibly 
wise and omnipotent Creator? 
The American redstart builds frequently in lo)'' 
bushes, or on the drooping branches of the elm, witlii'' 
a few feet of the ground, fastening- its nest to t"'® 
twigs ; outu-ardly it is formed of flax, well woui>b 
together, and moistened with its saliva, intersperse" 
* A species of gryllus, well knov-n for its lively chatter duri®? 
the evenings and nights of September and October. 
