As my readers will naturally desire to know something more respecting the distribution of the Redstart 
than is comprised in the above general remarks, I may mention that Mr. Rodd, in his ‘ List of British Birds,’ 
states that it is very rare westward of Exeter, but that it Is sometimes seen during the autumnal migration 
at Scilly. Mr. Osborne, of Wick, informs us that it Is common in Ross-shire, especially in the woods 
surrounding Brahan Castle, the seat of Mackenzie of Seaforth ; it is also said to breed in the woody glens 
and gardens of Dunrobin Castle. It sometimes visits the Orkney Islands, but not the outer Hebrides. 
Still the bird is far less numerous north of the Tweed than it is in the central parts of England. On 
the Continent it frequents every country, from south to north ; and we learn from Mr. Wolley’s Catalogue 
of the eggs procured by him in Lapland that it is very common there. Eastwardly it is said to proceed as 
far as Afghanistan, but not to visit India proper. 
The food of the Redstart consists of insects of various kinds, which are chiefly procured by darting after 
them on the wing ; but they are also collected from the herbage while the bird is hopping over the ground. 
A Redstart’s nest, found between the tiling and the roof of the engine-house at Cliveden, was somewhat 
large at the base, and was formed of moss, grass, and rubbish of different kinds, in the centre of which 
was a small, neat, round, cup-shaped opening, lined with a few hairs and three or four white swan-feathers : 
it contained six beautiful light-blue eggs. Mr. Hewitson describes a nest, taken from a hole in a wall, which 
was chiefly formed of dry grass, moss, and wool, with finer grasses and hair towards the Interior, and lined 
with a profusion of white feathers. 
Without being characterized by volubility, this bird utters a somewhat pleasing song, very similar to that 
of many of the other Saxicoline birds, to which family it pertains. “ In confinement,” says Mr. Sweet, “ it 
will sing by night as well as by day, if a light be kept in the room where it is : if brought up from the nest, 
it may be taught to sing any tune that is whistled or sung to it. One I possessed learned to sing the 
Copenhagen Waltz, but would sometimes stop in the middle of it, and say Chipput, the name by w'hich it 
was generally called, and which it would always repeat every time I entered the room, either by night or 
day.” 
The difference in the colouring of the sexes Is very marked, the female being destitute of the hues which 
render the male so conspicuous, except the red of the tail, her nearly uniform brown head and body 
contrasting with the bright colouring of that organ. 
To a certain extent the plumage of the young males of the year resembles that of the adult ; but the black 
and red feathers of the breast are crescented with white, which produces a very pretty effect. 
A trifling variation is occasionally obsen'able in the adults towards the end of summer, when, the edges of 
the feathers being worn off, the grey tint of the hack, the black of the throat, and the red of the other parts 
become more pure, and the breast and tail of a lighter hue. 
I have mentioned that this bird does not resort to Ireland ; but Mr. Thompson states that it has been 
several times killed in that country ; still it “ can only be noticed as a very rare visitant, which is singular, 
since noAvhere are there districts apparently better suited to this very handsome and interesting bird than in 
Ireland.” 
The Plate represents an adult and young male, of the natural size ; with the head of a female protruding 
from a hole in a tree. 
