10 
of some years back, learnt to sing the Copenhagen 
Waltz, that it had frequently heard sung, only it 
would sometimes stop in the middle of it, and say 
chipput, a name by which it was generally called, 
and which it would always repeat every time I 
entered the room where it was, either by night or 
day. In Winter it would generally begin singing in 
the evening, as soon as the candle was lighted, and 
would often sing as late as eleven o’clock at night. 
When it was hung out by the door in the cage, 
which it frequently was, the Sparrows would often 
come round it, of which it seemed particularly fond; 
it learned their note, and would chirp and call them 
so exact, that any person who did not know to the 
contrary, would have supposed it to be the Spar- 
rows chirping. 
The Redstart, in a wild state, chiefly visits gar- 
dens, lanes, or old buildings, and feeds on various 
kinds of insects, but seems to prefer the Ants and 
their eggs. In Spring, when it first arrives in this 
country, it mounts to the top of the loftiest trees, 
where it will sit and sing for hours, beginning in the 
morning by day-break. The earliest time of their 
arrival that I ever noticed, was the 25th of March ; 
some years they come the beginning of April, and 
sometimes not till the middle of that month. It 
seems to be a very peevish, and fretful bird, often 
shaking its tail, and repeating a quick shrill note, as 
if it was in fear ; and one that I once reared from 
the nest, was often allowed to come out of its cage 
into the room; one day, when wanted to be got in, 
and not being willing to go, it was drove round the 
room a few times, which vexed it so much that it 
would take no food afterwards, though restored to 
its liberty ; it staid sulky for three days, and then 
died. 
