240 
THE AMERICAN REDSTART. 
the inner web ; a narrow white ring surrounding the eye ; two bands of 
dull white on the wing; sides of the head and neck greenish-yellow, the 
rest of the lower parts pale yellow, gradually fading into white behind. 
Male, 5, 84. 
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Exceedingly rare. Migra- 
tory. 
The Virginian Spider-Wort. 
Tradescantia Virginica, Willd., Sp. PL, vol. ii p. 16. Pursch, FI. Amer., vol. i. p. 
218. — Hexandria Monogynia, Linn. — Junci, Juss. 
This species is distinguished by its erect, succulent stem ; elongated lanceo- 
late, smooth leaves ; and umbellate, subsessile flowers, which are of a deep 
purple colour, with yellow anthers. 
THE AMERICAN REDSTART. 
Muscicapa Ruticilla, Linn. 
PLATE LXVIII. — Male axd Female. 
This is one of the most lively, as well as one of the handsomest, of our 
Flycatchers, and ornaments our woods during spring and summer, when it 
cannot fail to attract the attention of any person who may visit the inte- 
rior of the shady forests.- It is to be met with over the whole of the 
United States, where it arrives, according to the different localities, be- 
tween the beginning of March and the 1st of May. It takes- its departure, 
on its way southward, late in September, and in the beginning of October. 
It keeps in perpetual motion, hunting along the branches sidewise, jump- 
ing to either side in search of insects and larvm, opening its beautiful tail at 
every movement which it makes, then closing it, and flirting it from side to 
side, just allowing the transparent beauty of the feathers to be seen for a 
moment. The wings are observed gently drooping during these motions, 
and its pleasing notes, which resemble the sounds of tetee-whee , tetee-wkee, 
are then emitted. Should it observe an insect on the wing, it immediately 
flies in pursuit of it, either mounts into the air in its wake, or comes towards 
the ground spirally and in many zig-zags. The insect secured, the lovely 
Redstart reascends, perches, and sings a different note, equally clear, and 
