REDSTART. 4 
residence, arriving here the beginning or middle of April; in 
Scotland not till the latter end of that month, or the 
beginning of May. It has once been known on the 25th. 
of March. It retires again in August or September. On its 
first arrival it betakes itself to gardens or the neighbourhood 
of old walls. 
The Redstart, though a bird of rather wary and retired 
habits, notwithstanding which, however, it frequently comes 
to build in towns and villages, is easily tamed, and becomes 
much attached to the person that feeds it, alighting on the 
hand in some instances, and cating out of it: one pair have 
been known to build in confinement. It has a habit of 
frequently shaking its tail, with an up-and-down motion, the 
feathers being laterally expanded at the same time; it also 
frequently dips the body up and down, particulariy if appre- 
hensive of the approach of any danger, often uttering a quick 
shrill note the while, and if disturbed falls, as it were, and 
glides along the opposite edge of the nearest cover to some 
neighbouring resting-place, to screen itself from observation. 
It advances on the ground by a series of leaps. 
Its food consists of fruits and berries, currants, raspberries, 
elderberries, and others; ants and their eggs, worms and 
spiders, caterpillars, beetles, and other insects. These latter 
it both seeks on the ground and also on the wing, pursuing 
them in the air after the manner of the Flycatchers, flitting 
between times from branch to branch. The young are fed 
with caterpillars, and, doubtless, any other ‘unconsidered 
trifles’ suitable to their wants. The young on leaving the 
nest generally betake themselves to any neighbouring bushes, 
hedges, or trees, where for some days they are nourished by 
the parent birds, until able to forage for themselves. When 
they are abroad, these situations seem to be preferred to 
their previous lodging-places. 
The Redstart is, even in its wild state, somewhat of a 
Mocking-bird; if brought up from the nest it may be taught 
to sing any tune that is whistled or sung to it; and indi- 
viduals have been known to imitate very closely the notes of 
the Sparrow and the Chaffinch, the Garden Warbler and the 
Lesser Whitethroat. Its song is soft, melodious, and sweet, 
though not of extensive stave; and it has been heard after 
ten o'clock at mght, and by three again in the morning. 
Its ordinary vote, which is constantly heard throughout the 
day, especially in a tone of anniety if any danger be appre- 
