Motacilla Tithys, LINNÆUS: Le Rouge-queue, BUFFON; Der
Wistling, BECHSTEIN.
Length five inches and one quarter, of which the tail alone measures two
and one quarter. The beak is five lines long, very pointed and black,
the inside and corners yellow; the iris is dusky; the shanks are nine
lines high, and black; the upper part of the body is dark bluish, or
blackish gray; the rump is red; the cheeks, throat, and breast, are
black; the belly and sides are of the same dark colour as the back, but
tinged with white; the vent is reddish yellow.
The upper part of the body in the female is dusky ash grey; the under
part ash grey, with a reddish tinge.
The colours of this bird vary during the first eight years; the oldest
ones, with the exception of the tail and wings, are in general black,
but deeper on the under part than the upper; the very oldest have a
greyish breast.
Those a year or two old very much resemble the females, having the
upper part of the body ash grey, but the under rather more of a reddish
colour; the quill-feathers have a more decided border. After two years
the depth of the colour gradually increases. Several bird-catchers, and
from them some authors, have considered these birds of different ages as
different species.
HABITATION.--In its wild state the black redstart is found in the
temperate parts of Europe and in Asia in the same latitudes[98]. They
seem to prefer mountainous districts to wide plains, and they are
seen in great numbers on bare chalk-hills; if found in woods, it is
only in those that are on rocks. They frequent towns and villages,
perching on the highest buildings, towers, steeples, churches, and
castles[99]. In spring and autumn it hops about the hedges. It
arrives early in the spring, its song is heard in the beginning of
March, and it quits us in small flights towards the middle of
October. It possesses one quality, not common among singing birds,
that of singing all the year, or, at least, whilst in our country,
however cold and stormy the weather may be.
In the house it should be kept in a nightingale's cage, or at least
not permitted to range the room.
FOOD.--When wild it feeds on flies, drawn by the warmth of spring from
their retreat, and settled on walls; afterwards on cabbage
caterpillars and other insects, and in autumn on berries.
In the house they may be kept in health a long time, if the above
insects are procured for them, or if fed on nightingales' food,
adding occasionally ants' eggs and meal-worms.
Old birds taken in autumn may sometimes be tamed and accustomed to
eat the common food in the room, by putting amongst elderberries, in
autumn, ants' eggs, and meal-worms at other seasons. They have been
known to live five or six years in a cage.
BREEDING.--This bird makes its nest in the holes of rocks and walls,
particularly in high buildings, on the timbers of barns, and places
it at a distance from any other. It is constructed of hay, mixed with
the hair of animals. Each laying (for there are two in the year)
consists of five or six white eggs. The young have a reddish grey
plumage, and should be taken from the nest when the tail is half
grown, if it is wished to rear them. They should be fed on ants'
eggs, and white bread soaked in boiled milk.
DISEASES.--These are the same as those of the fauvette.
MODE OF TAKING.--Limed twigs, with meal-worms fastened to them, should
be laid wherever these birds are most frequently found. Towards
winter they may be caught in spring-traps with elderberries hung
opposite.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Its call, "_fitza_," being very similar to the
nightingale's, has given rise most probably to its name of Wall
Nightingale, which it has in common with the following species. Its
song certainly cannot enter into comparison with that of the
nightingale, for it is sad, and consists of only three strains, the
middle one scarcely more than croaking; the other two may boast of a
few high clear tones; it may be heard from early in the morning till
night. It is always gay and active, its motions light and nimble; it
shakes its tail quickly from side to side at every hop or spring, and
utters continually the cry "_fitza[100]!_"