the neck and breast are of a fine deep reddish orange; a spot of the same colour marks its forehead; its belly is whitish, and the legs and feet of a dusky black. It is near six inches in length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, the former being about half an inch, and the latter two inches and a half. This bird, in our climate, has the sweetest song of all others: the notes of other birds are, indeed, louder, and their inflections more capricious; but the Redbreast's voice is soft, tender, and well supported; and the more to be valued as we enjoy it the greatest part of the winter. During the spring the Robin haunts the wood, the grove, and the garden, and retires to the thickest and shadiest hedgerows to breed in, where its nest is usually placed among the roots of trees, in some concealed spot near the ground. In winter it endeavours to support itself, by chirping around the warm habitations of mankind, and by coming into those shelters where the rigour of the season is artificially expelled, and where insects are found in the greatest numbers, attracted by the same cause.- -The female lays from five to seven eggs, of a dull white colour, diversified with reddish streaks. Insects and worms are the principal food of the Redbreast. The latter it very dexterously renders fit to be eaten, by taking hold of the extremity of one in its beak, and beating it against the ground till the inside comes away, and then repeating the operation with the other end, till the outer part is entirely cleansed. ROBIN REDBREAST. LITTLE Robin, pray come near; |