The Redjiart. | Ruticilla.
Numb. L.
IT feeds on Beetles and other Infeâs, and comes to us in the Summer
Seafon ; from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is five Inches;
its Breadth, when the Wings are extended, nine Inches; Weight eight Drams!
The Breaft, Rump and Sides under the Wings are red; the lower Belly
white; the Head, Neck and Back of a lead Colour; the Forehead marked
with a white Spot, feparated from the Eyes and Bill by a black Line; the
Throat and Cheeks under the Eyes are black, with a Mixture of gray at
the ends of the Feathers. In the Female the Back is of a duiky afh Colour ;
the Throat of a paler cinereous ; the Breaft red ; the Belly white.
The quill Feathers in each Wing are eighteen as in other fmall Birds,
all being duiky; the upper covert Feathers black; the nether red. Thé
Tail is made up of twelve Feathers, of which the five outermoft on each
Side are red ; the two middlemoft duiky; two Inches and a half long.
The Bill is black ; the Legs alfo in the Cock are black; in the Hen both
Bill and Legs are paler ; the loweft Bone of the outer Toe is joined to that
of the middle Toe. The Tongue is cloven ; the Mouth within yellow;
the Irtdes of the Eyes of a hazel Colour ; the Eyes are furnifhed with nictating
Membranes.
This is a very dogged and fullen temper’d Bird; for if taken old, fhe
will fometimes for four or five Days not look at her Meat, and when taught
to feed herfelf continues a whole Month without finging ; fhe is alfo the
fhieft of. all Birds, for if fhe perceive you to mind her when fhe is building
fhe will forfake what fhe hath begun, and if you touch an Egg fhe never
comes to her Neft again; and if you touch her young ones, fhe will either
ftarve them, or throw them out of the Neft and break their Necks, as
has been experienced more than once; the young are to be taken at ten
Days old, and to be fed and ordered as Nightingales, keeping them warm
in Winter, and they will fing in the Night as well as in the Day, and will
learn to whiffle and imitate other Birds; when taken young they become
gentle and very tame.