' ( 4 9 )
■ '■ The Robtn-red-breajl. Rubeculus,
Numb. LI.
IT S Length from the tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail Tsfe Inches I Its Breadth
when the Wings are expanded nine Inches; the Breaft is a deep orange Colour,
which Colour compares alfo the Eyes and upper part o f the B ill: The Belly is white-’
the Head, Neck, JBack and Tail are of a dirty green or yellow as in 1/hrufces. or. rather
cinereous with a Tin&ure of green $ a Line of pale blue divides between the red Colour
and the cinereous on the Head and Neck; under the Wings is feen fomething of an
orange tawny. - &
. exterior Borders of the Wings are almoft of the fame Colour with the Back- the
interior are fomething yellow ; the Tail is two Inches and a half long, and made us of
twelve Feathers. . ° *
The BUI is flender, of a duiky Colour, and more than half an. Inch long; the Tongue*
cloven and jagged; the Irides of the Eyes are of a hazel Colour; the Legs, Feet and Claws
a duiky or blackiih 5 the outer fore Toe joined to the middlemoft at Bottom as in the
relt of this Kind. In Winter-time to feek Food it enters into Houfes with much
Confidence, being a very bold Bird, fociable and. familiar, with Man. In the Summer-
time when there is Plenty of Food in the Woods, and it is not pinched with cold, it.
withdraws ltfelf with its Brood into the. moll defert Places; it is a ibliiary Bird and feeds
fingly; it builds its Nell among the thickell Thorns and Shrubs, covering it with oaken
Leaves, and leaving a Pafiage to it on. one Side only, like a Porch arched over; and when
it goes out to .leek its Food it flops it up with Leaves, and fomecimes in Holes of Trees
with Mofs, dead Gtafs. and Bits of^ticks. The Cock is diftinguifhedfrbmthe Heii'by the
Colour of his Legs which are blacker, and by certain Hairs or Beards whiclrgrow onieabh
1 Side his Bill ';' its Food is Worms and Infeds, and: when-kept dn a Cage it is fed as the
Nightingale, being by fome eileemed little inferior to it in finging,
build in A pril, May and June,- feldom.having.above five young ones and not under
four: You may take, them at ten Days old; (if you'let them lie too long they wilLbe
fallen) keep them warm, giving them not too much Food at a Time, which will caufe
them to throw it up again; when they are ftrong, cage them, and keep-them in all refpe&s
like the Nightingale; they are fabjebt to .Cramp and Dizzinefs, for the Cure of the
firft give them a. Meal-worm or Spider, and for the latter, fix or feven Earwigs a Week.