248 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



tree. The eggs are five in number, of a greenish blue colour, 

 closely resembling those of the Hedge Accentor. The length of 

 the bird is rather more than five inches. The fourth primary 

 feather is the longest. 



ERYTUACUS.* (Gr. 



Rubecula (Lat. a Redbreast), the Redbreast. 



The REDBREAST, or ROBIN REDBREAST, as it is affectionate- 

 ly termed, has, by its fearless conduct, earned itself golden 

 opinions from all kinds of men. Every nation seems to pro- 

 tect it. Even the American Redbreast lives unharmed, pos- 

 sibly on account of its connexion with its English relation. 

 whose oft-told charity towards the Babes in the Wood has 

 turned aside from its posterity even the unsparing hand of the 

 sporting schoolboy. 



In the winter, when the berries are gone, insects dead, and 

 the worms hidden under the hard frozen soil, then the Robin 

 flies for refuge to the habitations of man for shelter and food. 

 It is very amusing to see the half trusting, half fearful look 

 with which it hops to the window-sill for the first time. 

 After a while, it becomes bold, and taps at the window, if the 

 expected crumbs are not thrown out. Before very long, it 

 ventures to enter the room, hops about on the table, and 



* This word ought to be spelt ERITHACUS, but in the Brit. Mus. Catalogue it is 



'> 



spelt 



uljo 



