262 ERITHACUS. REDBREAST. 



The general form is rather compact ; the hody ovate, a 

 little deeper than broad, the neck short, the head of moderate 

 size, and oblong. The legs longish, slender ; tarsus much com- 

 pressed, anteriorly covered with a long undivided piece, and 

 three inferior scutella, but with indications of seven scutella in 

 all, posteriorly sharp-edged with two longitudinal plates. Toes 

 of moderate size, much compressed ; the first stout, the lateral 

 about equal, the third much longer. Claws of ordinary length, 

 arcuate, acute, extremely compressed, laterally grooved. 



Plumage full, soft, blended, the feathers ovate, rounded, 

 with a plumule composed of a few very long barbs. A row 

 of pretty long bristle-feathers along the basal margin of the 

 upper mandible. Feathers at the base of the bill and in the 

 loral space bristle-tipped. Wing short, broad, concave, much 

 rounded ; quills eighteen ; the first about half the length of 

 the second, w^iich is much shorter than the third, the fourth 

 longest ; the secondaries rounded, with a slight acumen. Tail 

 of moderate length, slightly decurved, nearly even, the feathers 

 rather narrow and obliquely acute. 



The genus Erithacus, for which I adopt the Aristotelian 

 name 'E^/^axog is very nearly allied to the genera Saxicola and 

 Rubicola, as well as to Sialia and Turdus. In the form of 

 their bill the Erithaci and Sialise greatly resemble the Thrushes, 

 and their habits are in several respects similar, as will be 

 seen more particularly on comparing my descriptions of the 

 Robin and the Song Thrush. They frequent woods, thickets, 

 and gardens, but seek their food chiefly on the ground, 

 where they hop in the manner of the Thrushes, keeping 

 their wings depressed and their tail horizontal. They feed 

 on insects, larvre, and worms ; form a bulky nest, which 

 is placed on the ground in some concealed spot, or in the 

 holes of trees or walls ; lay from five to seven eggs, and 

 generally breed twice in the season. Their song is short, 

 modulated, and melodious; they are extremely pugnacious, 

 bold in the defence of their young, and less apprehensive of 

 danger from man than most small birds. Only a single species 

 occurs in this country, the familiar, universally known, and 

 favourite Robin Redbreast. 



