466 



PERCHING BIRDS 



can be no question that redbreast is its proper designation. In 

 the case of birds, hke the nightingale and redbreast, which are the 

 only British representatives of their respective genera, it would 

 be superfluous to enumerate the features on which these genera 

 are severally based, especially as these cannot be concisely expressed. 

 It may be mentioned, however, that the redbreast is related to 

 the thrushes and the nightingale by the close similarity in the colour- 

 ing of the two se.xes, although distinguished from both by the 

 brilliant colour of the undcr-parts, as well as by the colour and mark- 

 ings of the eggs. The length 

 of the first primary wing-quill 

 is a characteristic of the red- 

 breast and its immediate 

 relatives, whose collective 

 range extends from Europe 

 across central and northern 

 Asia to Japan. It should be 

 added that the redbreast of 

 the British Isles and the Rhine 

 Provinces has been separated 

 from the bird inhabiting the 

 greater part of the Continent 

 under the name of Erithaciis 

 viclopliiliis ; but if such dis- 

 tinction is well merited it can 

 scarcely be more than of 

 racial value. 



Anydcscription of the red- 

 breast in its adult dress would 

 obviously be superfluous ; and it will suffice to mention that the hen 

 is commonly stated to be somewhat duller coloured than her mate, 

 although the difference is not sufficient!}- marked to enable the se.xes to 

 be definitely distinguished. It is, however, a popular error to regard 

 young birds in their first plumage as females. These immature birds 

 have a conspicuously mottled plumage, the pattern on the upper-parts 

 being produced by ochery-buff centres to feathers with an ochery-brown 

 ground-colour and black tips ; the under-parts are paler and more 

 sparsely spotted, without any trace of the brick-red on the throat and 

 breast characteristic of the adults. After the first autumn moult the 

 adult dress is assumed, although the " red waistcoat " does not attain 

 its full brilliancy and the middle wing-coverts have golden-buff tips. 



MOUNTED IN THE ROWtAND WtKD STUDIOS 



KKDBREAST. 



