258 SYLVIAM. 



upper mandible deflected and notched. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, 

 pierced in a membrane, partly hid by feathers and hairs projecting from 

 the base of the beak. Wings rounded ; the three exterior quills gradu- 

 ated ; the first only half as long as the second, which is shorter than the 

 third ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth, longer than the third ; the fifth the 

 longest in the wing. Legs the tarsus longer than the middle toe ; the 

 lateral toes nearly equal to each other in length ; the outer toe united at 

 its base to the middle toe ; the claw of the hind toe longer and stronger 

 than the others. 



THE REDBREAST is so generally distributed over the 

 British Islands, and so universal a favourite, mixed up as 

 it is with our earliest associations, that all are sufficiently 

 interested in the bird to make themselves acquainted with 

 its habits. These may be observed either in the wood, 

 the field, or the garden, since there is scarcely a hedge 

 without its Redbreasted inhabitant : and if Robins appear 

 to be more numerous in winter than in summer, it is partly 

 owing to the state of vegetation at the former season, 

 which leaves them more exposed to observation, and partly 

 because they resort to the habitations of man for food as 

 they find it decline in quantity elsewhere. During sum- 

 mer they feed indiscriminately on earthworms, various 

 insects in their different states, fruit, and berries. In 

 winter every country-house has its attendant pensioner, 

 who requires but little invitation to become an in-door 

 guest. Thomson has most truly described the half-confi- 

 dent, half-doubtful manner of the Robin when he ven- 

 tures to enter the cottage to pick up the proffered crumbs : 



" then, hopping o'er the floor, 

 Eyes all the smiling family askance, 

 And pecks, and starts, and wonders where he is." 



The sprightly air of this species, the full dark eye and 

 the sidelong turn of the head, give an appearance of saga- 

 city and inquiry to their character, which, aided by their 

 confidence, has gained them friends ; and the Robin has 



