2_|2 BRITISH BIRDS. 



rusty, fading almost to white at the vent; the tail 

 is slightly forked, the outside feathers are black at 

 the base and tipped with white; the two middle 

 feathers are a little shorter than the others, and of 

 a greyish brown; legs pale brown. The female 

 greatly resembles the male, but her colours are 

 less vivid, and the space between the bill and the 

 eye is grey instead of black. 



This species is an inhabitant of the temperate 

 climates, from Spain, Italy, and France, as far as 

 Sweden. It breeds in this country, but is no where 

 numerous. Buffon says it is a shy and solitary 

 bird, with little or no song; it generally inhabits 

 the woods during summer, and in winter resorts 

 near the hamlets and farms. The female builds 

 her nest in trees, of small twigs mixed with white 

 lichens. The eggs are of an oval form, streaked 

 and spotted with bluish black on a greyish ground. 

 She feeds her young with insects, chrysalids, and 

 other soft nutritious substances. 



