THE REDBREAST. 397 



and feathers, on the ground, among moss, stones, roots, or in 

 deserted mole-hills, &c. The female lays twice a year, from 

 four to seven yellowish white eggs, spotted and striped with 

 orange, and having a ring of light brown at the thick end. 

 The young birds are at first covered with yellow down, like 

 chickens, and are afterwards grey, with a dingy yellow border 

 on all the small feathers ; though they do not acquire the red 

 throat and breast till after the first moulting. They may be 

 reared on bread soaked in milk, and if instructed by a Mght- 

 ingale, will become excellent singers. 



Diseases. The Redbreast is subject to diarrhoea, for which 

 a spider or two is the best cure. Ants' eggs and meal worms 

 are an effectual remedy for decline ; . indigestion, arising from 

 having eaten too many earth worms, often proves fatal ; though 

 it may be cured by administering meal worms and spiders. 



Mode of Talcing. In spring the Redbreast may be taken by 

 in serting stakes, to which limed twigs are attached, transversely, 

 in the hedges, and driving the birds gently to them. The 

 reason of this peculiar method is, that the Redbreast has a 

 habit of perching on all projecting twigs at the bottom of a 

 hedge, in order to examine the ground for earth worms. It 

 may also be taken, like the Dunnock, on a place cleared of moss 

 or grass, and set with limed twigs, baited with meal or earth 

 worms ; and in the Nightingale, Tit, or the water- trap. In 

 autumn it easily falls into springes, baited with elderberries, 

 though its feet are often injured by this plan, except great care 

 be taken. 



Attractive Qualities. This bird is recommended to the ama- 

 teur both by its tameness and the beauty of its plumage. It 

 soon becomes so familiar, as to march upon the dining table 

 and eat out of its master's dish, making, meanwhile, the most 

 varied movements of its body, and repeating its call, Start ! 

 Its song, which, though loudest in spring, lasts throughout the 

 year, has a solemn and melancholy effect. Those which are 

 kept in cages sing with more ecstacy and energy than such as 

 are allowed to fly about the aviary. In a country residence it 

 is very easy to teach this bird to come and go at command, 

 especially in the winter. M. GOEZE mentions one, which came 

 back in the autumn of two successive years, having been turned 

 put in the spring, and passed the winter in the warm room, 

 where it was exceedingly tame and affectionate. 



