396 THE BEDBREAST. 



the feathers of the wings and tail be pulled out several time, 

 they will at last come white, which imparts a very engaging 

 appearance to the little creature. These new feathers are, 

 however, exceedingly weak and brittle. 



Habitat* At the period of migration, the Eedbreast may 

 be met with in great numbers in hedges and bushes, while in 

 summer it retreats into the woods. It returns (i. e. to Ger- 

 many) about the middle of March, and passes a fortnight or 

 three weeks in the open country before betaking itself to the 

 forests. In October it may again be observed among the 

 hedges, though some remain till November, and others through- 

 out the winter ; but the latter annually pay for their dilatori- 

 ness with their lives, as the cold either kills them, or drives 

 them to farm-yards or stables, where they are caught by men 

 and cats. They also die if brought at once from the cold of 

 the open air into a warm room ; though when the change of 

 temperature is effected gradually, they thrive as well as those 

 caught in autumn or spring. 



In cottages the Eedbreast is often allowed to fly about the 

 sitting or sleeping rooms, and is found to destroy flies, fleas, 

 &c. A roost place should be made for them by fixing oak or 

 beech branches to the wall, and in such a situation they will 

 frequently live from eight to twelve years. Two birds, how- 

 ever, never agree together ; if one be stronger than the other, 

 the weaker is sure to be killed ; and if of equal strength, they 

 will divide the room between them, and each will furiously 

 resent any attempt of the other to pass the appointed boun- 

 dary. Those who are fond of the Eedbreast' s song, may keep 

 it in a cage of any desired form. 



Food. In a wild state the Eedbreast feeds on insects of 

 various kinds, earth worms, and all sorts of berries. An earth 

 or meal worm will soon induce it to eat the usual food of the 

 aviary, though it thrives best on the Nightingale's food. It 

 is also very fond of new cheese. It requires a daily supply ot 

 water, not only for drinking, but for bathing, in which it seems 

 to delight, and often makes itself so wet, as to obliterate for 

 the time every trace of colour from its plumage. 



Breeding. The Eedbreast builds its nest, which is made of 

 lichens loosely put together, and lined with grass stalks, hair, 



The Redbreast remains in England throughout the winter, 



