514 AVES—REDBREAST. 
The black-cap visits England about the middle of April, and retires in 
September; it is common in Italy, but in England it is rather a rare bird 
It frequents gardens, and its nest, which it builds near the ground, is com 
posed of dried grass, moss, and wool, and lined with hair and feathers. The 
female lays five eggs, of a pale reddish brown, sprinkled with darker colored 
spots. During the time of incubation the male attends the female, and sits 
by turns; he likewise procures her food, such as flies, worms and insects. 
This bird sings sweetly, and so like the nightingale, that in Norfolk it is 
ealled the mock-nightingale. Black-caps feed chiefly on flies and insects, and 
not unfrequently on ivy, and other berries. 
THE REDBREAST.! 
TuovucHu the redbreast is generally admired for his song, he is still more ad- 
mired for his attachment to, and confidence in, mankind. In all countries, 
he is a favorite, and has what may be called a pet name. The inhabitants 
of Bornholm call him Tommi Liden, the Norwegians, Peter Ronsmed, the 
Germans, Thomas Gierdet,and in England he is known as Robin Redbreast, 
or by the still more familiar appellation of Bob. Buffon describes, with his 
usual elegance, the winter manners of this bird. ‘In that season,” says he, 
“ they visit our dwellings, and seek the warmest and most sheltered situa- 
tions ; and if any one happens still to continue in the woods, it becomes the 
companion of the faggot maker, cherishes itself at his fire, pecks at his 
bread, and flutters the whole day round him, chirping its slender pzp. But 
when the cold grows more severe, and thick snow covers the ground, it ap- 
proaches our houses, and taps at the windows with its bill, as if to entreat 
an asylum, which is cheerfully granted; and it repays the favor by the most 
amiable familiarity, gathering the crumbs from the table, distinguishing 
affectionately the people of the house, and assuming a warble, not indeed so 
rich as that in the spring, but more delicate. This it retains through all the 
rigors of the season, to hail each day the kindness of its host, and the 
sweetness of its retreat.” The bill of the robin is slender and delicate; its 
eyes are large, dark, and expressive, and its aspect mild; its head and all the 
upper parts of its body are brown, tinged with a greenish olive; the neck 
and breast are of a fine deep reddish orange ; a spot of the same color marks 
its forehead ; its belly is whitish, and the legs and feet of a dusky black. It 
is near six inches in length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail; the 
former being about half an inch, and the latter two inches and a half. 
This bird, m England, has the sweetest song of all the feathered tribe: 
the notes ef other birds are, indeed, louder, and their inflections more ca- 
pricious , but the redbreast’s voice is soft, tender, and well supported; and 
the more to be valued, as we enjoy it the greatest part of the winter. 

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1 Sylvia rubecola LATH. 
