BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 13S 



Description and Plumage, 



The redbreast is between five and six inches in 

 length, bill slender, and of a horn-colour. Eye 

 black, large, full, and mild, with a small orange- 

 red circle round it. Upper parts of the plumage, 

 viz, head, back, and wings, pale umber-brown in- 

 clining to olive, in some lights appearing as if 

 tinged with yellowish-brown. Forehead, throat, 

 and breast, rich orange-red ; lower parts, greyish- 

 white, with a mixture of dull cream-yellow ; legs, 

 clove-brown, passing into umber-brown; claws 

 black. 



The hen is very like the cock; but neither so 

 large or full of spirit, nor so bright in the plu- 

 mage. To choose a cock-bird, let him be large 

 and sprightly, having a full sparkling eye; the 

 brown on the back, rich, glossy, and dark, and the 

 red on the breast large and bright ; this last is 

 the best criterion to judge by. 



Song, 



The redbreast will learn the notes of other birds ; 

 but his own being so fine, it is a pity to spoil it by 



