Clafs II. RED-BREAST. iGt 



tive poetry, mines through almofl every page of his 

 Seafons. The affection this bird has for mankind, is 

 alfo recorded in that antient ballad, * 7he babes in the 

 wood; a compofition of a moft beautiful and pathetic 

 fimplicity. It is the firft tryal of our humanity: the 

 child that refrains from tears on hearing that read, 

 gives but a bad prefage of the tendernefs of his future 

 fenfations. 



In the fpring this bird retires to breed in the thickeffc 

 covers, or the moft concealed holes of walls and other 

 buildings. The eggs are of a dull white fprinkled 

 with reddifh fpots. Its fong is remarkably fine and 

 foft; and the more to be valued, as we enjoy it 

 the greateft part of the winter, and early in the 

 fpring. 



The bill is dufky : the forehead, chin, throat and De j- cr 

 bread are of a deep orange color : the head, hind 

 part of the neck, the back and tail are of a deep afii- 

 color tinged with green: the wings rather darker; 

 the edges inclining to yellow: the legs and feet 

 dufky. 



* Reliques of antient Englifo poetry, vol. in. p. 170. 



IV. The 



