REDBREAST. 



crumbs of bread, the little fibres of meat, and the 



like ; but cheese appears his favourite food.* 



The Redbreast is rather an unsociable bird with 



its own species, and drives away all others from liis 

 immediate neighbourhood. Obstinate battles are 



often maintained between the male birds. 



The female builds her nest on the ground, at the 

 roots of trees, and in other concealed places. It is 

 formed of the same materials as that of the Wren, 

 but not so elaborately put together, and without a 

 dome to the nest. If, however, there is not a natu- 

 ral concealment of foliage, the birds contrive to 

 form an artificial one of dry leaves, under which 

 they may reach the nest without the precise spot 

 being known ; and when the hen bird leaves her 

 eggs, she sometimes covers them in the same man- 

 ner ; so that the strewing of leaves mentioned in 

 the old ballad of the Babes in the Wood is true to 

 the habits of the Redbreast. The eggs are yellowish 

 grey, mottled with chestnut colour, and rarely 

 exceed seven. f 



Grahame has poetically sketched the habits of 

 the Redbreast in the following lines : — 



High is his perch, but humble is his home. 

 And well conceal'd ; sometimes within the sound 

 Of heartsome mill-clack, where the spacious door, 

 White-dusted, tells him plenty reigns around — 

 Close at the root of brier bush, that o'erhangs 

 The narrow stream, with shealings bedded white, 



* Bechstein's Cage Birds. f Mudie's British Birds. 



B 



