RED 
both that and the upper part of the neck are 
black; but above and beneath each eye there is a 
fmall white fpot. The breaft, belly, and throat, 
are all of a fnowy whitenefs ; the back is variegated 
with black and white; the wings are of the fame 
colour; the tail is wholly white; and the legs, 
which are naked far above the knees, are long 
and blueiih. 
Thefe birds are very common in Italy, and are 
fometimes feen about the EngliOi fhores, When 
flying, they carry their necks and long legs quite 
extended ; and make a ftirill noife, expreflive of 
the lyllable Twit twice repeated; whence the 
country people give them the name of yelpers. 
They feed on worms and infe61s, whic h they fcoop 
with their bills out of the fand, leaving alternate 
femicircular marks wherever they have been in 
quefl: of prey. 
The Recurviroftra lays two eggs about the fize 
of thofe of pigeons, of a whitiih colour tinged 
with green, and marked with large black fpots. 
RED-BIRD, OF Carolina. The fize of this 
bird is equal to that of a Iky-lark: the bill is 
thick, ftrong, and of a palifn red colour, with a 
black lift round the bafe; the head is adorned 
with a creft, which rifes and falls at pleafure; and 
the whole body is of a fine fcarlet colour, except 
the back and tail, which are of a dark red. The 
hen is brown, with a tindlure of red on her wings 
and other parts. 
This bird is very common in America, where 
the natives cage it for the fake of it's fong as well 
as beauty. 
Red-Bird, Summer. This bird has a thick 
ftrong bill of a yellow colour; the whole plumage 
is of a beautiful red or fcarlet hue, except the tips 
of the greater quills of the wings, which are of a 
dulky red; the coverts of the infides of the wings 
are of a bright red ; the infides of the quills, as well 
as the under fide of the tail, are of a reddifh afli- 
colour ; and the legs and feet are of a duflcy brown. 
Red-Bird, of Surinam. Edwards, who firft 
figured and defcribed this bird, acknowledges 
himfelf incapable of referring it with certainty to 
any particular genus of European birds: Lin- 
nasus, however, in his nomenclature, gives it the 
appellation of Ampelis Carnifex. The bill is 
flightly arched, and of a dirty red colour; the top 
of the head, the lower part of the belly, the thighs, 
rump, and tail, are of a beautiful fcarlet; the fides 
of the head, the neck, back, breaft, and wings, 
are of a dull dirty red; the tail-feathers are black 
about half an inch from their tips; the legs, feet, 
and claws, are of a dirty yellow hue; and the 
hinder parts of the legs have fmall feathers or hairs 
down to the very feet. 
RED-BREAST; the Motacilla Rubecula of 
Linnffius, A bird well known in moft parts of 
Europe. The bill is duflcy; the forehead, chin, 
throar, and breaft, are of a deep orange colour; 
the head, the hind part of the neck, the back, 
and the tail, are of a deep afli-colour, tinged with 
green; the wings are darker, their edges inclin- 
ing to yellow ; and the legs and feet are dulky. 
Though the Red-Breaft is lb very petulant as 
to live in a ftate of continual hoftility with it's 
ovv'n tribe, yet it is remarkably focial with the hu- 
man race ; and in the winter feafon becomes almoft 
domeftic, feemingly claiming the proteflion of 
man. Moft of the foft-billed birds, fuch as the 
nightingale, the fv/allow, and the titmoufe, leave 
lis in the winter, when their infedt food is no 
RED 
longer found in abundance; but the Red-Breaft 
continues with us the whole year; and endeavours 
to fupport the famine of winter by chirping round 
the warm habitations of mankind ; and by enter- 
ing thofe fhelters from which the inclemency of 
the feafon is artificially expelled, and where infefts 
themfelves, attracted by a fimilar caufe, are the 
moft numerous. 
This bird breeds difii'erently in different places : 
in fome countries it's neft is ufually found in the 
crevice of iome moffy bank, or at the foot of a 
hawthorn in hedge-rows; but, in others, it makes 
choice of the thickeft coverts, and conceals it's 
neft by means of oak-leaves. It's eggs are ufu- 
ally four or five in number, of a dull white co- 
lour, with reddifh ftreaks. 
The fong of the Red-Breaft is remarkably 
fweet and foft; and the more to be valued, as we 
enjoy it during the greateft part of the winter, and 
early in the fpring. In the fummer it is equally - 
mufical; but then it's modeft notes are drov/ned 
in the general warble of the feafon. Many of 
the autumnal fongfters feem to be the young 
cock Red-Breafts of the fame year. 
Several of our Englifh poets have honoured 
this bird with particular notice in their lays. 
Thompfon gives a juft and elegant defcription 
of it's domeftic qualities during winter; though 
perhaps it is more indebted to the author of The 
Babes in the Wood for being fuch an univerfal 
favourite in this country, than to all other caufes 
combined. But not only our poets, but even 
painters, have exerted their refpe£live talents in 
recommending this harmlefs fongfter to our at- 
tention; and furely, when genius labours to me- 
liorate our fenfations, and to awaken the moft o-e- 
nerous pafilons, it demands our love and admira- 
tion. 
Red-Breast, Blue; the Rubecula Americana 
of Catefby. This bird has a flender, fharp- 
pointed bill, of a duft^y colour; the whole upper 
fide, head, neck, back, wings, and tail, are of a 
fine full blue colour, except the extremities of the 
greater quills, which are black; and the whole 
under fide, from the bill to the coverts under the 
tail, is of a reddifii colour. The thighs are of a 
faint light red; the legs and feet are brown; and 
the claws are dufky. 
Edwards, who firft defcribed this bird from a 
fpecimen communicated by the late Mr. Peter 
Colinfon, fays it was imported from Bermudas; 
and Catefby, in his Hiftory of Carolina, figures 
and defcribes a bird refembling this in almoft 
every refpecl. 
RED-EYE ; the Cyprinus Erythropthalmus of 
Linnceus. This fifh, to which the Germans give 
the appellation of Rootang, bears a ftrong refem- 
blance to the common river-bream, except that it 
is fomewhat thicker. The fins are entirely of a 
red colour; and the whole body of the fifli is 
ftained with a very beautiful red, particularly the 
irides. When the fcales are removed, the body 
is of a greenifli hue. 
The Red -Eye feldom exceeds one foot in 
length; and it's flefh is extremely well flavoured. 
Some Englifh authors call it the rudd; and other 
Latin ones denominate it rutilus latior, and ru- 
bellis fluviatilis. It is very common in many of 
the German and Britifli rivers; and is in feafon 
the whole year, except about the month of April, 
when itfpawns: during that period the male is 
marked with numerous white fpots on it's head, 
and 
