BRITISH BIRDS. 
J 34 
quills have each of them a fpot of white about 
the middle of the inner web ; the break and belly- 
are of a pale ruft colour, growing almoft white at 
the vent ; the tail is black, except the ends of the 
middle feathers, which are grey; the outer ones 
are tipped with white ; the legs are pale brown. 
The female greatly refembles the male, but her 
colours are lefs vivid, and the fpace between the 
bill and the eye is grey inftead of black. Thefe 
birds vary confiderably, fcarcely two of them being 
alike : In fome the head is wholly black, in others 
the whole upper part of the body is of that colour, 
and others have been met- with entirely white, ex- 
cept the wings. 
This fpecies is an inhabitant of the temperate 
climates, from Spain, Italy, and France, as far as 
Sweden, but only vifits this illand occafionally, and 
generally in winter ; probably being driven over in 
its paffage from its northern haunts, to the milder 
climates of France and Italy. It breeds in thefe 
countries, but is no where numerous. Buffon fays 
it is a fliy and folitary bird, with little or no fong ; 
it generally inhabits the woods during fummer, and 
in winter reforts near the hamlets and farms. The 
female builds her neft in trees ; it is compofed of 
fmall dry roots and grafs, and lined with warmer 
materials : The eggs are roundifh, of a blueifli 
green, fpotted with brown. She feeds her young 
with infe&s, chryfalids, and other foft nutritious 
fubftances. 
