OF BIRDS. 
They build their nefts in holes of walls in 
towns, and in the hollows of trees in the country, 
or the fiflures of rocks. The female lays four or 
five, or fix blue eggs ; the young are hatched in 
May. T he male during the time of incubation 
fings from the point of a rock, or the top of fome 
building near the ncfl ; it is, cfpecially, at the 
dawn of day, and early in the morning that he 
repeats his fong. 
The Red btart is a fhv, fufpicious, and fullen 
bird, apt to abandon its neft if it be obferveo, 
and it is faid to forfake the eggs, and even the 
young if they are touched ; if caught, it cannot 
be tamed, but obflinately refufes food, and dies. 
Thefe birds from the neft may be reared in con¬ 
finement; they will fing delightfully in the day, 
and fometimes in the night, and improve their na¬ 
tural fong if placed among better fongfters than 
themfelves. The tame Red Start is fed with 
crumbs of bread, and the fame compofition that 
is given to the Nightingale. 
When unconfined they feed on flies, fpiders, 
chryfalids, ants, berries, and tender fruits; in 
Italy on figs. 
In their migrations they preferve their folitary 
character, they go alone, and are never l'een in 
flocks. 
G 4 
T H6 
