. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Fig. 228.—The Robin or Redbreast. The Robin or Redbreast {Erythacus rubecula, Fig. 228), is toofamiliar a friend to require description. It is lively, pert, pugnacious,cheerful, and a universal favourite. In April the Robin betakes itseltto the woods and thickets, where it rears its brood. On the ap-proach of winter it returns to civiHsed life, when, we are informedby a French author, it constitutes excellent game! No doubt it isedible; but where is the consu
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Fig. 228.—The Robin or Redbreast. The Robin or Redbreast {Erythacus rubecula, Fig. 228), is toofamiliar a friend to require description. It is lively, pert, pugnacious,cheerful, and a universal favourite. In April the Robin betakes itseltto the woods and thickets, where it rears its brood. On the ap-proach of winter it returns to civiHsed life, when, we are informedby a French author, it constitutes excellent game! No doubt it isedible; but where is the consumer of such to be found ? Not inthe British Islands, we hope. The Wrens {Reguhts) are the smallest of European birds. TheGolden-crested Wren (/?^^///?^j- cristatus)\\2ih\is the woods and thickets WRENS. 519 of the cold and temperate regions of the earth, where, among thetwigs, with great agihty it searches for insects, on which it thus occupied it emits a single shrill feeble note, too oftenaccepted by heartless boys as a tell-tale of its whereabouts. The Fire-crested Wren {Regains ignicapillus, Fig. 229) so much. Fig. 229.—Fire-crested Wrens. resembles the last-mentioned that they are frequently , it is much rarer and of more brilliant plumage. The Common Wren (Troglodytes vulgaris, Fig. 230) is widely dif-fused over Europe, from the Baltic to the southern parts of Italy, andfrom Trebizond to the west coast of Ireland. Like the Robin, it hasbecome, in a sense, a sacred bird, and very few will harm the familiarlittle creature. Its nest is found in all kinds of situations; a favouriteone being under the turfed summit of a stone wall skirting a brook, 5^0 REPTILES AND BIRDS. or on the edge of a wood or slirubbery. It is an elegant structure,oval in form, and dome-shaped, with the entrance at the side, thematerials varying with the locality ; but the lining generally is soft,downy feathers. The Willow Wren {Sylvia trochiliis, Fig. 231) is a delicate
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles, bookyear1
