REDBREAST, Erythaca 9.ultecula, or Syria rubecula, a bird of the family sylriadm, familiar to every one in the British islands and throughout most parts of Europe—a universal favorite, from the readiness with which it approaches or enters human habita tions, its lively manners, its aspect of pert curiosity, the frequency with which its song is heard in autumn and winter, and the strange mixture of shyness and audacity which its behavior displays. It is generally known throughout Britain by the endearing name of robin redbreast, or more briefly robio., and has many similar appellations in continent al Europe, significant of the kindly regard entertained for it, which is everywhere such that children early begin to distinguish it from all other birds as their peculiar favorite. Its utmost length is about 51 in., but it is of a rounder and fuller form than many of tile sylciada, the slenderness of its legs rather strikingly contrasting with the form of the body. The wings are rather short, the fifth quill the longest. The tail is scarcely forked. The bill is rather broad and depressed at the base, narrower and slightly com pressed at the point, the upper mandible beat down and notched. The gentral color is olive-brown, and the reddish-orange breast is a conspicuous characteristic, particularly of the male.—The redbreast is a native not only of Europe, but of the western temperate parts of Asia and of the n. of Africa. In the most northern parts of Europe it does not appear; and in many northern regions it may be regarded as a bird of passage; but, con trary to the ordinary rule as to birds of passage, it never congregates in flocks; it is always seen either solitary or in pairs. The attachment of pars seems to extend beyond
the mere breeding season, and, indeed, throughout their lives, and to be stronger than in most birds. The breeding season is early in spring. The nest is made of moss, dead leaves, and dried grass, Rued with hair, often placed a little above the ground in a bush or among ivy on a wall; the eggs 5 to 7 in number, white, spotted with pale reddish brown; but many are the stories of the curious situations in which the redbreast has built its nest, iu close proximity to houses and workshops, regardless of the presence of human beings, and of the noise of hammers and wheels. In winter, the redbreast seeks the neighborhood of human habitations more than hi summer, and becomes more bold and familiar. Its food ordinarily consists of worms, insects, and bellies; and when it becomes a pensioner at any door or window, which it very readily does, it shows a par ticular relish for small scraps of meat. Its song is sweet and plaintive, but weak, not much noticed amidst the many voices of summer, but often heard in the quietness of autumn, and even of winter, throughout which it is continued whenever the weather is good.
In America, the name redbreast is often given to the blue bird (q.v.).