RED-BREAST, in ornithology, a species of MOTACILLA, under which article it was omitted. The bill is dusky; the forehead, chin, throat, and breast, are of a deep orange-colour; the head, hind part of the neck, the back, and tail, are of a deep ash-colour tinged with green; the wings rather darker, the edges inclining to yellow; the legs and feet dusky. This bird, though so very petulant as to be at constant war with its own tribe, yet is remarkably sociable with mankind: in the winter it frequently makes one of the family, and takes refuge from the inclemency of the season even by our fire-sides. Thomson has prettily described the annual visits of this guest; vide his Winter, l. 246. In the
spring this bird retires to breed in the thickest coverts, or the most concealed holes of walls and other buildings. The eggs are of a dull white, sprinkled with reddish spots. Its song is remarkably fine and soft; and the more to be valued, as we enjoy it the greatest part of the winter and early in the spring, and even through great part of the summer; but its notes are part of that time drowned in the general warble of the season. Many of the autumnal songsters seem to be the young cock red breasts of that year.