EUROPEAN WARBLERS. 83 



ROBIN RED BREAST. 



This pretty little bird has been rendered famous 

 in story by figuring conspicuously in a pathetic 

 nursery tale, well known in the land of our fore- 

 fathers, to every child that is able to master its 

 first reading lesson, The Babes of the Wood. 

 Well do we remember how we sympathized with 

 the poor babes, left all alone in the woods ; and 

 how the tears started into our eyes while we read 

 that at last they laid them down to die, in each 

 other's arms. And how we did love the little 

 Robin Red Breast who covered them over with 

 leaves, and then sweetly sang their funeral dirge. 

 How susceptible the youthful mind is of early 

 impressions, especially when the finer feelings of 

 our nature are touched; neither time nor space 

 can obliterate them, and they cling fondly to 

 memory until the last. The Robin Red Breast 

 is remarkable for his familiarity ; he will not 

 only fearlessly approach the cottage door to pick 

 the crumbs, but in the winter \\Q will take up 

 his quarters inside, having his particular roost 

 or place to sit, to which he will come regularly 

 every night. These birds seem to have an innate 

 attachment to the society of man ; for although 



