CHARACTER OF THE REDBREAST. 217 



merely because they came into a greenhouse which he chose to arrogate to himself. It is very 

 jealous, too, of its human friends, and not only prohibits other individuals from sharing in the 

 friendship, but will often drive away its own young if they approach too closely. 



The nest of this bird is generally placed near the ground in a thick leafy bush, or in a 

 bank, and is composed of dry leaves, moss, grass, hair, and feathers. I have seen the nest 

 very well concealed among the thick ivy that had wreathed round a tree-trunk, and placed 

 about eight feet from the ground. The bird seldom flies directly to its nest, or leaves it directly, 

 but alights at a little distance, and creeps through the leaves or branches until it enters its 

 home. When, however, the Redbreast chooses to become familiar with man, it takes advan- 

 tage of Ms friendship, and deposits its nest and eggs under his care. The localities which 

 have been chosen for the Robin's home are diverse beyond description, one of the most curious 

 being the centre of a large cabbage growing in a garden. 



The bird has been known to make its nest in a workman's tool-basket hanging against the 

 wall, in a fold of a window-curtain, upon a shelf in a greenhouse, in the side of a saw-pit, in a 

 knot-hole of timber used in a ship which was being built, the birds being not in the least 

 discomposed by the constant hammering of the trenails. Mr. Thompson gives the following 

 quaint account of a Redbreast and its nest : 



"At Fort William, the seat of a relation, the following circumstance occurred. In a 

 pantry, the window of which was left open during the day, one of these birds constructed its 

 nest early in the summer. The place selected was the corner of a moderately high shelf, 

 among pickle-bottles, which, being four-sided, gave the nest the singular appearance of a 

 perfect square. It was made of green moss, and lined with a little black hair ; on the one side 

 which was exposed to view, and that only, were dead beech-leaves. When any article near the 

 nest was sought for by the housekeeper, the bird, instead of flying out of the window, as might 

 have been expected, alighted on the floor, and waited there patiently until the cause of dis- 

 turbance was over, when it immediately returned to its nest. Five eggs were laid, which, after 

 having been incubated without success for the long period of about five weeks, were forsaken. 



' ' The room above this pantry was occupied as a bird-stuffing apartment ; after the Red- 

 breast had deserted the lower story, a bird of this species doubtless the same individual 

 visited it daily, and was as often expelled. My friend, finding its expulsion of no avail, for it 

 continued to return, had recourse to a novel and rather comical expedient. Having a short 

 time before received a collection of stuffed Asiatic quadrupeds, he selected the most fierce- 

 looking carnivora, and placed them at the open window, which they nearly tilled up, hoping 

 that their formidable aspect might deter the bird from future ingress. It was not, however, 

 to be so frightened 'from its propriety,' but made its entree as usual. The walls of the room, 

 the tables in it, and nearly the entire floor, were occupied by these stuffed quadrupeds. 



" The perseverance of the Robin was at length rewarded by a free permission to have its 

 own way, when, as if in defiance of the ruse that was practised against it, the place chosen for 

 the nest was the head of a shark which hung on the wall (the mouth being gagged may have 

 prevented it being the site) ; while the tail, etc., of an alligator stuffed, served to screen it 

 from observation. During the operation of forming this nest, the Redbreast did not in the 

 least regard the presence of my friend ; but both man and bird worked away within a few feet 

 of each other. On the 1st of June I saw it seated on the eggs, which were five in number ; 

 they were all productive, and the whole brood in due time escaped in safety." 



The eggs of the Redbreast are generally five in number, as is the case with most of the 

 song birds, and their color is grayish-white, covered with variously sized spots of pale rusty 

 red. The song of this bird is very sweet and pleasing ; and it is a pretty sight to observe two 

 or more Redbreasts perched on different trees, and answering each other with their musical 

 cries. Whenever the Redbreast perches on the top of a tree or other elevated spot, and begins 

 to sing merrily, it is an unfailing indication that the weather of the coming day promises to be 

 fair. The bird sings throughout the greater part of the year, beginning early in spring, and 

 continuing it very late into the autumn. Even in the winter months, a bright sunny day is 

 apt to excite the Robin to perch upon a twig, and pour forth a sweet though broken melody. 



VOL. II.-2a 



