446 Ventriloquism in Birds. 



long after the sun had set, and during the stillness of the 

 night it seemed still more beautiful, being interrupted now 

 and then by a pause of from five to ten minutes : if nightin- 

 gales had frequented that part of the country, I should have 

 thought it had been one, instead of a robin as it certainly 

 was. Indeed, I never either saw or heard a nightingale in 

 Devon or Cornwall, nor ever saw one who had ; but as to 

 their never visiting those places, I may be mistaken. About 

 a quarter past ten the singing ceased, and where he flew I can- 

 not say, but I thought he remained On the same tree during the 

 night: but during the autumnal months many birds are very 

 fond of singing in the night. I have repeatedly heard the 

 blackbird (T. Meruia), willow-wren (S. Trochilus), wren 

 (S. Troglodytes), and several others during the night, and I 

 recollect hearing the blackbird two evenings following, at 

 between half-past eleven and twelve, whence I am inclined to 

 think it is of not unfrequent occurrence, particularly during 

 the breeding season. The pugnacious qualities of the robin 

 appears only to exist after the breeding season is past, or is 

 then to be found most fully marked ; those encounters do not 

 always terminate so well as in the above instance. In one 

 case I recollect one was killed, and the little murderer enjoyed 

 his triumph with a merry song, but did not cover him with 

 leaves, as did his ancestor by the children in the wood ; and 

 though this may be considered a very extreme case, yet I 

 have frequently seen the feathers fly. So fond are they of 

 fighting, after the season of incubation, that two cannot cross 

 a garden or a lane without an encounter ; it is soon over, and 

 each goes his way as if nothing had occurred. They appear 

 to be vexed that the season is over. It is always observed in 

 the autumn that these fights invariably occur between males, 

 while in spring, although it does occur between males, yet 

 is of most frequent occurrence between a male and a fe- 

 male, and may, I think, be considered as their courtship ; 

 and so engaged are they, that you may even capture them, by 

 placing your hat on them ; and this I know has been done 

 frequently with the wren, but they will not allow you to do 

 this towards the latter end of autumn. They do not, I believe, 

 sing much during the summer, but begin about the latter end 

 of August ; and in this I am confirmed by the old adage, 

 " When the robin sings look out for winter." Now I am not 

 certain as to the time at which they cease singing, but I should 

 not be inclined to think very early in the spring. I heard one 

 singing very finely at Richmond on the 16th of May ; be this 

 as it may they certainly do not sing much during the summer. 

 — Junius. May 27. 1837. 



