THF. BEPBREAST. 229 



autumn only their song becomes distinguishable. He states, also, that 

 many songsters of the autumn are young cock birds of that year, and 

 adds, (which I may refer to in confirmation of a statement I have made 

 above,) that, notwithstanding the prejudices in their favour, they do 

 much mischief in gardens to the summer fruits; (via Letter 60, to 

 Thomas Pennant.) 



I have often speculated upon the choice of situations which birds make 

 for their nests; and it is not easy always to come at the reasons for their 

 choice, for reasons we may rest assured there always are, and the more so that 

 they do it blindly; it is an implanted instinct, and proceeds therefore 

 from Divine Wisdom. My theory has always been that food is the great 

 directing agent, and is the best guide to divide animals into genera and 

 species, and, I think, the general habits are also much affected by it. To 

 apply this: — The Robin builds on the ground, or, rather, in the ground, 

 for he always chooses some sheltered nook, where he may form a sort of 

 cave, usually in the side of a bank, and this he moulds and forms for 

 his purpose, contracting the orifice and making a sort of awning projecting 

 above, which renders it difficult to be seen by the eye from above. Now 

 the Robin chiefly subsists upon worms, grubs, and insects; his habits are 

 sedate, and he is essentially sylvan in his localities, seldom being found 

 out of a shrubbery, and generally within a short distance of a habitation, 

 for in woods far removed from population, 1 may say, as a general rule, 

 he is seldom found. Lofty trees he seldom mounts, though he occasionally 

 sings from the summit of some moderately tall leader; but still his food, 

 his subsistence, is obtained, and his movements are on the earth, and, 

 accordingly, there he builds his nest. Now with the finches, sparrows, 

 larks, etc., we all know their discursive and arboreal habits, and hence 

 their habitations are in the tall trees of the forest, in the field, or on 

 the waste; but master Bobby is a very neighbourly person, and returns 

 the compliment of our indulgence, by placing himself, as it were, under 

 our protection, and chirping around our very thresholds. 



I have seen singular specimens of Robins' nests, placed in very odd 

 situations indeed; in recumbent flower-pots thrown away and lying prone 

 amid the dead leaves, and in corners of old garden-houses, in fact any 

 snug and out-of-the-way place seems just what he likes; he is not very 

 shy, but will suffer his eggs to be handled and his home inspected many 

 times without forsaking it, and when I was a thoughtless urchin I have 

 many a time tried him sorely in this particular. He is a pretty fellow, 

 and although I do not very clearly see why he ought to be spared more 

 than other birds, yet I shall certainly always support so laudable a 

 custom, although not only with respect to him. All I say is, if rats 

 and mice must be killed because they are vermin, and if some birds 



. VOL. VII. 2 H 



