NOTES ON THE REDBREAST. 



^" pretty facts " going tlie round of the English and Foreign Press. Had 

 Master Bob only been born, originally, abroad — I rejoice that he was not — 

 at what a value would he have been rated ! But, being of English extraction, 

 he, like a prophet, has little honor accorded him in " his own country." 

 Those, however, who love him, (no small number,) will make up for the 

 fashionable apathy of the rest. 



My object to-day is, to call the special attention of your readers to the 

 domestication, by self invitation, of a large number of Robins, male and 

 female, in the Crystal Palace, Sydenham. No person who has the slightest 

 partiality — to say nothing about affection — for birds, can witness 'the per- 

 formances, and listen to the improvised snatches of song, in which our 

 i*ed-breasted little friends take so consj)icuous a part, without the most 

 li^vely feelings of delight. Enclosed within some twelve acres of glass, — 

 enjoying the sun, and slieltered from the severity of the weather, here, no 

 doubt, they will live; and, if permitted, die. May that daj' be very far distant. 



We have now to record the fact of this Colony being perfectly " at home," 

 in this colossal building. They "nest" here; in the tropical trees and 

 rock-work, — in the fancifully and prettily-suspended baskets of flowers, — in 

 the Creepers decorating the fronts of the galleries, — and in other convenient 

 sites. Wlien their young are nearly fledged, they are brought out m3^stcri- 

 ously, to have a peep at the moving mass of humanity beneath them. The 

 little families are then regularly introduced at the dinner- table ; and show, 

 at a very tender age, much Epicurean discrimination in their selection of 

 tid-bits. No maiivaise honte is there about them. Oh — no ! Young and old 

 are alike bold and independent. Butter, sugar, cheese, bread, sponge-cake, 

 &c., &c , to all and each, in turn, they do ample justice. Let me remark, 

 that "an example" is set them in this matter, so general and so perpetually 

 repeated, that the gourmandise of Master Bob is only the " natural conse- 

 quence" of his keeping such companj^. We often look on, and marvel at the 

 "sayings and doings" perpetrated at these dinner-tables. Nor is our won- 

 der at all diminished as we ti'avel homewards. We have the scene vividly 

 before us, long after we have reached our " household gods." If the capa- 

 bilities of eating and drinking were to be contended for, as a proof of 

 " national virtue," what a " virtuous land " ours would be ! 



Having drawn attention to some of the peculiarities of our little 

 " imitative " friends, I would now speak of the melodiovis harmony of their 

 iniited voices, — which, at this particular season, (October,) is perfectly 

 enchanting. Perched up aloft, each seems to vie with his distant fellow in 

 filling the expansive building with song, — and such song ! Towards evening, 

 they sing even sweeter still ; for they seem to consider it an act of pleasing 

 duty to " sing the visitors out." Nor do they scruple to mix among them, — 

 trotting along among the shrubs, or perching on the suspended baskets of 

 flowers immediately over-head, 



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