96 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



confidence. The dainty way in which he suddenly 

 alights almost within arm's-length, with a nod and 

 a flick of his wings and tail by way of greeting, must 

 be familiar to every reader. There is something 

 very Thrush-like in the actions of the Robin. We 

 note the same sudden and silent method of hopping 

 towards some tempting morsel, the monient's pause, 

 the quick seizure and swallowing, followed by 

 another pause ; the same nervous flicking of the 

 wings ; the same abrupt departure into the adjoin- 

 inor bushes, the same look of inquiry from the round, 

 full eye. The Robin is a pugnacious bird, and 

 quickly resents any intrusion into a favourite retreat. 

 It is seldom indeed that two Robins can tolerate 

 each oiher's presence in the same spot for a moment ; 

 the weaker usually retires, as if with an apology for 

 che intrusion ; but very often a combat decides the 

 right of place. This pugnacity is by no means 

 iirected exclusively against other Robins, but 

 •xtends to Sparrows and many other birds. The 

 present species is a bird of the underwood, rarely 

 being seen far above the ground, unless when 

 en"^awd in sono^. It is an active little bird enough, 

 by no means a skulking one, and yet one that likes 

 to be for ever in and out of its cover ; now hopping 

 into the open path or on to a post or wall, then 

 back into the bushes or the wood-heap. It rarely 

 flies for any great distance at a time, save when 

 migrating, and its flight seems by no means powerful, 



