EEDBREAST 41 



apparently diminished throughout the winter, but were 

 solitary. The female must remain about the vicinity, 

 but is not noticeable, always keeping closer in the hedges, 

 and allowing her lord and master to keep the coast clear 

 of intruders. 



From the early part of March the Kobin's song becomes 

 much purer and louder than during November, December, 

 January and February. 



The food of the Eobin is a very varied mixture, from 

 meat, bread and cheese, worms, insects and fruit. Mr. 

 E. Bartlett tells us that one severe winter while at 

 IMaidstone, he saw a Eobin on the garden path in the 

 snow, with what he thought at first was a small twig 

 about 4 inches long sticking out of the bird's mouth. 

 Thinkmg the bird would injure itself he was going out, 

 but seeing the bird strike the supposed stick on the 

 ground, he knew directly that it was a frozen worm. He 

 watched until the Robin had beaten the worm soft 

 enough to swallow it, there the poor thing stood bolt 

 upright for some time, then hopping under a currant bush 

 until it had fully devoured that horrid frozen worm. 



The Eedbreast is included among the Birch of Sand- 

 luich, 1792, by Boys, and the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, 

 in his Or)iitJioIogij of Kent, 1844, says it is "abundant.'' 

 Mr. C. Collingvvood, writing in 1854, states that " among 

 the indigenous birds of Blackheath the Robin commenced 

 singing on January 1, and sang bravely through all the 

 winter frost and snow ; and recommenced singing on 

 August 5, 1854. I am much inclined to believe that, at 

 least in the majority of instances, the birds which tirst 

 begin by favouring us with their long-lost voices in the 

 autumn are the young birds of the year ; in some cases 

 I am sure of it, from having seen the young birds them- 



