200 SINGING BIRDS. 



iiig " babes in the woods," is held in universal respect in every 

 part of Europe, where he is known by endearing names, and so 

 famihar in winter that he sometimes taps at the window or 

 enters the house in search of crumbs, anr" Uke the domestic 

 fowls, claims his welcome pittance at the farmer's door. 



The nest of this species is often on the horizontal branch of 

 an apple-tree, or in a bush or tree in the woods, and so large 

 as to be scarcely ever wholly concealed. The parents show 

 great affection, courage, and anxiety for the safety of their 

 young, keeping up a noisy cackling chirp when the place is 

 approached, sometimes even boldly pecking at the hand or 

 flying in the face of the intruder ; and they have often serious 

 contests with the piratical Cuckoo, who slyly watches the ab- 

 sence of the parents to devour their eggs. To avoid these 

 visits and the attacks of other enemies, the Robin has been 

 known to build his nest within a few yards of the blacksmith's 

 anvil; and in Portsmouth (New Hampshire) one was seen to 

 employ for the same purpose the stern timbers of an unfin- 

 ished vessel, in which the carpenters were constantly at work, 

 the bird appearing by this adventurous association as if con- 

 scious of the protection of so singular and bold a situation. I 

 have also seen a nest of the Robin bottomed with a mass of 

 pine shavings taken without alarm from the bench of the car- 

 penter. From the petulant and reiterated chirp so commonly 

 uttered by the Robin when surprised or irritated, the Indians 

 of Hudson's Bay call him, from this note, Pee-pee-tshn. They 

 often also utter a loud echoing 'kh 'kh 'kh, and sometimes 

 chirp in a high or slender tone when alarmed, and with an 

 affectation of anger sharply flirt the tail and ends of the wings. 

 They raise several broods in a season, and considerable num- 

 bers flock together in the latter end of summer and autumn. 

 When feeding on cherries, poke, sassafras, and sour-gum ber- 

 ries, they are so intent as to be easily approached and shot 

 down in numbers ; and when fat are justly esteemed for food 

 and often brought to market. In the spring they frequently 

 descend to the ground in quest of worms and insects, which 

 then constitute their principal support. 



