The Rohin, — Migratory Tlirush. 145 



^sclioolboys than that of some others ; and, while they will exult in plundering 

 a d ay's or a Cat Bird's, a general sentiment of respect prevails on the dis- 

 covery of a Robin's. Whether he owes not some little of this veneration to 

 the well-known and long-established character of his namesake in Britain, by 

 a like association of ideas, I will not pretend to determine. He possesses a 

 good deal of his suavity of manners ; and almost always seeks shelter for his 

 young in summer, and subsistence for himself in the extremes of winter near 

 the habitations of man. 



" The Robin inhabits the whole of North America, from Hudson's Bay 

 to Nootka Sound, and as far south as Georgia, though they rarely breed on 

 this side of the mountains farther south than Virginia. Mr. Forster says, 

 l^at about the beginning of May they make their appearance in pairs at the 

 settlements of Hudson's Bay, at Severn River ; and adds a circumstance 

 altogether unworthy of belief, viz., that, at Moose Fort, they build, lay, and 

 hatch, in fourteen days ! but that at the former place, four degrees more 

 north, they are said to take twenty-six days. They are also common in 

 Newfoundland, quitting these northern parts in October. The young, durino- 

 the first season, are spotted with white on the breast, and in that time have 

 a good deal of resemblance to the Fieldfare of Europe. 



" Mr. Hearne informs us, that the red-breasted Thrushes are commonly 

 called, at Hudson's Bay, the Red-Bird — ^by some, the Blackbirds, on account 

 of their note — and by others, the American Fieldfares ; that they make their 

 appearance at Churchill River about the middle of May, and migrate to the 

 south early in the fall. They are seldom seen there but in pairs ; and are 

 never killed for their flesh, except by the Indian boys. 



" Several authors have asserted, that the red-breasted Thrush cannot 

 brook the confinement of the cage, and never sings in that state. But, 

 except the Mocking Bird, ( Tardus polyglottus,) I know of no native bird 

 which is so frequently domesticated, agrees better with confinement, or sino^ 

 in. that state more agreeably than the Robin. Thay generally suffer severely 

 in moulting time, yet often live to a considerable age. A lady, who resides 

 near Tarrytown, on the banks of the Hudson, informed me, that she raised 

 and kept one of these birds for seventeen years ; which sang as well, and 

 looked as sprightly, at that age as ever ; but was at last unfortunately des- 

 troyed by a cat. The morning is their favorite time for song. In passing 

 through the streets of our large cities, on Sunday, in the mouths of April 

 and May, a little after daybreak, the general silence which usually prevails 

 without at that hour, will enable you to distinguish every house w^here one 

 of these songsters resides, as he makes it then ring with his music." 



The Robin belongs to the family Turdinj3 or Thrushes, of which there 

 are three genera and a goodly number of species known in North America. 

 In the classification of Agassiz & Gould, this family belongs to the order 

 Jnsessores. The generic name is from Tardus, Latin, a Thrush. The specific 

 name migratorius, (incorrectly printed rnigratorious at the commencement 

 of this article,) is derived froia the Latin verb migro, to remove from one 

 place to another. 



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