ROBIN REDBREAST. 2()7 



the continuance of snow or frosty weather, he ventures much 

 nearer than any other species, stands in the window or door, 

 picks up the crumbs that are scattered about, or have been pur- 

 posely left, and, when an opportunity presents itself, sometimes 

 even visits the interior of the house, where, if there be no cat, 

 he is perfectly safe, as every body loves him, and the children, 

 mindful of " the babes in the wood,"" cherish the friend of in- 

 nocence. 



The song of the Robin is rich, mellow, and modulated. Two 

 birds, perched on a tree, bush, or wall, at a distance, often re- 

 spond to each other, in the manner of the Song Thrush, espe- 

 cially in calm and clear evenings. Not unfrequently it sings 

 even in dull or rainy weather, when no better music is heard 

 than the chirping of Sparrows, or the cheep of the Hedge Chan- 

 ter, which, although it is a very tolerable musician, is not so 

 lavish of its song. 



Although most of the Redbreasts retire from the vicinity of 

 human habitations in summer, and betake themselves to the 

 woods and distant parts of hedges, yet some go to no great dis- 

 tance, but take up their abode in a hedge or copse, or on a 

 mossy bank, close to their winter haunts. It does not appear 

 that they remain paired in winter ; but at all events, they are 

 seen in pairs by the end of February ; and sometimes the 

 young have been found in their nests so early as the end of 

 March. In general however, the eggs are deposited about the 

 beginning of April. On the 9th of May, 1831, I saw a young 

 Robin, nearly fully fledged, in a hedge at St Bernard's Well, 

 in Edinburgh, the season being rather backward, and authors 

 have given a much earlier period for their appearance. On the 

 2d of June, 1837, after a remarkably severe winter and spring, 

 my son brought me two scarcely fledged birds, which, with the 

 rest, scrambled from the nest ; and these were in all probabi- 

 lity of the first brood. 



The nest is placed under a hedge or bush, on the ground, 

 among herbage, or on a mossy bank. I have never met with 

 it in a tree, shrub, or hedge. It has been variously described 

 by authors, some of whom have given a most marvellous ac- 

 count of it, stating that it is constructed of oak leaves, arched 



