ROBIN. 45 



frequent attempts at their song. Early in April, they are only to be 

 seen in pairs, and deliver their notes with great earnestness, from the 

 top of some tree detached from the woods. This song has some resem- 

 blance to, and indeed is no bad imitation of the notes of the Thrush or 

 Thrasher ( Turdiis rufus) ; but if deficient in point of execution, he 

 possesses more simplicity ; and makes up in zeal what he wants in 

 talent ; so that the notes of the Robin, in spring, are universally known, 

 and as universally beloved. They are as it were the prelude to the 

 grand general concert, that is about to burst upon us from woods, fields 

 and thickets, whitened with blossoms, and breathing fragrance. By the 

 usual association of ideas, we therefore listen with more pleasure to 

 this cheerful bird than to many others possessed of far superior powers, 

 and much greater variety. Even his nest is held more sacred among 

 schoolboys than that of some others ; and while they will exult in 

 plundering a Jay's or a Cat-bird's, a general sentiment of respect pre- 

 vails on the discovery 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 the mountains farther south than Virginia. Mr. Forster 

 says, that 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 during the first season are spotted with white on 

 the breast, and at 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-birds; 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.f 



Several authors have asserted, that the Red-Breasted Thrush cannot 



* Phil. Trans. Ixii., 399. 



t Journey to the Northern Ocean, p. 418, quarto. Lond. 1795. 



