ROBIN. 13 



very unhappy when she caged it, so she gave it its 

 freedom. In the spring it left her, and she feared it 

 was dead ; but a few weeks later it returned with 

 a family of young ones, and having introduced its 

 children left her and never returned. 



The Robin is one of the first birds to commence his 

 song in the morning, and sings right on into the night. 

 Throughout the winter he continues to warble ; indeed 

 throughout the year, except just when he is moulting. 



It rears two and sometimes three broods in the 

 year, always building a fresh nest. Very early it 

 begins to make its preparations, and eggs can gener- 

 ally be found the first week in April. Instances are 

 on record, however, of eggs being taken in January, 

 February and even November. I have before me 

 now a note which states that at Merton Hall, Nor- 

 folk, a nest of young Robins was hatched on 8th 

 December, 1882. Its nest varies a great deal in the 

 materials of which it is composed, but most commonly 

 it is made of green moss and lined with horsehair. 

 Perhaps there are more instances on record of curious 

 places in which this knowing little bird places its nest 

 than of any other we have. In the cornice of the 

 dining-room where the birds flew backwards and for- 

 wards through the open window ; in a flower-pot or 

 water-can ; in the ivy on the wall or the hole of a 

 tree, or securely hidden beneath its roots. I myself 

 took one last year placed quite loosely in a heap of 

 dead leaves that had been piled together and left. 

 Perhaps as curious a nesting-place as any was one 

 which was chosen at Worthing Station in 1884. The 

 spot selected was between the rails over which the 

 goods trains are shunted. The nest was in a battered 

 beer-can, in an old hamper which was lying between 



