288 THE ROBIN REDBREAST. 



The Robin Redbreast. 



(Motacilla Rubecula.) Linn. (Erythaca Rubecula.) Sell. 



It was a clear November day, 



A'maist as clear as June or May. 

 When first I heard that winter's lay, 



The robin's sang, 

 When sitting on the auld pear's spray, 



Its sweet notes rang. 



Though the robin bears a resemblance to the black-headed 



bush chat, there are no two birds more dissimilar in habits. 



The one is open, frank, and trusting — even pert ; the other wary, 



wild, and shy. But, like the chat, it is equally at home 



perching on trees as hopping on the ground ; is also native, and 



remains with us all year, and is one of the few birds that sings 



in winter, which Burns notes in his " Brigs of Ayr " — 



" Nae mair the grove with airy concert rings ; 

 Except, perhaps, the robin's whistling glee, 

 Proud o' the height o' some bit half-lang tree." 



I wrote some trifling lines on hearing one in winter in my 

 little garden — 



For winter has its cheerie note, 

 Erae little robin redbreast's throat, 

 As weel as simmer — though afloat 



On ilka twig, 

 And Nature busks her bonnie boat 

 Wi' leafy rig. 



The auld pear tree was almost bare— 

 A withered leaf just here and there ; 

 The apple trees had twa-three mair 



O' leafy claes ; 

 But, faith, that robin didna care, 



But chirmed his lays. 



I stood an' listened 'neath the tree, 

 Whase pow was bare as bare could be ; 

 Yet, faith, the redbreast wouldna flee, 



But sweetly sang, 

 As if he fain would say to me, 



Sing a' year lang ! 



But his winter song is not so powerful as his summer one, 

 when singing to please his little mate sitting cosy on her eggs in 

 a bank or the root of a hedge — when, as Burns says, 



" The soaring lark, the perching redbreast shrill, 

 Or deep- toned plover's grey whistle o'er the hill." 



