330 INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



mountain tracts in the County of Antrim, the singer bemg 

 perched upon a ragweed. Mr. Thompson records an instance 

 in which one of these birds buUt five nests in the course of 

 one season, and reared seventeen young. "We have already 

 adverted (p. 181) to the tantalizing proof we experienced of 

 its partiaUty for one of our most beautiful land shells, or rather 

 for its occupant, as food. 



Sf/lviadce. — The family we have next to mention is the 

 most musical in Europe, and some of its members have 

 attained the highest reputation as vocalists. Among those 

 best known may be mentioned the Eedbreast, Sedge-Warbler, 

 Nightingale, Blackcap Warbler, and Willow Wren. The brief 

 notice we can give shall be bestowed upon the Eedbreast and 

 the Nightingale. 



We have been taught to love the Eobin Eedbreast (Sylvia 

 ruheculd), associated as it is with recollections which the 

 wear and tear of after hfe can never efface.* Those who have 

 lived in this country have seen him during the siunmer feeding 

 on earth-worms, caterpillars, berries, and fruits ; and in winter 

 presenting himself to receive from the hand of man the food 

 which the frozen earth withholds. His habits, when he first 

 ventures into the cottage to pick up the proffered crumbs, have 

 been truly described by Thomson : — 



" Then hopping o'er the floor, 



Eyes all the smiling family askance, 



And pecks, and starts, and wonders where he is." 



"The sprightly air of this species," says Mr. YaiTell, 

 " the full dai-k eye, and the sidelong tm-n of the head, give 

 an appearance of sagacity and inquiry to their character, 

 which, aided by theii' confidence, has gained them friends ; 

 and the Eobin has accordingly acquired some fauiihar domestic 

 name, in almost every country of Europe." 



The bird seems at times to have indulged in some whimsical 

 fancies as to the situation of his nest. " A pair took up their 

 abode in the parish chm-ch of Hampton, in Warwickshii-e, and 

 affixed their nest to the chm-ch Bible, as it lay on the reading- 



• Shakspeare mentions the bird by the old Saxon name — the Ruddock, 

 ■and refers to its performance of the same office as that attributed to it in the 

 well-known ballad : — 



" The Ruddock would, 



With charitable bUl, bring thee all this, 



Yea, and furred moss besides, when flowers are none, 



To winter-ground thy corse."— Cymbeline, Act iv. scene 2. 



