NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



the Cross and " tried with all its little 

 might to diminish the anguish of the 

 crown of thorns." 



It was an old and popular belief that 

 Robins covered over the bodies of dead 

 men with leaves, hence John Webster's 

 ballad : 



" Call for the Robin Redbreast and the Wren,* 

 Since o'er shady groves they hover, 

 And with leaves and flowers do cover 

 The friendless bodies of unburied men " : 



and the well-known one, " Babes in the 

 Wood." 



Although Cock Robin is at all times a 

 bold bird in defence of his rights, and at 

 some seasons liable to be considered quar- 

 relsome and spiteful, he undoubtedly 

 has his good points. For instance, one 

 has been known lovingly and diligently 

 to feed his mate after she had sus- 

 tained some injury to her bill which ren- 

 dered her unable to peck for herself, and 

 I have myself watched and even photo- 

 graphed a Redbreast in the charitable 



* During the middle ages it was a generally 

 accepted belief that Jenny Wren was Cock Robin's 

 mate, and curiously enough, many people still think 

 that Wrens are female Robins. Of course such is 

 not at all the case, as the birds belong to widely 

 different species. 



20 



