THE ROBIN, OR REDBREAST. 117 



vented, as we remarked, by the operations of the 

 woodman or gardener. Daring summer, in re- 

 tired situations, the food is in a great measure 

 composed of insects and their larvae ; indeed, it is 

 similar to that of the Sylvianee, with the excep- 

 tion that earth worms, small slugs, and mollusca, 

 are also sought for and eaten. Notwithstanding 

 the favour in which the Robin is held, his dis- 

 position is not of the mildest character. He will 

 drive intruders of his own size from the vicinity 

 of his- nest ; he will fight with other small birds if 

 placed in confinement with them. In a house in 

 winter, he will take and keep his particular 

 station, and obstinate combats may frequently be 

 witnessed, when one intrudes on the range of 

 another, or attempts to share any limited deposit 

 of food. 



The Robin is very generally distributed over 

 the mainlands of Britain, becoming less frequent 

 towards the south, and disappearing in very alpine 

 districts. In the northern islands, it also almost 

 disappears, and in Shetland is migratory, which 

 is probably the commencement of the range where 

 it begins to be a temporary resident only. In 

 the northern countries of Europe, it continues 

 only during summer, arriving early, and being 

 late in departure. In the south of Europe again, 

 it is stationary through the year, but we have 

 been unable to trace its extent of range in this 

 direction. It has been noticed at Smyrna, and 

 in Northern Africa. 



The crown and upper parts deep yellowish oil 



