THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 39 



bright russet of his back, the clear white of 

 his breast, with the distinct heart-shaped 

 spots ! It may be objected to Robin that 

 he is noisy and demonstrative; he hurries 

 away or rises to a branch with an angry 

 note, and flirts his wings in ill-bred sus- 

 picion. The mavis, or red-thrush, sneaks 

 and skulks like a culprit, hiding in the 

 densest alders; the cat-bird is a coquette 

 and a flirt, as well as a sort of female Paul 

 Pry; and the chewink shows his inhospi- 

 tality by espying your movements like a 

 Japanese. The wood-thrush has none of 

 these under-bred traits. He regards me un- 

 suspiciously, or avoids me with a noble re- 

 serve, or, if I am quiet and incurious, 

 graciously hops toward me, as if to pay his 

 respects, or to make my acquaintance. I 

 have passed under his nest within a few feet 

 of his mate and brood, when he sat near by 

 on a branch eying me sharply, but without 

 opening his beak ; but the moment I raised 

 my hand toward his defenceless household 

 his anger and indignation were beautiful to 

 behold. 



What a noble pride he has ! Late one Oc- 

 tober, after his mates and companions had 

 long since gone South, I noticed one for sev- 



