SOME BIRD MYTHS. 



"THE first keen touch of winter leads to our doors 

 the fearless and familiar robin. His appearance 

 is so consonant with our ideas of Christmas that we 

 regard him as a natural feature in the leafless landscape 

 a sort of recognised property in the winter scenery 

 of poet and of painter. We think of him too as a 

 bold-hearted bird, who will face the cold blast and the 

 bitter snowfall ; a faithful vassal who stands by us 

 when less constant friends depart. This part of his 

 character, it must be confessed, is somewhat over- 

 drawn ; for he too is a migrant and a rover after all. 



As the cold grows sharper and the food supply con- 

 sequently shorter, crowds of redbreasts cross the sea, 

 and some of them probably go as far even as the oases 

 of the great Sahara. Those individuals, who, from 

 previous experience, rely on the provision made for 

 them on friendly doorsteps and window-sills may stay 

 with us ; and many interesting instances are recorded 

 of 'redbreasts who have boldly quartered themselves 

 for the winter in dwelling-houses, and have even taken 

 their meals with the family. 



