CHAPTER VIII. 



DAYS AMONG THE ROBINS. 



TO those who know, or have known, the Aus- 

 tralian Robins "at home" in their native 

 haunts the very name carries a strong 

 suggestion of the free spaces of the land. There is a 

 subtle tang in the word, something to make the 

 heart beat faster at the impulse of memories of Win- 

 ter days among the little scarlet gems of the open 

 areas, and Springtime communings with the yellow- 

 breasted nymphs of the woods. What a happy coin- 

 cidence it is, too, that most of the scientific titles 

 bestowed upon these lovable birds hold a pleasant 

 significance ! Moreover, if not all of them are musi- 

 cal, they have nothing of the "mouth-filling" appear- 

 ance that causes some folk to wrinkle supercilious 

 noses at certain Latin names. 



Australia has, as set out by the Royal Australasian 

 Ornithologists' Union, as many as 26 varieties of 

 Robins, divided into eight genera. Comprising 

 these are Red-breasts (4), Wood-Robins (4), 

 Dusky-Robins (2), Shrike-Robins (12), Scrub- 

 Robins (3), and one Fly-Robin. With the point as 

 to whether any or all of these birds are true Robins 

 according to the scientific standard I am not con- 

 cerned; it is sufficient to know that they are of 

 economic value to Australia, that many of them are 



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