^ THE ROBIN. 



Sylvia rubecula. 

 Erythaea rubecula. 



OST popular of all our song birds, 

 next familiar to the Sparrow, and 

 rivalling' the latter in its confi- 

 dence, the Robin holds a position 

 in the minds of all the English 

 race nearly amounting to super- 

 stition. And this for various 

 reasons, inasmuch as the Robin 

 is not only almost without re- 

 proach as a garden marauder, but 

 is also an efficient member of 

 that self-constituted bird police 

 which keeps down the number of 

 garden pests, and without whose 

 aid the horticulturist would almost 

 entirely fail. Then, again, the 

 Robin has a most exquisite song! 

 composed of strains of great ten- 

 derness and beauty, as well as 

 sweetly-modulated execution. As 

 this song, although somewhat 

 lost in the general chorus of 

 the summer songsters, is con- 

 tinued more or less throughout 

 the year, and especially during 



