38 FAMILIAR WILT) BIRDS. 



winter, when tlio voices of almost all other ])ir(ls are 

 Iiushetlj tlie distinctive warble of tlie Robin comes most 

 gratefully to the ear, i)artieularly ^;o to the dwellers in 

 towns. AVhen winter has set its icy seal npon the woods 

 and meadows, " Bob " (as tiie Robin is sometimes 

 familiarly called), despairinc^ of food in the sylvan haunts 

 of summer, repairs to the habitations of man, well knowing' 

 that the reward of its beautiful sono' will be forthcomino;' 

 in the shape of crumbs, thrown out l)y the lovers of 

 Nature's less shifted but beautiful creatures. 



The plumage of the Robin is composed generally, 

 upon the head, back and tail, of olive-brown, but upon the 

 cheeks, throat, and breast it is a rich orange-red (from 

 which its name of Redbreast is derived) ; this is bordered 

 with bhiish grey, terminating in white upon the under 

 ])arts. The female so slightly diiTi'rs that it is almost 

 impossible to distinguish the sex, although it may be 

 that she is less brightly coloured, and possesses eyes less 

 full and l)old. The y(Ming Kobin, however, is clothed 

 in entirely different plumage, the entire upper part being 

 yellowish olive-brown, mottled with orange and buff, 

 and tipped at the extremity of each feather with pale 

 olive-brcwn ; the chin, throat, and breast are dull reddish- 

 brown, but this colour is materially altered liy the feathers 

 being margined with darker brown. 



Perhj^is n^ other bird has builtits n^st in so many 

 erratic pos ition s as the Robin ; reason seems to have no 

 inlluence over it s ch oice. With a-supedluity of admirable 

 sites close at hand, the most ridiculous_positions are often 

 chosen ; and were it not for the immunity from persecution 

 enjijved by the Robi^n, indeed we may say the protection 

 aft'onled, tliis reekless choice of a nesting-place would 



