378 FACTS AND INFERENCES, GRAVE AND (JAY. 



upon the golden scallop of a picture frame ; but it hates 

 all forwardness in others, and will not voluntarily come hi 

 contact with any hand, however beautiful. It hops de- 

 lighted, singing as it goes with low and plaintive note, 

 along the comfortable carpet, or, darting up suddenly 

 towards the window-frame, will utter a louder gush of 

 angrier melody on seeing some orange-breasted brother, 

 perched on leafless spray, still braving the increasing dark- 

 ness. For a time, just before nightfall, he seems himself 

 to suffer from some uneasy instinct, or probably desires, 

 from habit, to secure his usual perch in old fantastic yew 

 or thick-screened body ; but, on second thoughts, he soon 

 assumes some quiet corner, above the reach of curious 

 children's hands. Not seldom, when the evening fire 

 burns brightest, he descends on muffled wing, his large 

 and liquid eye dilated less with fear than quiet wonder, 

 and after a brief survey, he re-ascends his place of safety. 

 Although this bird remains about our doors throughout 

 the summer, building near out-houses and in orchards, 



yet 



" Some red-breasts love amid the deepest groves 

 Retired to pass the summer days. Their song 

 Among the birchen boughs, with sweetest fall 

 Is warbled, pausing, — then resumed more sweet, 

 More sad. that to an ear grown fanciful, 

 The babes, the wood, the men. rise in review, 

 And robin still repeats the tragic line." 



We have a notion, that in Scotland the female red-breast 



