A MARVELLOUS BUILDER. 85 



Turner, has given an extraordinary account of this lively 

 little builder's mode of proceeding on such occasions. He 

 says that t The Robinet, which hath a red breast, both in 

 summer and winter nestleth as far as possible from towns 

 and cities, in the thickest copses and orchards, after this 

 manner. When she hath found many oak leaves, she 

 constructeth a nest, and when built, covereth it in with arch- 

 work, leaving only one way for entrance, for which purpose 

 she buildeth with leaves a long porch before the doorway, 

 the which when going out to feed she covereth up with 

 leaves.' And then, as if there might be some doubt of 

 the accuracy of this statement, he adds : * These things 

 which I now write, I observed when a boy, though I do 

 not deny that she may zndificate otherwise ; and if any one 

 curious in such matters hath observed her build differently, 

 it will be a gratification to me to learn the same ; I have 

 related candidly that which I have seen.' And certainly 

 a marvellous thing it was ; quite a phenomenon. If the 

 Robin built in that way two centuries ago, she or he has 

 quite forgotten the art now. We never find that she 

 makes a domed nest, or builds a porch to the entrance. 

 She certainly does * Nidificate' (nidificate we should say) 

 otherwise now, and sometimes chooses strange places for 

 building and rearing her young, often where we should 

 least expect to find them. Although it is generally 

 away in the copse, or hedge, or greenwood wild, yet, 

 as Mant says, 



No less the Redbreast makes his bower 



For nestling in the vernal hour, 



In thatch, or root of aged tree, 



Moss-grown, or arching cavity 



Of bank, or garden's refuse heap, 



Or where the broad-leaved tendrils creep 



Of ivy, and an arbour spread 



O'er trellised porch or cottage-shed. 



So, as we pass the homestead round, 



At every change of place the sound 



Of Robin's voice salutes the ear, 



Carolling to his partner near ; 



And with sure gaze the observant eye 



May Robin's hidden home descry. 



