CHANGES WITH THE SEASONS. . 89 



Eang joyously, and thou alone art left 



Sole minstrel of the dull and sinking year. 



But trust me, Warbler, lovelier lay than this. 



Which now thou pourest to the chilling eve, 



The joy-inspiring Summer never knew. 



The very children love to hear thy tale, 



And talk of thee in many a legend wild, 



And bless thee for those touching notes of thine ! 



Sweet household bird, that infancy and age 



Delight to cherish, thou dost well repay 



The frequent crumbs that generous hands bestow ; 



Beguiling man with minstrelsy divine, 



And cheering his dark hours, and teaching him 



Through cold and gloom, Autumn and Winter, HOPE, 



Who feeds the fowls of air, shall He forget 



His own elect ones, who their every want 



To Him in prayer and thankfulness make known ? 



To this we may add some curious observations upon 

 the changes noticeable in the song of the Robin in accord- 

 ance with the atmospheric changes of the seasons : * Few 

 observers of nature can have passed unheeded the sweet- 

 ness and peculiarity of the song of the Robin, and its various 

 indications with regard to the atmospheric changes; the 

 mellow liquid notes of spring and summer, the melancholy 

 sweet pipings of autumn, and the jerking chirps of winter. 

 In spring, when about to change his winter song for the 

 vernal, he warbles for a short time, in a strain so unusual, 

 as at first to startle and puzzle even those ears most expe- 

 rienced in the notes of birds. He may be considered as 

 part of the naturalist's barometer. On a summer evening, 

 though the weather may be in an unsettled and rainy state, 

 he sometimes takes his stand on the topmost twig, or on 

 the " house top," singing cheerfully and sweetly. When 

 this is observed, it is an unerring promise of succeeding 

 fine days. Sometimes, though the atmosphere is dry and 

 warm, he may be seen melancholy, chirping, and brooding 

 in a bush, or low in a hedge : this promises the reverse of 

 his merry lay and exalted station.' 



Nor should Graham e's poetical picture of the manners 

 and habits of our brisk little favourite be omitted : 



How simply unassuming is that strain ! 



It is the Redbreast's song, the friend of man. 



