92 A FAMILIAR BIRD. 



summer's sport ; and the memory of his winter visit of 

 familiarity, his chirp of gratitude for his pittance, and the 

 early song with which he serenades his benefactors before 

 taking his seasonal departure for the coppice, remains ; and 

 the boys spare the Kobin's nest, in order that the winter 

 visitant may return again with confidence.' 



This agrees with the testimony of William Kidd, that 

 most genial and bird-like of men, whose soul overflows 

 with love and humanity. He says that kindness is the key 

 to all hearts, whether of birds or men ; and that the Eobin 

 is peculiarly susceptible of its sweet influences, becoming 

 familiar at once, if only approached in the right way. And 

 while on this point we may quote with advantage 

 the following paragraph from Percy St. John's l Birds :' 

 1 John M'Kelvie, gardener to the lady of the late 

 General Hughes, at her seat of Mount Charles, beauti- 

 fully situated on the banks, and near the mouth of 

 the classic Doon, has a host of winged companions, all of 

 which come at his call, flutter around him in the garden, 

 and feed from his hand. At the head of this feathered 

 tribe stands a Redbreast, which all but speaks, in return for 

 the long kind treatment it has experienced from its master. 

 This bird, when called upon, will fly from the farthest point 

 at which it can hear his voice, alight on his hand at once, 

 and without any apprehensions, pick its meal ; and often- 

 times will sit on his shoulder, as he walks or works, and 

 nestles in his bosom in well-known security. Nay more ; 

 when the gardener goes to town, if the Robin by any chance 

 espies him as he departs, it gives him an escort, chirping 

 and fluttering along the hedges before him, until he reaches 

 the toll-bar, at Alloway Place, on which, or on a neigh- 

 bouring tree, it perches awaiting his return.' 



A close observer of this interesting little bird remarks, 

 that the nursery ballad on the i Children in the Wood,' has 

 done much for its protection. He is a bird which never 

 congregates, but is widely spread ; and there are few loca- 

 lities in the country that are not enlivened by his presence. 

 He is a general attendant on the gardener, particularly on 

 the operations of the spade, in search of worms and insects. 

 He is very familiar, and, if encouraged, soon becomes half- 



