ROBIN. 53 



creditable to the parishioners, particularly the junior 

 portion of them, that the birds were never molested, 

 and not an attempt even suspected to be made on the 

 nest and eggs deposited in so hallowed a spot." The 

 Bishop adds : " We can remember, indeed, a Robin 

 hopping more than once familiarly, as if aware how safe 

 from peril it was at such a moment, upon our own 

 Bible, as it lay open before us, reading the lessons on 

 Christmas Day." 



One more anecdote seems not out of place here. 

 The mizzen-mast of the Victory^ beside which Lord 

 Nelson was standing when he received his death- 

 wound, was placed by William IV in a building in the 

 grounds of Bushy Park. In the hole left by a cannon- 

 shot in the mast, a pair of Robins built their nest, and 

 reared their young. Mr. Morris tells us that this 

 interesting relic is now in the armoury of Windsor 

 Castle. 



The Robin feeds principally upon insects, earwigs, 

 and worms, and also upon different kinds of berries. 

 He may occasionally annex a few currants ; but he is, 

 on the whole, a real benefactor to the gardener and 

 agriculturist, on whose footsteps he may be seen con- 

 stantly to attend, waiting with anxious expectation, like 

 Mr. Micawber, for " something to turn up." 



I may be permitted to close this notice with two 

 Robin poems, which often occur to my own mind. One 

 accounts for the red upon his breast in this fashion : 



" Bearing His cross, while Christ passed forth forlorn, 

 His Godlike forehead by the mock crown torn, 

 A little bird took from that crown one thorn, 

 To soothe the dear Redeemer's throbbing head. 

 That bird did what she could His blood, 'tis said, 

 Down dropping, dyed her tender bosom red. 



