THE REDBREAST. 73 



the brushwood, and containing the unfledged offspring of the poor 

 Robin, who was defending them against the enemy as well as she 

 could; rising above it in the air, and then coming down with a swoop, 

 and endeavouring to drive her bill into its head. The man immediately 

 dislodged the adder, and while he was killing it, the Robin perched 

 upon his arm, and testified her joy and gratitude by unmistakable signs. 

 Then, when she had pecked awhile at the lifeless trunk of her enemy, 

 and ascertained that all was safe in her nest, she settled upon the 

 branch of a neighbouring tree and piped out a song of triumph. 



Some of our readers have no doubt heard of the small dog, which 

 being attacked and beaten by a larger one, formed an alliance with 

 one yet larger than his enemy, and bringing this new ally to the scene 

 of his disaster, had the satisfaction of seeing summary punishment 

 inflicted on the offender. This is what a Robin did under the like 

 provocation. Our red-breasted friend had been regularly fed at a certain 

 house to which he came in the winter, and one day seeing a sparrow 

 there also partaking of the dole, he attacked the intruder with great 

 fury, and drove it away. But the defeated sparrow called some relatives 

 to help him, and coming again, drove the Robin from the crumb- 

 strewed board, and the sparrows feasted away rejoicingly. However, 

 they did not long remain in possession of the field, for the next day 

 back came Robinet, with a dusky crow, whose beak was too formidable 

 for a sparrow to come near. So this strangely-assorted pair kept the 

 supplies as long as they needed them. 



Woe be to the intruder on Master Bobby's favourite places of resort, 

 especially if they are feeding grounds. Desirous of witnessing an 

 exhibition of the bird's pugnacity, a gentleman once placed a stuffed 

 Robin by a window, to which a live pensioner of the same species used 

 bo come, just within the glass, against which the living bird flew with 

 great vehemence and with fell intent; here he could not do much, but 

 when the bird effigy was placed outside, at it went the live Robin, 

 pecking at its eyes, and plucking out its feathers, in a most savage 

 manner. 



The Robin is exceedingly attached to its mate, with which very 

 probably it is paired until the death of one takes place. A female of 

 this species, which was caught and caged in November, was for several 

 weeks constantly attended by the male, which retired from the cage 

 very unwillingly when any one approached it, uttering complaining 

 cries if excluded from the room in which the cage was hung. Of 

 Robin's boldness and familiarity when driven by inclement weather 

 and scarcity of food, to seek the protection of man, instances out of 

 number might be quoted. There was one which quartered itself in 



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