72 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



strive if possible to excel its opponent in the superiority 

 of its song. I have heard these birds when so engaged 

 in these contests commence in such high notes, that to 

 complete the full song was impossible. And thus the 

 concert proceeds, until one of the actors will eventually 

 sing its opponent out of the contest, when it will utter a 

 few notes, as if of challenge, and, if not answered, drop 

 silently down into the underwood. The Robin is one of 

 the first birds to greet the coming dawn with his notes, 

 and also one of the last, if not the last, to retire in the 

 evening. It is at these times the Robin is most lively, 

 and his notes are often heard when their author can- 

 not be seen amongst the falling shadows of night. 



In the moulting season the Robin is but seen occa- 

 sionally, and never heard to sing ; the young birds are 

 the most frequently seen, and it is their sharp call notes 

 we most frequently hear. Our other songsters, with few 

 exceptions, lose their song in the autumnal moult : not 

 so the Robin ; for after this important season is passed, 

 which takes place in July, the Robin regains his notes, 

 to continue them throughout the winter. First we hear 

 them singing in very small numbers, but as August 

 passes away these numbers increase, and when Septem- 

 ber arrives they are in full song once more ; and perhaps 

 there is nothing more beautiful in all animated nature 

 at this season of the year than the evening song of this 

 pretty warbler when given forth in the dusk of a Sep- 

 tember evening. The autumnal fog is creeping up the 

 valley ; the Bat, with squeaking notes, darts round the tall 

 elm trees, taking the place of the day-flying Swallow ; 

 the Starling has repaired to his roosting-place, the Thrush 

 and Blackbird are at rest ; the solemn stillness of the 

 woods is perhaps broken by the drowsy hum of a noc- 

 turnal beetle or the lowing of the cattle in a neighbour- 



