136 



thing fragrance. By the usual association of ideas, we there- 

 fore listen with more pleasure to this cheerful bird than to many 

 others possessed of far superior powers, and much greater vari- 

 ety. Even his nest is held more sacred among schoolboys than 

 that of some others; and while they will exult in plundering a 

 Jay's or a Cat- bird's, a general sentiment of respect prevails on 

 the discovery of a Robin's. Whether he owes not some little of 

 this veneration to the well known and long established charac- 

 ter of his namesake in Britain, by a like association of ideas, I 

 will not pretend to determine. He possesses a good deal of his 

 suavity of manners; and almost always seeks shelter for his 

 young in summer, amd subsistence for himself in the extremes 

 of winter, near the habitations of man. 



The Robin inhabits the whole of North America from Hud- 

 son's bay to Nootka sound, and as far south as Georgia, though 

 they rarely breed on this side the mountains farther south than 

 Virginia. Mr. Forster says, that about the beginning of May they 

 make their appearance in pairs at the settlements of Hudson's 

 bay, at Severn river; and adds, a circumstance altogether un- 

 worthy of belief, viz. that at Moose fort they build, lay and 

 hatch in fourteen days ! but that at the former place, four de- 

 grees more north, they are said to take twenty-six days. * They 

 are also common in Newfoundland, quitting these northern 

 parts in October. The young during the first season are spotted 

 with white on the breast, and at that time have a good deal of 

 resemblance to the Fieldfare of Europe. 



Mr. Hearne informs us, that the red-breasted Thrushes, are 

 commonly called at Hudson's bay the Red-birds; by some the 

 Blackbirds, on account of their note; and by others the Ame- 

 rican Fieldfares. That they make their appearance at Churchill 

 river about the middle of May, and migrate to the south early 

 in the fall. They are seldom seen there but in pairs; and are 

 never killed for their flesh except by the Indian boys.t 



* Phil. Trans. Ixii, 399. 



f Journey to the Northern Ocean, p. 418, quarto. Lond. 1795. 



