HOBIN. 137 



Several authors have asserted, that the Red-Breasted Thrush 

 cannot brook the confinement of the cage; and never sings in 

 that state. But, except the Mocking-bird ( Turdus potyglottos], 

 I know of no native bird which is so frequently domesticated, 

 agrees better with confinement, or sings in that state more agree- 

 ably than the Robin. They generally suffer severely in moult- 

 ing time, yet often live to a considerable age. A lady who 

 resides near Tarrytown, on the banks of the Hudson, informed 

 me, that she raised, and kept one of these birds for seventeen 

 years; which sung as well, and looked as sprightly, at that age 

 as ever; but was at last unfortunately destroyed by a cat. The 

 morning is their favourite time for song. In passing through 

 the streets of our large cities, on Sunday, in the months of April 

 and May, a little after day-break, the general silence which 

 usually prevails without at that hour, will enable you to distin- 

 guish every house where one of these songsters resides, as he 

 makes it then ring with his music. 



Not only the plumage of the Robin, as of many other birds, 

 is subject to slight periodical changes of colour, but even the 

 legs, feet, and bill: the latter, in the male, being frequently 

 found tipt and ridged for half its length with black. In the depth 

 of winter their plumage is generally best; at which time the full- 

 grown bird, in his most perfect dress, appears as exhibited in 

 the plate. 



VOL. II.- 



