THE ROBIN. 115 



separated blossoms in its calyx before expansion, and 

 in that particular is analogous to the buds of icosandri- 

 ous trees in the garden ; and the full-petalled swelling 

 bloom of the latter affords a fine treat for their feasts ; 

 but we may permit these pretty birds to banquet here, 

 though, if we expect a supply of summer fruit, we must 

 unsparingly drive them away from the branches of our 

 frugiferous trees. The blossoms of the peach, necta- 

 rine, and almond, I have never observed to be injured 

 by these birds : the sparrow will pick away the buds of 

 trees against walls when they frequent such places, but, 

 with this exception, I know none but the bull-finch 

 which resort to that food as a regular supply. 



The robin (motacilla rubecola) associated with ma- 

 lignants is not, perhaps, in the place where it generally 

 would be sought ; but sad truths might be told of it too. 

 It might be called pugnacious, jealous, selfish, quarrel- 

 some, did I not respect ancient feelings, and long-es- 

 tablished sentiments. A favorite by commiseration, it 

 seeks an asylum with us ; by supplication and importu- 

 nity it becomes a partakef of our bounty in a season of 

 severity and want ; and its seeming humbleness and 

 necessities obtain our pity : but it slights and forgets 

 our kindnesses the moment it can provide for itself, and 

 is away to its woods and its shades. Yet it has some 

 little coaxing ways, and such fearless confidence, that 

 it wins our regard; and its late autumnal song, in even- 

 ing's dusky hour, as a monologue is pleasing, and re- 

 deems much of its character. The universality of this 

 bird in all places, and almost at all hours, is very re- 

 markable ; and perhaps there are few spots so lonely, in 

 which it would not appear, did we commence digging 

 up the ground. I have often been surprised in the 

 midst of woods, where no suspicion of its presence ex- 

 isted, when watching some other creature, to see the 

 robin inquisitively perched upon some naked spray near 

 me ; or, when digging up a plant in some very retired 

 place, to observe its immediate descent upon some poor 

 worm that I had moved. The robin loses nearly all 

 the characteristic color from its breast in the summer, 

 when it moults, and only recovers it on the approach of 



