50 THE REDBREAST. 



perfect confidence he reposes in us; so that he is 

 safe, even when within the reach of man. There 

 is too an additional security for the robin, arising 

 out of the various proverbs and legends, which 

 in some sort cast a charm around him, and seem, 

 as by a powerful spell, to protect him from injury. 

 Perhaps no one thing has tended more to produce 

 this effect, than the pathetic ballad of the " Babes 

 in the Wood;" that touching story, which has 

 called forth more tears of tender pity in childhood, 

 than any other nursery tale in our language. Cer- 

 tain it is, that this little bird is held sacred by all. 

 The school-boy who ventures to do him violence, 

 must be a hardy fellow. Such a deed of un- 

 wonted cruelty would mark him with a brand 

 of disgrace in the eyes of his companions. His 

 sociability with man has acquired for him, in 

 many countries, some familiar name : with us, 

 he is Robin Redbreast ; in Sweden he is Tomi 

 Liden ; in Germany he is Thomas Gierdet ; 

 while the Norwegian peasant gives him the name, 

 Peter Ronsmad. Except in the summer, when 

 he shares his home in the wood with his mate 

 and his young, he is always seen alone. 



Robins are never met with in flocks under any 

 circumstances. They are found all over Europe, 

 from Spain and Italy, to Sweden. They make 

 their nest generally near the ground, in the roots 



