THE REDBREAST. 51 



of trees, tufts of ivy or thick bushes, concealing 

 it carefully from observation. They are some- 

 times known to cover it completely with leaves, 

 leaving only an entrance in an oblique direction, 

 and stopping it up with a leaf when they go out. 

 They rear two or three broods in the year. The 

 hen deposits from five to seven eggs in the nest, 

 and her companion shares with her in the trouble 

 of hatching them, sitting on them in the middle 

 of the day, when she goes in search of food. 



We are compelled to admit, that robin, with all 

 his attractions, and all his amiable qualities, is not 

 celebrated for exhibiting a spirit of love and for- 

 bearance towards his brethren of the ruby breast. 

 Heis, in fact, one of themostpugnaciousandquar- 

 relsome of birds. Few persons can have observed 

 his habits, without discerning him many times en- 

 gaged in desperate battles. We well remember 

 seeing a most dexterous mouser and bird-catcher 

 of the feline race, rush in at the open door of a 

 dining-room, where a family party was assembled, 

 and run under the table with two robins, which 

 she had just pounced upon in the garden, while 

 in the act of fighting. So earnestly were they 

 engaged in the contest, that they did not per- 

 ceive her approach ; and she actually seized them 

 both by their necks at one gripe, their heads 

 sticking out at either side of her mouth. A ladv 



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