150 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



THE ENGLISH ROBIN. 



AGAINST a dark background of heartlessness, criminal deeds, and ferocity, as 

 portrayed in the "Babes in the Woods," the Robin of Europe stands forth painted 

 in the attractive colors embodying gentleness, kind actions, and whole-souled 83-111- 

 pathy. The author of that stirring tale indicated only partially, however, the 

 endearing qualities of the Robin, not touching at all upon the bird's vocal attain- 

 ments, which are to us equally as interesting a study as are his mental traits. In 

 writing, as that author probably thought, only for such readers as were familiar with 

 the Robin, and daily heard and saw flocks of them, he treated particularly of the 

 noiseless and unembodied qualities which are usually unobserved by the multitude. 



The respect in which this little favorite is held in England has been transmitted 

 to all lands, and the Robin Redbreast abroad almost takes the place of a national 

 bird. If he has not been seen by our readers, he has been sufficiently written about 

 to make him appear as an old acquaintance. He bears no comparison in size or 

 color to the American Robin, but, like him, is held only in the highest estimation. 



In length, the Robin is about five inches and three-quarters ; the beak is dark 

 brown ; the head, neck, back, tail-coverts, and tail, are of a yellowish olive-brown ; 

 the greater wing-coverts are edged with buff ; over the base of the back, around the 

 eyes, and covering the chin, throat, and upper part of the breast, is an orange red, 

 bordered with bluish gray down to the wings ; the lower part of the breast, and the 

 belly, are white. 



The female is somewhat smaller ; and the color on the breast is paler than in the 

 male, resembling yellow more than orange. The young males resemble the females 

 very closely, and do not attain the perfect deep color on the breast until the second 

 year. 



There are also Albino varieties of the Robin, some being wholly white, and others 

 are mottled : the mottled class are very attractive in appearance. 



The Robin is met with in large numbers throughout Europe, and in some parts of 

 England they are seen as frequently as flocks of Sparrows. The European coun- 

 tries must certainly be regarded as the Robin Redbreasts' home, since during their 

 migrations they do not cross its southern boundaries. 



The Robin's nest is placed in holes in the ground, or in hollow trunks of trees, 

 at no great elevation, and is formed of moss, stalks, and leaves, woven together 

 and delicately lined with hair, wool, and feathers. Should the margin of the cavity 

 in which the nest is placed not project in such a manner as to form a sheltering 

 cover, a roof is constructed, and an entrance made in the side. The eggs, which are 

 of a yellowish white marked with reddish-yellow spots, are from five to seven in 



