May 



the bird's object was to prevent its departure rather 

 than to hasten it. 



Watch him as he sings from the low and, pre- 

 ferably, bare branch of a tree, for the robin is no 

 hole-and-corner bird, and likes to sing in full view. 

 His prelude as he takes his perch is generally an 

 incisive " Tet-tera-tet-tet ! " and at once follows the 

 spontaneous burst of song, infinitely varied in its 

 forms, exquisitely pure and penetrating in its 

 quality, the strong glad song of a bird which takes 

 all seasons alike, and strikes its colours to none. 



From a neighbouring tree comes the answering 

 song of another of his kind. Immediately the first 

 songster is all attention. He hears his rival out, 

 then springs up to a higher branch and alights with 

 a movement which seems to say " Now ! " If the 

 second singer do not invade the territory which the 

 first claims by right of prior occupation as his 

 "beat," the vocal duet continues turn and turn 

 about ; for one robin never interrupts another 

 except to fight. Should the second comer, however, 

 invade the other's territory, the latter immedi- 

 ately gives chase. Whether conscience makes a 

 coward of him, or he is surprised by the sudden 

 attack, the invader generally turns tail, hotly 

 followed by the rightful lord of the domain. After 

 the first flight or two, however, the second comer 

 may turn upon his pursuer, who in his turn becomes 

 the fugitive. At the end of each flight, during 

 which the birds are seldom more than a few inches 



157 



