THE REDBREAST. 83 



voured what he had got. Cleaning his bill, he chirped a note of 

 satisfaction, jumped down, hopped a few strides, lifted another 

 worm, and disappeared among the bushes, as if he had done some- 

 thing wrong. The hurried movement, however, was very soon 

 explained by his re-appearance in a few seconds, followed by 

 another robin, who at once closed with him in deadly conflict. 

 In the confusion of their movements, of course, I could not tell 

 the one from the other, but I allowed them to settle their battle, 

 which ended in the death of one of the combatants. I could 

 hardly have believed it possible for birds with bills so slender to 

 destroy each other so quickly; they did not fight longer than five 

 minutes. 



But although his character for occasional, if not frequent pug- 

 nacity cannot be disputed, the Redbreast is in the main a confiding, 

 happy, and contented fellow. Often when other birds are silent 

 and depressed during the tedious weeks of hard weather in early 

 spring, he will mount joyously from his frozen haunts, and, as if 



" Proud o' the height of some bit half-lang tree," 



pour out his artless notes so happily, that the listener cannot help 

 wondering at the contentment of the redbreasted philosopher. It 

 must indeed have been the robin of whom a good man lately said 



" The bird is your true poet. I have seen him 

 When the snow wrapped his seeds, and not a crumb 

 Was in his larder, perch upon a branch, 

 And sing from his brave heart a song of trust 

 In Providence, who feeds him though he sows not, 

 Nor gathers into barns. Whatever his fears 

 Or sorrows be, his spirit bears him up. 

 Cares ne'er o'ermaster him, for 'tis his wont 

 To stifle them with music. Out of sight 

 He buries them in the depth of his sweet song, 

 And gives them a melodious sepulture." 



I have frequently observed that in the evenings, when the robin 

 sings from a high perch, such as the top of a tree, or the edge of 

 a chimney-can on the house top, one may calculate with certainty 

 on fine weather for next day. 



