188 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



call-note, and if this be imitated, all the redbreasts 

 in the neighboui'hood will quickly be gathered to 

 the spot. The old notion, once generally believed 

 in England, that a chorus of robins preceded the 

 death of some inmate of a dwelling near, is almost 

 forgotten now : but a chorus is rarely heard, for 

 the robin sings and dwells alone. 



White, of Selborne, remarked that the songsters 

 of the autumn seem to be the young male red- 

 breasts of that year ; and this statement is con- 

 firmed by many observers. Our poor little birds 

 are seldom caged in this country, nor is there 

 much inducement to imj)rison them thus, for 

 though they will now and then utter a merry carol 

 when in confinement, yet they are usually dull 

 and dispirited, and seem anxious to escape. In 

 Germany they are, however, kept in aviaries and 

 large rooms, with better success, and soon become 

 tame. Several of our good singing birds can be 

 taught to imitate the human voice, and ^Ir. Syme 

 tells us of a redbreast, possessed by a lady of his 

 acquaintance, which very distinctly pronounced 

 tlie words, " How do you do? " 



It is, perhaps, as much by its touching song, as 

 by its confidence in man, that the robin is a 

 favom-ite in most countries. Every^vbe^e some 



