398 THE REDBREAST. 



ADDITIONAL. Thefollowing observations upon this well-known 

 bird, are extracted from a beautiful work on the Song Birds of 

 Britain, by JOHN COTTON, F.Z.S.* 



" The Redbreast, or Robin, as he is occasionally denominated, 

 is familiar with us from childhood. Before we can read, we 

 learn to repeat the fabled story of poor Cock-Robin's death and 

 burial. In all countries he is a favourite, and has what may be 

 called a pet name. The inhabitants of Bornholm call him 

 ' Tommi Liden;' the Norwegians, * Peter Bonsmed ;' the Germans, 

 ' Thomas Guidet ;' and in England he is called by the more 

 familiar appellation of ' Bob.' 



" WORDSWORTH thus poetically addresses the Redbreast : 

 4 Art thou the bird whom man loves best, 

 The pious bird with the scarlet breast, 



Our little English Robin ; 

 The bird that comes about our doors 

 When autumn winds are sobbing ? 

 Art thou the Peter of Norway boors ? 

 Their Thomas in Finland, 

 And Russia far inland ? 

 The bird who by some name or other 

 All men who know thee call thee brother, 

 The darling of children and men ?' 



" The melodious notes of this little favourite are well known. 

 Its song is sweet and well supported,' and is continued almost 

 throughout the year. During spring the Redbreast haunts the 

 wood, the grove, and the garden ; it generally retires to thick 

 hedge rows or other secluded spots to breed in, and is then 

 seldom heard till autumn ; when, on the retirement of our sum- 

 mer visitors, he again makes his appearance about our houses, 

 and awakens our former attachment by pouring out his soft 

 liquid carol, perched on some neighbouring shrub. It becomes 

 the companion of the gardener, or faggot-maker in the woods, 

 fluttering around and chirping its slender Pip! But when the 

 cold grows more severe, and thick snow covers the ground, or 

 frost hardens its surface, it approaches our houses, taps at the 

 closed casement, casting sidelong glances in-doors, as envious 

 of the warm abode. It is probably attracted to the habitations 

 of man by the shelter that it there obtains from the rigour of the 

 weather, and in search of the insects that are collected in great 

 numbers by the same cause." 



On the subject of the extreme pugnacity of this bird, WOOD 

 has the following remarks : 



" My esteemed correspondent, Mr. BLYTH, says he has seen 

 two of these birds fight in his garden until one was killed ; and 

 * Privately printed, 1836. 



