132 BIRDS' NESTS. 



ROBIN. Erythaca Eubecula. 



PLATE VIII. FIG. 1. 



MOST books on British birds contain ac- 

 counts of singular places chosen by this 

 familiar little bird wherein to build its nest. 

 The following instance may be added to the 

 list : In the author's garden is a thatched 

 shed, daily resorted to by many persons for 

 the purpose of sifting earth, mixing soil, pot- 

 ting plants, &c. Immediately over the place 

 where these operations were carried on, there 

 stood, in the spring of 1853, an empty beehive. 

 A pair of robins discovered and approved this 

 site for their habitation, and so little were they 

 disturbed by the intrusion of visitors, that they 

 actually reared their brood before the nest was 

 found. Most frequently, the nest is placed in a 

 long hole of a bank or hedge, sheltered by moss 

 or weeds, and not unfrequently in an ivy-covered 

 wall, such as that described in Mrs. Trimmer's 

 inimitable tale. The eggs, about five in num- 

 ber, are dull white, spotted with light red. 



