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THE ROBIN. 

 (Erithacus rubecula.) 



THE Robin is one of the cleverest courtiers. It alights 

 on the ground, alternately appears and vanishes for a 

 few moments, then suddenly stands still, makes a low 

 bow, droops its wings, raises its tail, then looks up at 

 one with shining eyes, full of confidence, as if to say : 

 " I trust you." It hunts beetles with great energy, and 

 does not even recoil before the slug, still less before a 

 small earthworm, which the lordly hedge-sparrow would 

 not touch for all the world. 



Sometimes it flies on to a high branch, keeping quite 

 still, except that now and then it makes a bow and raises 

 its tail ; then all at once it flies to the ground, pounces 

 on the awaited booty, returns to its bough and devours 

 its prey. Its song is beautiful, exquisite, rivalling, but 

 not excelling, that of the Lark. The bird sits quietly 

 and sings, and is in no hurry to cease. Its cry is a light 

 piercing " see." 



It is a bird which may be said to become tame almost 

 immediately when caught. It likes to move at liberty 

 about a room. Poor people with us like to keep it, for it 

 catches the flies in the room, the spiders in the corners 

 or even on the bed; or any other moving thing. This 

 bonny bird deserves every protection. 



The ways of the "cheery little Ruddock," as Shakes- 

 peare calls him, are so well known that it is not necessary 



