C[,ARKK and NKl.SON : THE lilRDS OK VORKSHIRK. 85 



ERITHACUS RUBECULA (Z.). 

 Redbreast. 



A resident, widely distributed and abundant. A regular spring 

 and autumn misrant. 



'Erithaca rubicula— resident.' — Thomas AHis, 1844. 



Though generally distributed in the county the Robin is in 

 the dale and moorland districts much less abundant, though by 

 no means absent, save in the wilder and uninhabited localities 

 where suitable haunts do not exist. In the populous manu- 

 facturing towns its presence is most familiar in the autumn and 

 winter, for during the spring and summer months many retire 

 to nest in the more secluded parts of their immediate neighbour- 

 hood. Usually described and considered a resident species, 

 this bird can only partially be considered as such. True it is 

 that we always have it with us, but the increased attention paid 

 to that interesting and important branch of ornithology — 

 migration — has made us aware of the fact that the Redbreast is 

 undoubtedly a migrant to and from our shores. In the autumn 

 months, from August to November, many migratory Robins are 

 observed on our coast line, and often in very large numbers. 

 As the bird is strictly a summer visitant to northern Europe, as 

 well as migratory in the central countries of the continent, no 

 doubt these immigrants are continental birds en route to their 

 accustomed winter quarters, some of them probably remaining 

 with us until the spring. It is not unlikely, however, that many 

 of these migrants among the Robins are home-bred birds on the 

 move to more genial climes, whose absence we scarcely notice, 

 since their places are soon afterwards filled by the arrival of 

 individuals from more northern British and, as we have stated, 

 continental localities. In fact the Robin is to a greater or lesser 

 degree a summer and winter migrant, but to what extent is not 

 clearly established. 



