The Robin. 3 1 1 



on bread, German paste, egg, ants' eggs, mealworms, gentles, and a constant supply of fruit ; but 

 it never throve ; and this gentleman gives it as his opinion that they require meat introduced into 

 their food. 



The Robin is undoubtedly the most popular of all the feathered tribe. In our earliest 

 childhood he is closely associated with many of those nursery rhymes which strike so deeply 

 into the childish mind that they are never thoroughly forgotten. He is par excellence the 

 pet of the nursery ; and as years grow upon us, who does not look upon Robin as an old 

 friend .'' Even the school-boy hesitates to take its nest. Bold he is, and appeals to our feelings 

 with a fearless confidence, expressing by his actions the wants that wintry snows have cast 

 upon him ; for it is then, when almost all our songsters have departed, and those remaining are 

 mute, that Robin shows his individuality, and with a sure instinct approaches the habitations 

 of man, certain as he is to receive his full share of the crumbs that fall from the table. If 

 not attended to he will sometimes even tap at the window until he has attracted attention, 

 and has been known to fearlessly enter into the room if the window be opened. He is, as 

 it were, a connecting link between the happy family seated in comfort around the yule log 

 fire and those who are doomed to be the sport of every bleak wind that whistles through the 

 naked trees. At Christmastide he takes a place in our thoughts almost as palpable as the 

 holly that decks our walls ; indeed, his presence would seem to be actual ; for see, there he is 

 hopping amongst the shrubs, now on the holly bough, now on the laurel, approaching nearer 

 and nearer to the window, his brown back and bright breast showing most conspicuously against 

 the white snow, his full bright eye looking with confidence at the children who are pressing 

 their faces against the window to catch a glimpse of poor Cock Robin. Instances are on record 

 of Robins that have become so tame as even to feed from the hands of their benefactors. 



It is not a very uncommon occurrence for a bird to take up its winter quarters in a 

 house, making itself thoroughly at home, and in some instances feeding from the plates upon the 

 table. A story is told of one which had taken a partiality to a house, and became so tame 

 that it would peck from off the very plates from which the iimiates were eating. " Bob," as this 

 bird is sometimes called, resented any intruders, and was so exceedingly jealous that on one 

 occasion, having observed his reflection in a looking-glass, he flew at it in a most furious rage, 

 and beat himself quite out of breath against it ; for with all his virtues he is a most pugnacious 

 fellow, and will keep the whole of his domain perfectly free of any other bird, more especially 

 of his own species. Often will he troll forth his carol, and become most excited at hearing a 

 rival answering it from a neighbouring post of vantage : the challenge has been given, song is 

 answered by song, until eventually the stranger invades the territory of the Robin in possession, 

 who will, immediately the imaginary boundary line is crossed, fly most furiously at the invader. 

 A most terrific conflict ensues, and so furiously will they fight that they often kill one another. 

 They have been found so engaged in their encounter as to become totally oblivious of every- 

 thing else, and will then even allow themselves to be taken by the hand rather than relinquish 

 the combat. 



Robins take a liking to a certain locality, and will return to it every winter, until 

 spring-time tempts them once more to the woods and fields. They live separately until the 

 pairing season, when they seem most devoted partners. The cock generally selects a post or 

 topmost branch of a tree, or the end of a wall, in fact any prominent projection, whence he 

 trolls out his carol, which is first introduced by a sharp " tsit, tsit," accompanied by a ludicrous 

 bowing and up-and-down motion with his tail. His song is very telling, especially in the winter- 



