312 Ca^T ARIES AND CaGE-BiRDS. 



time, being necessarily more conspicuous then in consequence of the absence of any rivalry from 

 the rest of the feathered tribe. The notes are sweet and varied, consisting of disconnected 

 passages of considerable beauty, and these plaintive warblings he will continue for upwards of 

 half an hour. Though seemingly so bright and cheerful, there is to some minds an inex- 

 pressible undercurrent of melancholy in his song, which sounds almost like an ode to the memory 

 of the summer which has departed, with its accompaniment of sweet songsters ; whilst others 

 hail it as the earnest that spring will return once more ; and one and all are thankful that 

 Robin, who is totally oblivious of these speculations, comes to cheer them in the dull mono- 

 tonous days of winter. Robin also sings in the summer, but his voice is often lost in the general 

 chorus around him. 



The popular idea against keeping Robins obtains even in the present day ; formerly the 

 superstition that Robins brought ill-luck to a house was very great. But many persons have 

 caged them during the winter, and allowed them freedom in spring ; and such have been known 

 to return to their comfortable winter quarters as soon as the inclemency of the weather deprived 

 them of the means of subsistence. 



In length the Robin is about five and three-quarter inches ; the beak is dark brown ; the 

 head, neck, back, tail-coverts, and tail are of a yellowish olive-brown ; the greater wing-coverts 

 are edged with buff; over the base of the beak, round the eyes, and covering the chin, throat, 

 and upper part of the breast is an orange-red, bordered with bluish-grey down to the wings ; 

 the lower part of the breast, and the belly, are white. The female differs but slightly from 

 her mate; most authorities give it that she is smaller and her plumage not so brightly coloured. 

 The sex, however, is very difficult to distinguish. 



The Robin feeds mostly upon worms, caterpillars, insects and their larvae, and fruit and 

 berries. The nest is composed of leaves, moss, dry roots, and grass, lined with hair and a few 

 feathers, placed generally in a hole in a bank ; they are, however, very capricious in their 

 choice of situations, sometimes choosing a flower-pot, an old kettle, or a hole in a wall — in 

 fact, there seems to be no law to guide their choice. The eggs are generally from five to 

 seven in number, of a delicate pale reddish-white, faintly freckled with darker red, the spots being 

 gathered more thickly at the larger end, sometimes forming a ring or zone, though specimens 

 have been found of a pure white. The young are fed principally on worms and caterpillars ; 

 they differ totally from the adult bird, the whole of the upper part being yellowish olive- 

 brown, mottled with orange and buff, each feather having a pale olive-brown tip ; the chin, 

 throat, and breast are dull reddish-brown, the feathers being margined with darker 

 brown. 



The Robin may be kept in any shaped cage, but perhaps it is advisable to keep him in 

 one that is only open in front, as he is very inquisitive, and will think of nothing but watching 

 the other occupants of the room, and while thus engaged forgets to sing. He will thrive on a 

 Nightingale's food, giving him a little more bread. A few small garden-worms will greatly 

 please him, and help to keep him healthy and in good plumage. Some will agree well in an 

 aviary, but being naturally of a pugnacious disposition, will oftentimes attack the other birds, 

 especially those of the same class ; and it is never advisable to have two in the same aviary, as 

 they will undoubtedly fight, and possibly kill one another ; moreover, it sings better in a cage, 

 and they are seldom trustworthy companions. They will breed in confinement, though they get 

 verj' quarrelsome during the time of incubation, and if in an aviary may kill or injure the other 

 birds ; it is therefore always advisable to keep them in a breeding-cage by themselves. The 

 young had better be provided with the same food a.s is recommended for young Nightingales. 



