THB



Bxucultural /ISba^astne,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



VOL. VI. —NO. 69. All rights reserved. JULY, 1900.


THE AUSTRALIAN YELLOW-BREASTED ROBIN.


fEopsaltria australisJ .


By The Rev. C. D. Farrar.


A few mornings ago 1 received a kind but imperative

letter from our Editor asking for an article for the Magazine, as

matter was very short. Of course I felt bound to do my best,

like a good and obedient member of the Society. I select for

my article a bird that is probably quite unknown to the majority

of our readers, except from the writings of Gould. Some months

since, I, one morning, got a letter from a birdy friend, that he

had brought over from Australia a pair of Yellow-breasted

Robins. The letter was rather pathetic, for it ran, “This is the

third time I have made the attempt to import them ; but always,

so far, unsuccessfully.” The fourth time, however, had been

crowned with success, and a pair had landed safely in England.

Would I have them? I suppose I ought to have said “No ! offer

them to some more worthy member.” Maybe I did a mean and

selfish thing, but I said, “ Send them on.”


This is a truthful narrative, and I must confess that my

only feeling was one of unmixed rejoicing. I believe we

Aviculturists are brutally selfish. I have occasionally moralized

over the selfishness of buying half-a-dozen rare birds, but it was

not, if I remember rightly, the first of the kind that had ever

come. My feelings always grow finer as specimens become less

rare !


A few mornings after the arrival of the letter aforesaid,

the Yellow Robins themselves turned up. They were in perfect

health and the most beautiful condition; and when we remember

the trouble it is to keep soft-billed birds in good condition in

England in a large aviary, and with every sort of suitable food

and appliance at hand, it speaks volumes for the care and skill

that must have been lavished on my yellow beauties.


In shape, the Yellow Robins very much resemble their



