ERYTHACA RUBECULA. (Swains.) 

 Redbreast, Robin. 



The Robin Redbreast is one of those few birds, which, 

 escaping the destroying and persecuting hand of man, is rather 

 an object of his protection. It becomes early a favourite 

 with us, and one of the most pleasing nursery tales of our 

 childhood teaches us to look at it with interest and affectionate 

 regard. This kind feeling towards it seems to have established 

 a mutual confidence between us, and no bird is on such fami- 

 liar terms with us, and well it repays all our kindness. It is 

 our companion, and cheers us with its song alike in the gloom 

 as in the sunshine of the year ; and in the Autumn, when the 

 dark days of Winter are approaching, and the gay visitors of 

 our Summer months have taken their departure, when the 

 butterfly has ceased its flight, and the leaves are falling around 

 us, — then it is that the Redbreast, taking up its station close 

 to our dwellings, and amongst the noise and bustle of our 

 towns, cheers us the day long with its sweet and simple song. 

 Whether it is in imagination only, I know not, but to me the 

 note of the Robin has, in the Autumn of the year, a tone of 

 melancholy in it, peculiarly in accordance with the feelings, 

 and differing from the joyous carol of the gayer months. 

 Alighting close upon your threshold, and evidently courting 

 your acquaintance, the Robin must be to every one an object 

 of interest. 



" Half afraid, he first 

 Against the window beats ; then brisk alights 

 On the warm hearth ; then, hopping o'er the floor. 

 Eyes all the smiling family askance. 

 And pecks, and starts, and wonders where he is ; 

 Till more familiar grown, the table crumbs 

 Attract his slender feet." 



