THE SINGING BIRDS. 19J 



concealed during the day, and only ventures forth after twilight to obtain food, in quest of which it 

 runs about exactly in the manner of the Blue-throats, displaying, however, even greater agility than 

 they are capable of, when making its way through the long grass that abounds in its favourite marshy 

 retreats. 



Jerdon speaks of this species as shy, unsociable, and very silent during the greater part of the 

 year ; but with this last statement we by no means fully agree. Whilst performing their migrations, 

 the two sexes certainly associate in flocks ; and during the spring the notes of the males are to be 

 heard both by day and night. The voice of the Calliope is very sweet, and though by no means 

 loud, very clear. As the breeding season approaches the male commences singing still more 

 energetically, and is usually to be seen perched, with inflated throat, wings outspread, and tail raised 

 at a right angle with his body, on the topmost branch of a birch or alder-tree, whilst he perseveringly 

 endeavours to attract the admiration of his mate who sits beneath, almost entirely concealed from 

 view. The nests of these birds found by Middendorf on the banks of the Taimye were most beautiful 

 works of art, neatly covered with a roof, and approached by a horizontal entrance-gallery excavated 

 in the sand. The nests were found to contain about five blueish green eggs, which were laid in June. 

 In China the Calliope is known as the <; Hung-po" (Redbreast), or "Ching-po" (Goldbreast), and is 

 much prized as a domestic favourite by people of all classes : it is constantly kept by the Chinese, 

 not in a cage, but secured to a perch or branch by means of a string tied round the neck. This 

 peculiar and very practical manner of preventing the escape of a bird is, as Swinhoe tells us, very 

 extensively adopted in the Celestial Empire. 



THE ROBIN REDBREAST. 



The Robin Redbreast (Erythaca rubccula or Rubecula silvestris) is the last member of the 

 family to which our space permits us to allude. In this species the upper mandible is arched and 

 incised immediately behind its curved tip. The feet are of moderate height, and delicately formed ; 

 the wings, in which the fourth and fifth quills are the longest, are rather short and weak ; the tail is of 

 medium size, and slightly incised at its extremity. 



The plumage is lax, and of a deep olive-grey upon the upper part of 'the body ; the under side is 

 grey ; the brow, throat, and upper portion of the breast yellowish red. The female is somewhat paler 

 than her mate, and the young are distinguishable by reddish yellow spots on the shafts of the upper 

 feathers ; the under side is reddish yellow, with grey spots and light edges to the feathers ; the large, 

 expressive eyes are brown, the beak blackish brown, and the feet reddish grey. The length of this 

 bird is five inches and a half, and its breadth eight inches and a half; the wing measures two inches 

 and three-quarters, and the tail two inches and a half. 



Europe must certainly be regarded as the home of the Redbreasts ; beyond its limits they seldom 

 venture, except during their migrations, when some few travel as far as North-western Africa and the 

 adjacent islands. By far the greater number of those met with in the northern and central countries 

 of our continent usually only journey as far as Southern Europe. This lively, beautiful little bird, 

 with whose sweet twittering voice and social fearless habits we are so familiar, is met with in all 

 woodland districts, and may constantly be seen hopping nimbly about our fields and gardens, or 

 flitting from bush to bush, quite close to our houses, in search of the spiders, worms, snails, and 

 beetles upon which it subsists. In winter, when it is difficult to obtain these means of support, it 

 lives upon various kinds of berries. The nest of the Robin is placed in holes in the ground, in 

 hollow trunks of trees, or similar situations, at no great elevation, and is formed of moss, stalks, 

 and leaves, woven together, and delicately lined with hair, wool, and feathers. Should the margin of 

 the cavity in which the nest is placed not project in such a manner as to form a sheltering cover, a 



