XVIII 



A PAIR OF COUSINS— ROBIN AND 

 THRUSH 



I KNOW of no other two birds so near akin that are 

 so opposite in character and disposition as the Robin 

 {Merula migratoria propinqua) and the Thrush {Hylo- 

 cichla ustulata). As scientists distinguish birds there is 

 not much difference because both are thrushes, except that 

 the robin is attired with much more show, while the thrush 

 has a modest brown dress. But this is the smallest differ- 

 ence. In other ways they are distinctive types. For spunk 

 and audacity the robin has it over most birds. The 

 thrush has none of this boldness. He flits around in the 

 shade trees and on the ground as if he were trying to keep 

 hidden. He sings from a thick clump, the robin from a 

 tree-top. The life of the thrush is pitched in a low key. 

 His best song is a vesper hymn with a strain of sadness 

 through it all. The robin has a gayer disposition; he is 

 at his best in the rollicking song of the morning. 



Both birds nest about my home, the robin in the or- 

 chard, the thrush in the fir thicket beyond. When I 

 looked into the nest of the robin it made the owners 

 beside themselves with anger. They dashed at me. 

 " Help ! Murder! Get out of here or we'll knock your 

 head off I " they yelled. When I crawled into the thicket 

 where the thrush had her home she was more offended 



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