THE ROBIN. 263 



wards into the Caucasus ; and another, not so near, the Japanese Robin 

 [E. cA-aAi^e), inhabiting- the high mountains of Japan and North-east China. 

 The former bird is easily distinguished from the Common Robin by having 

 the olive-brown of the upper tail-coverts replaced by rich chestnut, and by 

 having a slightly larger bill ; in other respects the two birds are identical. 

 From the second species our bird is easily distinguished by the rich chest- 

 nut tail of the Japanese species, and the slate-grey on the lower breast. 

 The Persian Robin has been said to be richer in colour, especially on the 

 breast, than our bird ; and examples of the latter from Algeria and the 

 Azores are said to be paler ; but an examination of a considerable series 

 convinces me that the alleged differences are only those of season, the rich 

 dark birds being newly moulted autumn examples, whilst the paler spe- 

 cimens are in more or less faded summer plumage, the Robin, like all its 

 Turdine allies, having only one moult in the year. 



The haunt of the Robin is varied a little according to the season. 

 In the summer it is a common bird in the most secluded woods, in plan- 

 tations, shrubberies, dells, lanes, copses, and hedgerows. In winter it 

 draws nearer to the houses, and haunts the gardens, road-sides, and farm- 

 yards. But the bird may be seen near the homesteads throughout the year ; 

 and its numbers are only increased during the cold season. Where, indeed, 

 is the garden, the orchard, or the shrubbery that does not possess its pair 

 of Robins, so trustful, so jealous of their rights — the favourites of all ! 



The migrations and internal movements of the Robin form one of the 

 most interesting, although perhaps least known, features of its history. 

 Take its wanderings at home, for instance, iii our own country. As soon 

 as the rigours of winter have passed away, the Redbreasts visibly begin 

 to decrease in numbers and betake themselves to the more sequestered 

 woods, plantations, and hedgerows, and up the hill-sides to the copses near 

 the moorland wastes, to remain throughout the summer. In the early 

 autumn, when the moult takes place, the Robin is a still more shy and retiring 

 bird, and withdraws to the deepest solitudes to perform its annual change of 

 plumage unseen. After the moult the Robin again appears near our 

 houses, and remains our constant companion and favourite throughout the 

 winter. Upon the continent the Robin is almost universally a bird of 

 passage, and during the season of its migrations is found on our coasts 

 resting on its joui-ney south to the warm climate of Southern Europe, or 

 the oases of the African deserts. They pass over Heligoland during 

 September and early in October in immense numbers. Upon the 

 continent, in South France and Italy, the Robins are caught in autumn 

 for the table, in common with other small migrants. In Italy they 

 are usually snared or taken by limed twigs set round a Little Owl, 

 which serves as an attraction to draw them to the toils. As for its worth 

 as an article of food, Watei'ton, in his accustomed humorous way, tells us. 



