54 BIRDS AND MAN 



even very common, and Macgillivray, in speak- 

 ing of the confidence in man of that bird during 

 severe weather, very truly says, "In ordinary 

 times he is not perfectly disposed to trust in 

 man." Any person can prove this for himself 

 by going into a garden or shrubbery and ap- 

 proaching a robin. We see, too, that the bird 

 shows intense anxiety when its nest is approached 

 by a man ; this point, however, need not be 

 made much of, since all visitors, even its best 

 friends, are unwelcome to the breeding bird. 

 Still, there is no doubt that the robin is less 

 distrustful of man than other species, but not 

 surely because this bird is regarded by most 

 persons with kindly feelings. The curious point 

 is that the young birds find something in man 

 to attract them. This is usually seen at the 

 end of summer, when the old birds have gone 

 into hiding, and it is then surprising to find 

 how many of the young robins left in possession 

 of the ground appear to take pleasure in the 

 company of human beings. Often before a 

 person has been many minutes in a garden 

 strolling about, he will discover that the quiet 

 little spotted bird is with him, hopping and 



