337 



9 



It is one of the latest of diurnal birds to go to roost, and one of the earliest to be seen moving 

 in the morning." 



One trait in the character of the Robin I must not omit to mention ; and this is its extreme 

 pugnacity. Not only will it drive away Sparrows or other intruders who may come to share in 

 the crumbs thrown out for the birds, but it brooks no other of its species in the domain which it 

 has chosen for itself and mate ; and in the autumn, when it returns to its favourite lawn and perch 

 on the window-sill, if an intruder be found trespassing on its ground, a sharp battle ensues, and 

 the new comer, usually a bird of the year, and probably one of the brood of the original tenant, 

 most frequently gets worsted, and has to seek other quarters. 



During the spring and early summer the Redbreast subsists chiefly, if not entirely, on insects 

 and earthworms ; but in the late summer it eats berries and fruits as well as what insects it can 

 find. In the winter it frequents the yards and gardens adjoining inhabited places, and picks up 

 what crumbs and refuse are cast out, or follows the gardener and searches for insects or earth- 

 worms amongst the soil turned over by the spade. 



The specimens figured and described are in my own collection ; full particulars as to locality 

 are given above with the descriptions. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. E. E. Dresser. 



a, d- Hampstead, June 1871 (Davy). b,juv. Hampstead. c,juv. Aboyne, Scotland (R. B. Sharpe). d, d- 

 Hareskov, Denmark, October 12th, 1870 (A. Benzon). e, d- Piedmont (Count Salvadori). f, d ad. 

 Smyrna, October 27th, 1871 (Dr. Kruper). g. Crimea (Whitely). 



E Mus. II. B. Tristram. 



a. Castle Eden, Durham, b. Greatham, December 2nd, 1865. c, 2 . Greatham, March 6th, 1866. d, d . 

 Esfia, December 16th, 1863 (H. B. T.). 



E Mus. Ltd. Cal, 

 a, 2 ■ Shiraz, July 1870 (W. T. Blanford). 



E Mus. J. H. Gurney, jun. 

 a, ?. Greatham, Durham, December 16th, 1865. b, d. Greatham, March 5th, 1866. c,juv. Hampstead, 

 May 1871 (Davy). d,juv. 



E Mus. Howard Saunders, 

 a, d. Valencia, March 15th. b,2- Valencia, May 1st. c, d . Granada, October, d, $. Seville, November. 

 e, d first year. Malaga, October 13th. 



