THE ROBIN. 



35 



ments of Hudson's Bay, at Severn River ; and adds a circum- 

 stance altogether unworthy of belief, viz., that, at Moose Fort, 

 they build, lay, and hatch, in fourteen days ! but that at the 

 former place, four degrees more north, they are said to take 

 twenty-six days.* They are also common in Newfoundland, 

 quitting these northern parts in October. The young, during 

 the first season, are spotted with white on the breast, and at 

 that time have a good deal of resemblance to the fieldfare of 

 Europe. 



Mr Heme informs us that the red-breasted thrushes are 

 commonly called, at Hudson's Bay, the red birds — by some, 

 the blackbirds, on account of their note — and by others, the 

 American fieldfares ; that they make their appearance at 

 Churchill River about the middle of May, and migrate to the 

 south early in the fall. They are seldom seen there but in 

 pairs ; and are never killed for their flesh, except by the Indian 

 boys.f 



Several authors have asserted that the red-breasted thrush 

 cannot brook the confinement of the cage, and never sings in 

 that state. But, except the mocking bird (Turdus polyglottus), 

 I know of no native bird which is so frequently domesticated, 

 agrees better with confinement, or sings in that state more 

 agreeably than the robin. They generally suffer severely in 

 moulting time ; yet often live to a considerable age. A lady, 

 who resides near Tarrytown, on the banks of the Hudson, 

 informed me that she raised and kept one of these birds for 

 seventeen years, which sung as well, and looked as sprightly, 

 at that age as ever ; but was at last unfortunately destroyed 

 by a cat. The morning is their favourite time for song. In 

 passing through the streets of our large cities on Sunday, in 

 the months of April and May, a little after daybreak, the 

 general silence which usually prevails without at that hour 

 will enable you to distinguish every house where one of these 

 songsters resides, as he makes it then ring with his music. 



* Phil. Trans, lxii. 399. 



t Journey to the Northern Ocean, p. 418, 4to, Lond. 1795. 



