VOi. S4 iSSr. Robin, and OUvcs. Ej Arefar. /i.V., March 13, p. 142. 



19. J>.yZX. 184 3. ^ December Robin's Nest. By A. C. Kirkpatrick. B©Ei. & StreaXU. VOl» SS 



This brings me to Merula tnigratoria, the Robin. The 

 word robin is an ancient pet-name for Robert, which is of Ger- 

 man descent. That it should have been given to the household 

 favorite of Great Britain is not surpi'ising ; in fact some similar 

 personal pet name has been given to that Warbler (^Erythacus 

 rubeciila) all over Europe, and such analogues as "Jenny Wren" 

 and "Jim" (for the Sparrow) are common. The earliest emi- 

 grants to America, finding a red-breasted bird inclined to be 

 familiar with them, and eager to be reminded of the home for 

 which they longed regi-etfully, gladly called it "Robin," not 

 aware, or regardless, of the fact that the old one was a Warbler 

 and the new friend a Thrush. This fact was speedily recognized, 

 but the old name clung, and hence we hear Robin Redbreast, 

 American Robin., and Robin Thriish as surviving appellations 

 throughout the northern half of the continent. In the Southern 

 States, however, the bird's resemblance to the Turdtts pilaris of 

 Europe came strongly to the mind of the earl}' writers. Hence 

 one finds in old books like those of Brickell, Lawson, Catesby 

 and so on, that it is most often spoken of as the Eield-fair, Field- 

 fear., or Fieldfare; of these the last is the proper spelling, and 

 means one who travels or fares in the fields ; the name is yet 

 heard occasionally. 



More distinct recognition of the bird as a Thrush, together 

 with its two striking characteristics — red breast and migratory 

 conduct — gives us : Red-breasted Thrush, Merle* ou Rouge 

 gorge du Canada, Migratory Thrush, Merle erratique, Robin 

 Thrush, Grive de Canada, Omshel (Pennsylvania German — 

 a corruption of Amsel, "Thrush"). 



I have been able to collect many Indian names (untranslated) 

 for this bird, the Ojibway and Navajo words seeming onomato- 

 posic : Opeichee or Pechee (Ojibway), Kailec che (Navajo — 

 note resemblance to preceding!), Jspokwah (Creek), Jiskoko 

 (Iroquois), Chauncodshah (Assiniboine) . The Ojibways had 

 very pretty legends connected with the Robin, making it a bearer 

 of tidings from supernal sources, and so forth. 



BuU, N.O.O, S.ApU. 1883. p. 7 ^ ' 7V • 



