ROBIN 



39 



are seldom seen there but in pairs ; and are never killed for their 

 flesh except by the Indian boys.* 



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 Polyglottos), 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 unfortu- 

 nately destroyed by a cat. The morning is their favorite time for 

 song. In passing, through the streets of our large cities, on Sun- 

 day, in the months of April and May, a little after day -break, 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. 



Not only the plumage of the Robin, as of many other birds, is 

 subject to slight periodical changes of color, but even the legs, feet 

 and bill; the latter, in the male, being frequently found tipt and 

 ridged for half its length with black. In the depth of winter their 

 plumage is generally best; at which time the full grown bird, in his 

 most perfect dress, appears as exhibited in the plate. 



* Journey to the Northern ocean, p. 418, quarto, Lond. 1795. 



