296 



British Cage Birds. 



is bordered with pale bluish grey. The flight and tail feathers 

 are brown, edged with olive green ; the first wing coverts are 

 tipped with small yellow spots. The legs and feet are dusky 

 black, and the bill is brown. Old birds, when in good health 

 and plumage, are richer and deeper in colour than their 

 younger brethren. 



White and white pied varieties of the Eobin are also to 

 be met with. This albino colour is supposed to be the result 

 of some disease. It will be found that the feathers of such 

 specimens are badly developed, and brittle, possibly arising 

 from old age and grief, for the Robin is known to be as 

 affectionate as he is combative. 



Habits and Breeding.— During the winter Robins desert the 

 plantations and fields for gardens and farmyards ; they hang 

 about the outbuildings, and resort to hay and straw lofts, or 

 take shelter in the cowhouses, stables, cart sheds, or in any 

 uninhabited dwelling to which they find ready access. They 

 commence their breeding operations in the spring time, and 

 mostly have three nests — in April, May, and June. They 

 build their nests at the side of a ditch, on a bank, or amongst 

 thorns and briars ; and also in hedgerows and woods. But the 

 Robin is a very singular bird in this respect, and not very par- 

 ticular in the selection of a site, as its nest is sometimes 

 found in outhouses attached to farm buildings, in holes or 

 fissures in some old and dilapidated wall, or in bushes in gardens. 

 It also, at times, builds in very queer places ; for instance, a 

 Robin has been known to build its nest, and rear its young, in 

 an old kettle hung on the lower branch of a tree in a garden. 

 In another case, a Robin built its nest, and reared its young, 

 in an old boot that had been accidentally thrown into a 

 disused garth attached to a farmstead, among - weeds and 

 nettles. 



The nest is formed of coarse materials. The outside is com- 

 posed of dry, green moss, intermixed with coarse wool, dried 

 twigs, straw, leaves, the bark of trees, and similar materials ; 

 this is lined with a few horse or cow hairs, or feathers. The hen 

 lays from four to seven eggs, of a creamy whitish colour, speckled 

 over with orange and red spots, more particularly at the 

 thickest end, where they not unfrequently form a dense band, or 

 ring, of a brownish red colour. The markings, however, vary, and 

 specimens have been found almost entirely destitute of any spots, 



