134 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
flocks of Robins in the neighbourhood, the sportsman need 
only take his stand near it, load, take aim, and fire; one 
flock succeeding another with little interruption, almost the 
whole day; by this method prodigious slaughter has been 
made among them with little fatigue. When berries fail 
they disperse themselves over the fields, and along the 
fences, in search of worms and other insects. Sometimes 
they will disappear for a week or two, and return again in 
greater numbers than before; at which time the cities pour 
out their sportsmen by scores, and the markets are plenti- 
fully supplied with them at a cheap rate. In January, 
1S07, two young men, in one excursion after them, shot 
thirty dozen. In the midst of such devastation, which con- 
tinued many weeks, and by accounts extended from Massa- 
chusetts to Maryland, some humane person took advantage 
of a circumstance common to these birds in winter, to stop 
the general slaughter. The fruit called poke-berries ( Phy- 
tolacca decandra, Linn.) is a favourite repast with the 
Robin, after they are mellowed by the frost. The juice of 
the berries is of a beautiful crimson, and they are eaten in 
such quantities by these birds, that their whole stomachs 
are strongly tinged with the same red colour. A paragraph 
appeared in the public papers, intimating, that from the great 
quantities of these berries which the Robins had fed on, 
they had become unwholesome, and even dangerous food; 
and that several persons had suffered by eating of them. 
The strange appearance of the bowels of the birds seemed 
to corroborate this account. The demand for, and use of 
them ceased almost instantly; and motives of self-preserva- 
tion produced at once what all the pleadings of humanity 
could not effect.* When fat they are in considerable 
esteem for the table, and probably not inferior to the turdi 
of the ancients, which they bestowed so much pains on in 
feeding and fattening. The young birds are frequently and 
easily raised, bear the confinement of the cage, feed on 
bread, fruits, &c. sing well, readily learn to imitate parts of 
tunes, and are very pleasant and cheerful domestics. In 
these I have always observed that the orange on the breast 
is of a much deeper tint, often a dark mahogany or chesnut 
colour, owing no doubt to their food and confinement. 
The Robin is one of our earliest songsters; even in 
March, while snow yet dapples the fields, and flocks of 
them are dispersed about, some few will mount a post or 
stake of the fence, and make short and frequent attempts at 
their song. Early in April, they are only to be seen in 
pairs, and deliver their notes with great earnestness, from 
* Governor Drayton, in his “ View oF South Carolina,” p. 86, observes, that 
“ the Robins in winter devour the berries of the Bead tree (Melia Azedarach,) 
in such large quantities, that after eating of them they are observed to fall down, 
and are readily taken. This is ascribed more to distension from abundant eating 
than from any deleterious qualities of the plant.” The fact however, is, that they 
are literally choked, many of the berries being too large to be swallowed. 
the top of some tree detached from the woods. This song 
has some resemblance to, and indeed is no bad imitation of 
the notes of the Thrush or Thrasher ( T urdus rufus); but 
if deficient in point of execution, he possesses more simpli- 
city; and makes up in zeal what he wants in talent; so that 
the notes of the Robin, in spring, are universally known, 
and as universally beloved. They are as it were the pre- 
lude to the grand general concert, that is about to burst upon 
us from woods, fields, and thickets, whitened with blossoms, 
and breathing fragrance. By the usual association of ideas, 
we therefore listen with more pleasure to this cheerful bird 
than to many others possessed of far superior powers, and 
much greater variety. Even his nest is held more sacred 
among school boys than that of some others; and while they 
will exult in plundering a Jay’s or a Cat-bird’s, a general 
sentiment of respect prevails on the discovery of a Robin’s. 
Whether he owes not some little of this veneration to the 
well known and long established character of his namesake 
in Britain, by a like association of ideas, I will not pretend 
to determine. He possesses a good deal of his suavity of 
manners, and almost always seeks shelter for his young in 
summer, and subsistence for himself in the extremes of 
winter, near the habitations of man. 
The Robin inhabits the whole of North America from 
Hudson’s Bay to Nootka Sound, and as far south as Georgia, 
though they rarely breed on this side the mountains farther 
south than Virginia. Mr. Forster says, that about the be- 
ginning of May they make their appearance in pairs at the 
settlements of Hudson’s Bay, at Severn river; and adds, a 
circumstance 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 resem- 
blance to the Fieldfare of Europe. 
Mr. Hearne informs us, that the red-breasted Thrushes, 
are commonly called at Hudson’s Bay the Red-birds; by 
some the Black-birds, 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.t 
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 
* Phil. Trans, lxii. 399. 
t Journey to the Northern Ocean, p. 418, quarto. Lond. 1795. 
