THE ROBIN. 
115 
separated blossoms in its calyx before expansion, and 
in that particular is analogous to the buds of icosandri- 
ous trees in the garden ; and the full-petalled swelling 
bloom of the latter affords a fine treat for their feasts ; 
but we may permit these pretty birds to banquet here, 
though, if we expect a supply of summer fruit, we must 
unsparingly drive them away from the branches of our 
frugiferous trees. The blossoms of the peach, necta- 
rine, and almond, I have never observed to be injured 
by these birds ; the sparrow will pick away the buds of 
trees against walls when they frequent such places, but, 
with this exception, I know none but the bull-finch 
which resort to that food as a regular supply. 
The robin (motacilla rubecola) associated with ma- 
lignants is not, perhaps, in the place where it generally 
would be sought ; but sad truths might be told of it too. 
It might be called pugnacious, jealous, selfish, quarrel- 
some, did I not respect ancient feelings, and long-es- 
tablished sentiments. A favorite by commiseration, it 
seeks an asylum with us ; by supplication and importu- 
nity it becomes a partaker of our bounty in a season of 
severity and want ; and its seeming humbleness and 
necessities obtain our pity : but it slights and forgets 
our kindnesses the moment it can provide for itself, and 
is away to its woods and its shades. Yet it has some 
little coaxing ways, and such fearless confidence, that 
it wins our regard ; and its late autumnal song, in even- 
ing’s dusky hour, as a monologue is pleasing, and re- 
deems much of its character. The universality of this 
bird in all places, and almost at all hours, is very re- 
markable ,* and perhaps there are few spots so lonely, in 
which it would not appear, did we commence digging 
up the ground. I have often been surprised in the 
midst of woods, where no suspicion of its presence ex- 
isted, when watching some other creature, to see the 
robin inquisitively perched upon some naked spray near 
me ; or, when digging up a plant in some very retired 
place, to observe its immediate descent upon some poor 
worm that I had moved. The robin loses nearly all 
the characteristic color from its breast in the summer, 
when it moults, and only recovers it on the approach of 
