ROBIN. 
137 
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 agree- 
ably than the Robin. They generally suffer severely in moult- 
ing 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 unfortunately destroyed by a cat. The 
morning is their favourite time for song. In passing through 
the streets of our large cities, on Sunday, 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 distin- 
guish 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 colour, 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. 
VOL. II. — s 
