THE ROBIN. 
115 
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 beginning of May they make their 
appearance in pairs at the settlements of Hudson’s Bay, 
at Severn river ; and what is very remarkable, if correct, 
that, at Moose Fort, they build, lay, and hatch, in four- 
teen days ! But that at the former place, four degrees 
more north, they are said to take twenty-six days. 
Phil. Trans, ixii, 399. 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 resemblance 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 blackbirds, 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.* 
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, ( tardus polyglottus ,) 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 
f Journey to the Northern Ocean , p. 418, quarto. Bond. 1795. 
