SKETCHES OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
453 
to shift for themselves, appear to be very fond of currants and rasp¬ 
berries, and, in taking a share of these fruits, the gardener has some¬ 
times reason to complain. But the damage they do is very trifling ; 
and these little pilferings are certainly very excusable, in consideration 
of the good they do at other seasons. 
As a song-bird, the robin ranks neither very high nor very low. He 
has one qualification as a songster which no other British bird possesses : 
he sings the whole year round, except only when it is very hard frost. 
There is considerable modulation in his song, and some of the strains 
are very emphatic, and are given with such force, that his little throat 
seems as if it would burst. His song is not always that of love, nor is 
it the call of affection; for it is often made up of the impassioned 
shouts of defiance, or of ambitious yearnings to outdo the song or 
threats of a rival. His notes are not sprightly; they are for the most 
part plaintive, even while he vociferates his threats or challenges his 
antagonist; they have a kind of wailing cadence or shivering wintry tone 
even at midsummer. The young ones begin warbling before their first 
moult, but do not gain their full plumage or song till they are nearly 
twelve months old. 
The bold and fearless spirit of this little bird has already been alluded 
to; and, besides, he is exceedingly pugnacious, always at war with liis 
own brethren, and exercising a spiteful tyranny over all other birds, 
even those twice his size. Blackbirds and thrushes he drives from 
what he selects as his own dominion—a certain portion of the garden, 
near which he is constantly found. Here he nestles in summer, 
perhaps, and roosts in winter. This may be an ivy-covered tree or 
building, or other place of shelter, which he guards with vigilance till 
long after sunset. 
Besides earth-worms, maggots, various insects, and small shell-snails, 
the robin willingly regales himself in picking a bone thrown from the 
scullery ; or, if he gains access to the larder, he is by no means nice or 
shy in helping himself to whatever he may fancy, whether dressed or 
undressed. Crumbs of bread or cheese-—in short, no kind of human 
food comes amiss to him if hunger crave. 
The natural vigilance of the robin renders him useful to other birds 
which are the prey of cats, foxes, or hawks ; for no sooner is one of 
these marauders observed, than he sounds his note of alarm, telling all 
to be on their guard : and it is astonishing to see with what alacrity all 
who hear the call fly to a place of safety. House-sparrows, chaffinches, 
tomtits, and other small birds, all rush to covert till the danger is past ; 
and if in the fields a pole-cat. weazel, or stoat be seen by the robin, 
he certainly will tell of “ his whereabout.” 
