presently arc almost sure to see its successful result, as it darts upon
its prey with a shuffle of the wings. Now and then it turns up the
grass or leaves in search of or pursuit of its prey. A little gravel is
swallowed to aid the triturition of its food.
There is something peculiarly touching in the soft, sweet, and
plaintive note of the Redbreast, especially when first re-heard
again al the close of summer, when the leaves begin to fade and fall,
and autumn gives presage of the storms and cold of returning winter.
So likewise when winter has again in its turn passed away, and the
first signs, though ever so faint, of long-wished-for spring begin to
dawn, then is the well-known note a pleasant sound to the ear that
loves the country for the country's sake. The Robin in fact sings
throughout the year, except while too much engaged with his family
in the nest. And as for his annual, so also for his diurnal habit;
retiring late to roost, Ins voice is heard in every lane and garden,
while any glimmer of twilight remains, but then it ceases, and up
he is betimes again after daybreak, before the sun, and his 'Good
Morning' is a pleasant welcome to the early riser on the following day.
Two birds are often heard answering the one to the other from
some little distance, especially in fine calm and clear evenings, but
also even in dull or rainy weather, when many other kinds are dulled
to silence. The one waits till the other has ended, before he begins,
and thus the conversation is carried on. Either may be seen to stretch
forward the head, and bend the neck, with a sort of bowing, to
catch what is sung, offering no response until the other has ended
what it had to say. The ordinary note is a 'tsit, tsit,' frequently
accompanied by an upward flirt of the tail, and a shuffle of the
wings. If alarmed for its young, the note of the Robin is peculiarly
wailing.
In a 'wild condition,' Mr. Couch remarks, 'birds of the same
species will not sing near each other; and if the approach be too
close, and the courage equal, a battle follows. Redbreasts offer a
frequent example of this, and if an intruder ventures on the accustomed
domain, the song may be low and warbling, or apparently
reserved or suppressed, and neither of them will appear to condescend
to notice the eiforts of its competitor. Hut this restraint cannot
endure long; the music becomes more developed—it rises higher; the
attack is sudden, and the fight so violent, that they fall to the
ground together, and one is killed, or both may be taken with the
hand.' Two, fighting in the air, fell together into a hat that happened
to be lying on the ground, and were both captured: on one occasion,
two of these birds caught fighting in a yard at Belfast, were kept
all night in separate cages; one was given its liberty early in the
morning, and the other seeming tamer, was kept with the intention
of being permanently retained; so unhappy, however, did it appear,
that it too was released. The other then came and attacked it again,
when the tamer bird was again captured, and the wilder one flew
away. In the evening wdien the coast seemed to be clear, the former was
again let go, but the other, from some ambush, again attacked, and
this time killed it. One kept in a greenhouse at Morville, in the
county of Antrim, killed every intruder of its own species, amounting
to about two dozen, that entered the house; and on an examination
of three of the victims, a deep wound was found in the neck of each,
evidently made by the bill of their antagonist. Another pair fighting,
were singularly separated by a duck, which went up to them for
the evident purpose of parting them. Another pair fought till the
leg and wing of one were broken.
"In speaking id" the Robin,' says Mr. Jesse, ' 1 may observe that
when they sing late in the autumn, it appears to be from rivalship,
and that there are always two singing at the same time. If one of
them is silenced, the other immediately ceases its song. I observe also
that they always sing while they are preparing to fight with each other.
The Redbreast is indeed a very pugnacious bird: I lately observed
two of them, after giving the usual challenge, fight with so much
animosity, that I could easily have caught them both, as they reeled
close to my feet on a gravel walk. After some time one of them had
the advantage, and would have killed his opponent, had they not been
separated. Indeed these birds will frequently fight till one has lost
his life. It has been asserted that the female Robin sings, and I
am much inclined to be of this opinion, having heard two Robins sing
at the same time in a situation where I had every reason to believe
there was only a pair.'
Mr. Thompson mentions his having seen and heard about a dozen
Redbreasts perched on the fruit trees in different parts of his garden,
singing at the same time; and he adds that so many of them sending
forth their notes at once, satisfied him that the young birds of the
year take their part in the concert, and that the fact of every
individual in view trilling its note together, favours the idea that the
female bird is possessed of song. Several may at times be heard even
in the depth of winter, and while the ground is covered with snow,
singing and answering one another as at a more genial season, though
not a gleam of sunshine may enliven the dreary scene. Thus, on
January 2nd., 1844, the snow was six inches deep, but a Redbreast
was in full trill. Their song has several times been heard in moon