attached to it, was hanging on a peg over the fire-place and
just afforded space for the purpose, they built their first nest
early in the spring. The circumstance was observed, and
soon became an object of curiosity to the neighbours, many
of whom came to look at the n e st: these inquisitive visits,
however, had not the effect of alarming the birds, who here
reared without accident their first brood. When the attention
of the parents was no longer needed by their full-fledged
offspring, they set about providing for another family, and
built their second nest on a shelf on the opposite side of the
room close to an old mouse-trap. Here again they received
visits of inquiry from bipeds of a larger growth, and reared
and dismissed their progeny. This second brood had no
sooner left them, than they again betook themselves to the
task of building a third nest under the same sheltering!1 roof
and for this purpose chose another shelf, in a different corner
of the same room ; and there, in their mossy bed, on a bundle
of papers, on the 21st of June, were four half-fledged
nestlings, which the hen was feeding while a party was
watching the proceeding, the cock bird contenting himself
with looking on from the outside. There was no doubt that
the same pair of birds belonged to each successive nest, as
the loss of her tail rendered the hen conspicuous.
Mr. Blackwall of Manchester relates that if a pair of these
birds built their nest in a small saw-pit. Soon after the female
had begun to sit, the sawing of timber was commenced at
this pit ; and though the persons employed continued their
noisy occupation close to the nest every day during the
hatching of the eggs and the rearing of the young, yet the
old birds performed their several parental offices to their
progeny without interruption, and apparently without alarm.”
These birds also exhibit great attachment to each other.
One that was “ caught and caged by the editor of the Naturalist
in winter was for several weeks constantly attended by
its mate; which seems to prove that this bird pairs for life.
When any one approached the cage, the male bird departed
very unwillingly; and if wholly excluded from the room in
which the prisoner was confined, it would utter the most unceasing
and piteous wailings. After some time, however,
the visits became gradually less frequent, and at length ceased
altogether.”
With many redeeming qualities, the Robin is, however,
one of the most pugnacious among birds, and maintains his
right to a certain limited domain against all intruders.
The Robin breeds early in spring: its nest is formed of
moss, dead leaves, and dried grass, lined with hair, and sometimes
a few feathers: the nest is frequently placed on a bank
sheltered by brushwood, or a short distance above the ground
in a thick bush or lane-hedge, sometimes in a hole of a
wall partly covered with ivy. The eggs are from five to
seven in number, white, spotted with pale reddish brown,
the length nine lines and a half, by seven lines and a half in
breadth.
Generally diffused over England, Ireland, and Wales, the
Redbreast is also an inhabitant of the most northern counties
of Scotland; but, according to Mr. Dunn, it is more rare in
the Shetland Islands than it is in Orkney. I t also visits
Denmark and Sweden in the breeding season; and so well
does it bear cold weather, that among the summer visiters to
the latter country, M. Nilsson observes that the Robin is
one of the first to come, and one of the last to go. Mr.
Hewitson also saw it in Norway.
I t is a constant resident throughout the year in the temperate
and warmer parts of Europe, abundant in Spain and
Italy, from the last of which it passes over to North Africa.
The Robin was observed by Mr. Strickland at Smyrna in
winter; and the Zoological Society have received specimens
sent by Keith Abbott, Esq. from Trcbizond.