_ROBIN-REDBREAST._
[Illustration]
1. "O Robin, Robin-Redbreast, O Robin, Robin dear!
O Robin sings so sweetly in the falling of the year!"
So says the old song, but Robin sings just as sweetly all the summer
long.
2. The robin is better known than most birds. It comes earliest in the
spring, and goes away late in the fall. It builds its nest near
houses, and every day flies about the garden and yard, picking up
such crumbs as may be thrown to it. It is the special favorite of
children.
3. It is three times as large as the wren. Its color is a dark
olive-gray above, with a red breast. Its head and throat are streaked
with black and white.
[Illustration]
4. It has a pleasant, home-like little song, and its notes vary with
the weather, being much more joyous on bright, warm days.
5. The English robin is about half the size of ours, but has the same
gray coat, and a somewhat redder breast.
6. It lives about yards and gardens, and wakes people up in the
morning with its charming little song. It does not like to have other
birds, or cats, come too near its nest; and when they do, it flies at
them with great rage.
7. When the robin has once built its nest it is not easily driven
away. Once, a wagon loaded for a journey was left standing a few days
in a yard. Under the canvas covering of this wagon a pair of robins
built their nest.
8. After the wagoner started, he found the nest, with the young just
hatched. The old birds went along, taking turns in brooding the young
ones and in flying about for worms.
9. The wagon went a hundred miles and back, and, by the time it came
back to the place of starting, the young birds were pretty well grown.
You may be sure that the wagoner did not let any one disturb the birds
on the route.
10. One spring a pair of thrushes were seen about the garden of a
country house. One of them seemed ill, and could hardly get about. It
would hop a little way, and then stop, too tired to go farther.
11. Her mate took good care of her. He got her into a safe place in a
tree, brought her worms and insects, and cheered her with his music.
12. In the course of three or four days she got better; and one day,
when he came with her dinner, she flew a little way to meet him, and
in a short time they went off together, each singing a joyous song.