It is very unlucky to kill the cuckoo or break its eggs, for it brings
fine weather; but most unlucky of all things is to kill the robin
redbreast. The robin is God’s own bird, sacred and holy, and held in
the greatest veneration because of the beautiful tradition current
amongst the people, that it was the robin plucked out the sharpest
thorn that was piercing Christ’s brow on the cross; and in so doing the
breast of the bird was dyed red with the Saviour’s blood, and so has
remained ever since a sacred and blessed sign to preserve the robin
from harm and make it beloved of all men.