Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/230

194 been in thousands, and again visit it. In Massachusetts and Maine, many spend the most severe winters in the neighbourhood of warm springs and spongy low grounds sheltered from the north winds. In spring they re- turn northward in pairs, the males having then become exceedingly irri- table and pugnacious.

The o-entle and lively disposition of the Robin when raised in the cage, and the simplicity of his song, of which he is very lavish in con- finement, render him a special favourite in the Middle Districts, where he is as generally kept as the Mocking Bird is in the Southern States. It feeds on bread soaked in either milk or water, and on all kinds of fruit. Being equally fond of insects, it seizes on all that enter its prison. It will follow its owner, and come to his call, peck at his finger, or kiss his mouth, with seeming pleasure. It is a long-lived bird, and instances are reported of its having been kept for nearly twenty years. It suffers much in the moult, even in the wild state, and when in captivity loses nearly all its feathers at once.

The young obtain their full plumage by the first spring, being spot- ted on the breast, and otherwise marked, as in the plate. When in con- finement they become darker and less brilliant in the colours, than when at liberty.

So much do certain notes of the Robin resemble those of the European Blackbird, that frequently while in England the cry of the latter, as it flew hurriedly off from a hedge-row, reminded me of that of the former when similarly surprised, and while in America the Robin has in the same manner recalled the Blackbird to my recollection.

TuEDus MiGRAToairs, Lirrn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 292. Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 330. Ch. Bonaparte, Sjnops. of Birds of the United States, p. 75. Mekula MiGEAToaiA, Swains. and Richards. Fauna Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 176. Robin, Turdus mighatorius, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 35. pi. ii. fig. 2. Nuttall, Manual, part i. p. 338.

Adult Male. Plate CXXXI. Fig. 1.

Bill of moderate length, rather strong, compressed, acute ; upper mandible slightly arched in its dorsal line, with acute edges, which are notched close to the declinate tip ; lower mandible nearly straight along the back. Nostrils basal, oblong, half closed above by a membrane. The general form is rather slender. Feet longish, rather strong ; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with a few long scutella, sharp behind ; toes scutellate