| The Robin, or Redbreast, Erithacus rubecula is | | | | equally brightly coloured bird - some black and |
| Britain's national bird. It was first mentioned as | | | | white, some rich orange, some bright yellow and |
| long ago as A.D. 530, when St Mungo performed | | | | some bright pink. The whole group of birds kept |
| a miracle by restoring his tame Robin to life after | | | | the name 'Robin'; hence the Pale Yellow Robin |
| it had been killed by his pupils. In Britain it is a | | | | Eopsaltria capito shown in the illustration which |
| common bird and is often very tame, searching | | | | lacks any colour remotely resembling red! |
| for worms and other small animals within inches | | | | Among the world's most fascinating birds are |
| of a gardener. Its continental cousins are rarely as | | | | Africa's huge family of weavers, which also |
| tame. Wherever the English have settled, they | | | | includes the familiar sparrows. Some of their nests |
| have taken their affection for the Robin with | | | | are elaborately woven and beautiful. The architect |
| them and this has resulted in unrelated birds | | | | is usually the male weaver-bird, whose courtship |
| showing a vague resemblance to the English Robin | | | | often begins after he has built the nest. |
| being given the same name. There are 'robins' in | | | | A day or two may elapse before the nest, tightly |
| India, North America and Australia. | | | | woven out of vegetable fibres, is completed, and |
| The so-called Robin of North America Turdus | | | | when it is ready it will be securely anchored to its |
| migratorius is in fact a large migratory thrush. As | | | | twig or branch. The entrance may be a hole near |
| can be seen from the photograph, it really bears | | | | the bottom or by means of a narrow tube. To |
| only the very slightest resemblance to the real | | | | attract a mate, some weavers hang upside down |
| Robin. It is, however, like the European bird in that | | | | from the bottom of the nest and execute a |
| it is an adaptable species; although originally a bird | | | | series of eye-catching acrobatic turns to the |
| of the forests, It has not only managed to | | | | accompaniment of unmusical chirps. Others may |
| survive the extensive felling of the woods and | | | | cling to the side, chattering and chirping loudly. |
| forests, but has moved into area where it was | | | | Although most weavers are quite noisy birds, few |
| previously unknown. Like its British counterpart, it | | | | have any real song. |
| is often tame and trusting towards man and has | | | | If the hen is interested, she will show her approval |
| moved into many parks and gardens. | | | | of the nest in a practical fashion by flying straight |
| The early settles in Australia noticed pretty little | | | | inside and taking up residence. Some kinds of |
| robin-sized birds, some of which had brilliant scarlet | | | | weaver, the Village Weaver Ploceus cuccullatus |
| breasts, and to these they gave the name 'Robin'. | | | | for instance, are in such a hurry to start a new |
| When the first naturalists began studying the birds | | | | nest for a second partner that they only wait |
| of Australia they found that these red-breasted | | | | long enough for the hen to settle on her eggs |
| 'Robins' were related very closely to a number of | | | | before moving off. |