Wood-Folk TalkBy J. ALLISON ATWOOD
By J. ALLISON ATWOOD
ALTHOUGH you are all in the habit of referring to Robin as “Redbreast,” do you not often wonder why the baby Robin always has a spotted breast so very different from his parent? True, he does not keep it very long, but why, then, should he wear it at all?
At one time Robin did not live in our yards and orchards as he does at present, but remained in the deeper woods, as his cousin Wood-thrush does now. In those times, of course, he did not have his bright red breast, but was clothed in a spotted plumage very similar to Wood-thrush. To narrate much of Robin’s history would make a very long story, but we can at least tell what brought about the change in his dress.
Besides being first cousins, Robin and Wood-thrush had lived close together all their lives, and it is only natural that they should be fast friends, as they were, until that eventful year when Bluebird arrived in Birdland.
Of course, from the very first, folks made a great deal of fuss over this newcomer, and the wonder of it is that Bluebird’s head was not turned by the attentions showered upon him instead of remaining the same modest fellow he is to-day.
Naturally, everyone wished to be as well acquainted as possible with the beautiful stranger, but in spite of his courageous song of “Cheer! cheer!” there was always a touch of sadness about Bluebird which folks could not understand, so that they never felt quite at home in his presence.
Now, among the birds who thus wished to become intimate with Bluebird, there was no one more conspicuous than Robin. Indeed, some folks thought that he made himself ridiculous by the way he toadied to the newcomer. But even this talk did not deter him. When, therefore, he learned later that Bluebird and himself were members of the same family, he could not conceal his pride. But he had no more reason to be proud than Wood-thrush, for he, too, was a relative of Bluebird.
Still, as time went on, Robin thought more and more of his new cousin, and it was noticed that he paid less attention than formerly to the other birds. Most of them, of course, did not mind this, for they thought that he would soon come to his senses and be the same hearty fellow he had been before Bluebird came. But, instead, Robin became prouder than ever, and the way he followed and imitated Bluebird would certainly have provoked that person had he not been a model of patience.
He soon moved his nest from the thicket near his cousin Wood-thrush to the apple-tree next to Bluebird’s home. This caused so much hard feeling between Robin and Wood-thrush that they have ever since built their nests in very different localities. But this isn’t all, and here comes the event which changed the former’s whole life.
Until this time Robin had always worn a spotted breast, but no sooner did he move to his new home than he decided to have a vest of red like Bluebird’s. But with all his pains he could not make himself as handsome as his cousin, for, like many folks when they try to imitate others, he overdid it. Instead of Bluebird’s delicate tint of carmine, he had taken on a less pretty though showier red, and, unlike the other, he wore it over his entire breast in a way that made some folks say that he showed very poor taste, indeed.
Now, at this last assumption of Robin, Birdland was outraged, and the indignation spread so widely that Kingbird had almost decided to banish him. It was not until then that Robin, terrified at the suggestion, saw how foolish he had been, and he very quickly came to his senses. First of all, he went around to all his old friends whose feelings he had hurt and apologized so sincerely that, we are happy to say, every one of them, except, perhaps, Wood-thrush, who could not forget the red vest, were glad to extend a friendly wing to him, now that he had gotten over his sudden pride.
But we, who are better acquainted with him, must admit that Robin never did quite conquer his pride. Everybody knows that he is one of the best hearted of birds, and that whenever any danger threatens Birdland he is always among the first to defend it. But the influence of Bluebird has refined him to such an extent that there is little doubt in our mind that he still thinks his other cousins, the Thrushes, in spite of their splendid musical ability, are backwoodsmen, so to speak.
Fortunately, however, there is one thing which will forever keep him from forgetting his plainer kinsmen, and that is the fact that his children, until they are several months old, are made to wear the same spotted plumage which he once wore.
And it is this which shows Robin’s pride more than anything else. Should you approach his nest when it contains young, you will see how mortified he is, for he fears that you will take them for Wood-thrushes. And what a fuss he does make? He flies almost in our faces, as if to show us that they are his children. And how anxious his voice is as he calls to them to “Speak! speak!” Just as if young Robins could tell us that they are not Wood-thrushes!