Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-15
THE ROBIN.
Legend aud Literature of this Familiar
Hird.
fLondon Graphical

ll,onuon GrNphicI
a few years hence the robin received
almost an apotheosis In the snow
scenes depicted on Christmas cards of
the good old fashion before aosihcti-
cism claimed that as her own. A
similar fate, | may be remembered,
overlook the swallow, and both birds
have In consequence, owing to the
operation of familiar law, somewhat
OF late years from popular contempt.
The redbreast Is ono of the group
known to collectors Of folklore, sacred
because ofitsprocuring tireirom heaven
TO bestow upon the world, Something
of this belief, perhaps, turks In Pliny's
story of redbeasts changing to redstarts
In the summer In GermaEy they
were birds sacred to Thor, the wielder
of the thunderbolt, the god of light
ming. Tradition In Normandy says
that the wren brought down fire from
heaven, and lost all its feathers on the
way down. The other birds agreed to
give II u feather apiece. The redbrcast
was In too great IA hurry TO approach
IL with expression of sympathy, and
had its own breast burned In conse-
uucnce. Hence It's old Celtic name
Brourhydding. In Brittany II any one
4
II Is believed in that district, like the
crossbill To have taken away u thorn
from the Savior's crown, Hence the
color of its breast Another legend of
Brittany speaks of the magpie and the
robin nj the cruciiiNion. The latter
was blessed FOR its atlectionateS care;
"rhinc eyes shall have the color of
heaven; thou shall always be the bearer
of blessings The magpie, which in
those days possessed u beautiful crest
and plunage, insulted the Divine Sutl-
or and was cursed and deprived OF It's
bravery, THY plumage shall be the
black and white of mourning, and the
rain of heaven shall always fall into
! thy nest.
Somewhat similar IL the Basque le-
gend, that the rcdbreaat brought u
| drop of water In It's beak for the eye of
! he Virgin which had been acciden-
/ tally injured by thorn. Yet another
| kindred superstition attaches 90 IL in
the Highlands; II has drop OF Gods
| blood In its veins, From this belief in
It's saneity and the Divine favor which
| IL enjoys, the curious thread-like ex-
! crescences on briaS in Sussex as robin
readbreast cnshions,' are IN that caun-
try hung around the necks of children
! 20 cure ho0piug-cough. In spite,
/ therefore, OF It's quarrelsome and mo-
! rose disposition, the redbreast ~ y
IaVorite with the FOLKLORE and poetry
! domestic sentiments having also ut
tachcd itself 20 this bird OF winter per
! GreeHrRce, IL Is in vain for the natur-
alist 20 recount rs churlish traits AND It's
unavailable temper. As well might he
/ attempt 20 persuade an American that
4 his robin has no relation 10 our red
! breast, being only redhnasted
thrush. Sooth TO say the rodwlng, y
! common winter visitor C our isles, M
pears 10 us more beautiful, more full OF
/ association, and Rnore interesting than
! the robin. IL leaves the pine forest OF
/ Norway and the tHidr0o of siberia With
/ the first bitter winds 10 t,utter In little
4 partios over our meadows, up aud down
/ our hedge-rows. It's clear rich songs Is
/ never heard with rs, being reserved
/ for It's lOve-makng, when spring mas
I fairly set in ON the distant banks OF
: petschora, II cheers the dasolale re-
1 zion with beauty and melody. IL sooths
| the tolls of the Norwegian shepiierd ~
his snefef with its midnight strains
When with late October II comes 20
our shores II warns us thai winter Is
| approaching in earnest. u furnishes
/ HE schoolho1 With something 70 SHOOT
nj, and his father witha peg whefeoh
/ Ia hang a sonnet. LASTLY, sentiment
apart, Il h by no means ronleihlupV