robin

n.

The name, in consequence of theirexternal resemblance to the familiar English bird, is applied,in Australia, to species of the various genera as follows: – – Ashy-fronted Fly-Robin – – Heteromyias cinereifrons, Ramsay.

♣ Buff-sided R. – – Poecilodryas cerviniventris, Gould.

♣ Dusky R. – – Amaurodryas vittata, Quoy and Gaim.

♣ Flame-breasted Robin – – Petroica phoenicea, Gould.

♣ Hooded R. – – Melanodryas bicolor, Vig. and Hors.

♣ Pied R. – – M. picata, Gould.

♣ Pink-breasted R. – – Erythrodryas rhodinogaster, Drap.

♣ Red-capped R. – – Petroica goodenovii, Vig. and Hors.

♣ Red-throated R. – – P. ramsayi, Sharp.

♣ Rose-breasted R. – – Erythrodryas rosea, Gould.

♣ Scarlet-breasted R. – – Petroica leggii, Sharp.

♣ Scrub R. – – Drymodes brunneopygia, Gould.

♣ White-browed R. Poecilodryas superciliosa, Gould.

♣ White-faced Scrub-R. – – Drymodes superciliaris, Gould.

The New Zealand species are – – Chatham Island Robin – – Miro traversi, Buller.

♣ North Island R. – – M. australis, Sparrm.

♣ South Island R. – – M. albifrons, Gmel.

Gould's enumeration of the species is given below. [See quotations, 1848, 1869.]

See also shrike-robin, scrub-robin,and satin-robin.

1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of the LinnaeanSociety,' vol. xv. p. 242:

«`This bird,' Mr. Caley says, `is called yellow-robin by thecolonists. It is an inhabitant of bushes'»

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii:

Plate Petroica superciliosa, Gould, White-eyebrowed Robin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Drymodes brunneopygia, Gould, Scrub Robin. . 10

Eopsaltria leucogaster, Gould,White-bellied Robin . . . . . . . 13

1864. R. L. A. Davies, `Poems and Literary Remains,' p. 263:

«Very soon comes a robin. . . . In the bush no matterwhere you pitch, the robin always comes about, and when anyother of his tribe comes about, he bristles up his feathers,and fights for his crumbs. . . . He is not at all pretty,like the Australian or European robin, but a little sober blackand grey bird, with long legs, and a heavy paunch and big head;like a Quaker, grave, but cheerful and spry withal.» [This isthe Robin of New Zealand.]

1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 93:

«The New Zealand robin was announced, and I could see only afat little ball of a bird, with a yellowish-white breast.»

1869. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia' [Supplement]:

Drymodes superciliaris, Gould, Eastern Scrub Robin.

Petroica cerviniventris, Gould, Buff-sided Robin.

Eopsaltria capito, Gould, Large-headed Robin.

E. leucura, Gould, White-tailed Robin.

1872. A. Domett, `Ranolf,' p. 239:

«The large red-breasted robin, kinsman true

Of England's delicate high-bred bird of home.»

1880. Mrs.Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 123:

«The Robin is certainly more brilliantly beautiful than hisEnglish namesake. . . . Black, red and white are thecolours of his dress, worn with perfect taste. The black isshining jet, the red, fire, and the white, snow. There is alittle white spot on his tiny black-velvet cap, a white baracross his pretty white wings, and his breast is, a livingflame of rosy, vivid scarlet.»

1888. Cassell's `Picturesque Australasia,' vol. ii. p. 235:

«Here, too, the `careful robin eyes the delver's toil,' and ashe snatches the worm from the gardener's furrow, he turns to usa crimson-scarlet breast that gleams in the sun beside thegolden buttercups like a living coal. The hues of his Englishcousin would pale beside him ineffectual.»

1896. `The Melburnian,' Aug. 28, p. 54:

«The flame-breasted robin no longer lingers showing us hisbrilliant breast while he sings out the cold grey afternoonsin his tiny treble. He has gone with departing winter.»