Comparative Robins - European Versus American

American Robin

When visiting the Brownshill Portal Tomb near Carlow, I identified my first European bird - the Robin. That bird was quite different than the American Robin (shown at the left) - eating insects instead of worms, and being quite smallish in comparison. I have been slowly reading through a book one of my sons gave me as a birthday gift last year that is a compilation of literature that mentions birds, or stories about birds. The night-before-last, I happened on a poem by the Scottish author, Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) titled Proud Masie. Had I not seen the Robin in Ireland, I wouldn't have had an accurate picture in my mind of what Scott was writing about. I found the poem at the Poetry Foundation Website as well, but the spelling of the subject was Maisie, rather than Masie, as found in the Graeme Gibson compilation. It is interesting to hear an writer talk about his perspectives of birds, and what motivates him to consider birds and wildlife.

Robin ('Erithacus rubecula')

Proud Masie

Proud Masie is in the wood,

   Walking so early;

Sweet Robin sits on the bush,

   Singing so rarely.

"Tell me, thou bonny bird,

   When shall I marry me?"—

"When six braw gentlemen

   Kirkward shall carry ye."

"Who makes the bridal bed,

   Birdie, say truly?"—

"The gray-headed sexton

   That delves the grave duly.

"The glowworm o'er grave and stone

   Shall light thee steady;

The owl from the steeple sing,

   'Welcome, proud lady.'"