REDBREAST.
outdoor fernery in the garden, aud 1 tlao remarked the absence of llie male, who had invariahly heeu in
tin; liahit of making his appearance to welcome visitor- to his quarters. After making inquiries I learned
from the gardeners that one of the Robins in tho indoor fernery had lieen observed driiing an interloper
about the plaeo a week or two before and piteously attacking him when down. The men declared that
Um little savage pecked furiously at the helpless victim while endeavouring to seek shelter among the
crevices of the rocks, in consequence of this information, a search was made, and we soon discovered his
mangled remains floating in a small pool near the waterfall. The flesh had been literally torn from
portions of tho breast and neck, and the greater part of the bead was devoid of feathers, showing the
barbarous treatment to which he bad been exposed. This evidence is corroborated by the following Hues,
which appeared in the 'Pick!' of Octol>cr 25, 1B84:—" PiiyNticity of the Robin.—Qu Sunday last I saw
two Robins fighting under my diuing-room window in such a fierce manner thnt they astonished me.
1 watched fheiu until one actually killed the other, aud then, like a game-cock, continued fo peck his
victim. 1 then wcut out to examine tho poor bird, and found both eyes out and his skull quite bare,
and the victor flew on a brunch close to me, and began to sing in the sweetest notes. I then left the
dead bird where I found it, and before I could get into the house ho was at him again, pulling him
about and standing on hiui, and be actually peeked a hole in his side. I have often seen dead Robins
about the grounds, but bad no idea they would kill ono another, though I knew they were mast pugnacious.—
JOHN IVORTUINGTOS (Fishguard)."
For the last six or seven years I have, when at home in the south of llnglaud, carefully watched
three pairs thnt brew! round the bouse, notes also being received with reference to their proceedings
during my absence. One pair annually construct their nests among tho rocks in an enclosed fernery,
secure from cutting winds and safe from the attacks of cats; these in every instance have succeeded in
rearing a couple of hrouds. Two pairs, one retorting to an outdoor fernery and the other to an ivy-clad
wall, have in only one instance brought out both broods—cats, cold winds, and the loss of eggs (for
which, I lM-licve, both nits, mice, and Starlings must he held responsible) having caused them repeatedly
to desert their nests. That no increase in numbers takes place is certain, more than three pairs having
never nested on tho grounds; a few young may be observed till well on in autumn, after which the old
birds only are seen, each emerging from its usual haunt when called, and looking down in expectation
for what they like best, viz. a small lump of butter.
I am unable to oiler any opinion as to the length of life of this species: witnesses, however, whose
statements ought to be reliable, have informed me that these birds have been known to Frequent one spot for
from fifteen to twenty years. My own acquaintance with any individual has never extended over between
seven and eight years. On every occasion when driving through a beech-plantation on the South Downs,
between May 1S72 and January ISM), a Robin came regularly to welcome us to his quarters. Hobby was a line
old bird in full song when his acquaintance was tirst made; our conveyance drawn up for lunch under
a spreading lieech having attracted him to the spot, crumbs and fat meat at once found favour in his
sight. In course of time he grew more familiar; no sooner were the wheels beard descending the rough
hill-track, than Itobhy, even if his haunts had not beun visited for several mouths, was on the look out
some three or four hundred yards from where we usually pulled up. Flying at once to meet the conveyance,
he perched on any convenient part and, singing from time to time, rode for the remainder of
the way. While lunch was being unpacked he usually explored tho interior of the nose-bag with which
the horse was provided, and regaled himself with a few oats. The fat of ham, beef, or mutton was the
delicacy he relished most, though butter or even a humble crumb of bread proved acceptable at limes.
His wife and, on two or three occasions, their family were seen; these, however, never ventured
within the distance of two or three yards, aud after snatching a mouthful or two, at once sought tho
REDBREAST.
shelter of the surrounding brambles. It is now over four years since poor Bobby was last seen, and no
Robin has taken up its quarters near the spot ho frequented: stoats and weasels were by no means
scarce amongst the cover on the rough bill-side, and on one occasion I plainly detected a marten In the
beech-grove: probably our old friend fell a victim to one of these marauders. It is exceeding!*
amusing to watch the fascination exercised over small birds by such animals : on the LOth of
September, 1SS3, while driving along the coast-road between Shorebani and Lancing in Sussex, my
attention was first attracted by lour Whcatears perched two and two in the middle of the road Intently
regarding with outstretched necks the antics of some diminutive creature rolling over and over at the
side of the track; the birds appeared helplessly spell-bound, turning their heads at every movement with
the regularity of clockwork. A Whitethroat was hovering at the same time directly over, while -ale on
bis perch on a twig in the thorn hedge a Robin quietly, though with evident suspicion, looked down
upon the proceedings, llavhig ascertained that a young weasel was the cause of the excitement, I put
a stop to his designs with a charge of shot, before he bad obtained a chance to secure any of tho deluded
and infatuated spectators.
A weakly or wounded Robin is a sad spectacle, the poor bird usually draws near to one who seems
interested in its welfare and claims assistance. Towards the end of last January an unfortunate with
its beak broken oil' at the base took up its quarters in our indoor fernery, and in a piteous manner
looked up when approached, evidently in hopes of obtaining assistance. Soaked bread, IpongO-cake,
and chopped worms were provided, but alter lingering a few days the sufferer succumbed. To cool tho
base of its beak, on which a fungoid growth was forming, the bird was constantly dipping its head in
water and rubbing it on the stones. A Robin with a club-foot was known for several years to frequent
the grounds of the Manor House at l'ortslade near Brighton ; during the day he constantly attended
the gardener, and after dark, if forgottou, bis tap at the window was soon heard; whou admitted he
speedily sought his accustomed roosling-place on the pinnacles of an old oak clock. At tea-lime ill winter
he usually joined the party in the kitchen, helping himself to what he fancied best aud showing a
predilection for the currants in a fresh cut cake, which he dexterously extracted while perched on the
dish.
While eagerly searching tu provide food for their earlier broods the Rubins that resort to our
ferneries are more confiding than at any other season of the year; they wiR take butter, worms, or
insects when offered on a fork. It is seldom thai such familiarity i- exhibited dnnie_- -uiiiiner; on the
S8th of Juno, 18SA, however, while I was examining a caterpillar of the scalloped oak, C'roailis
eiingiitifiii, which the gardener had brought for identification on a sprig of willow, tho insect relaxed its
hold and dropped. No sooner had it reached the ground than one of the Robins, who was watching
the proceedings from a bush close at band, darted down and seizing bis prize in triumph carried it off
to some full-grown young to whom he occasionally supplied food, the dry weather having rendered the
work of procuring sustenance almost foo severe for the inexperienced juveniles. There are few insects
that come amiss to Robins; they destroy vast quantities of caterpillars that are injurious to plants and
vegetables. On a few occasions I have seen the grub of the crane-fly, or daddy-long-legs, bt their beaks;
they also prey upon both centipedes and earwigs, mollis and dies of every description, as well as small
worms. On the 10th of June, 1SS3, I watched a Robin creeping, after the manner of a Woodpecker, up
the hark of an old alder-stump on one of the Norfolk marshes. Remarking that the bird halted at one
particular spot and pocked for a few moments with great vigour, 1 closely examined file trunk of the
tree and discovered the empty cocoon from which he had evidently just extracted the chrysalis <•( some
large moth. In September 1S83 immense quantities of tho wings of moths (principilly an-lo-shados,
Phloi,ophoi-<i mctivitloM), as well as those of a few butterflies, were found dropped below the rockeries,