UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES AFIELD 89 



greater part of the day and it ceased entirely only 

 when the grownd was fairly well cleared of the 

 fruit. 



Probably from over two centuries of brooding 

 near houses, robins have become tamer and more 

 trustful of humanity than any other bird. Possibly 

 there should be an exception in the case of the 

 wren, but I am not sure; there are always three 

 pairs of robins to one of wrens with us. They 

 build where the logs cross at corners, under porch 

 ceilings, and among the vines climbing on the 

 verandas. Last year a robin built her nest on a 

 windowsill directly against the sash of a summer 

 residence belonging to my daughter. The nest 

 was in a corner, its mud foundations so plastered 

 to the sash that it was impossible to raise the 

 window from the bottom until the young birds 

 had flown, so the ventilation of the room was 

 managed by the upper sash for the length of time 

 the bird used the lower one, but as it was cool 

 spring weather this worked no hardship for any 

 one. 



One of the most peculiar nesting locations I have 

 encountered afield was on the running gear of a 

 hay rake that had been left standing where the 

 farmer had finished using it. The only protection 

 that had been afforded it from the weather was 

 the unscrewed seat turned upside down. On the 

 crosspiece of the frame the bird had located her 

 nest, so centred under the shelter of the overturned 



