82 Baby Birds at Home 



nests. The interiors of tea-pots, coffee-pots, 

 biscuit boxes, water cans, and even the 

 husks of coco-nuts are sometimes chosen. 

 The rusty water-can shown in our colour 

 photograph was lying on its side some 

 yards away from a newly-trimmed hedge, 

 and one day a cow walking along knocked 

 it over by accident with her foot, and all 

 the baby birds rolled out on the grass, but 

 were instantly replaced by the writer. 



Many people believe that when young 

 Robins grow up they kill their parents, 

 but, of course, this is entirely wrong. The 

 fact is that when young birds are quite able 

 to take care of themselves, the old ones drive 

 them forth to find new homes. 



Children who have seen Redbreasts 

 engaged in fierce encounters will be glad 

 to learn something of the other side of 

 their character. In the springtime a cock 

 Robin has been seen engaged in the 

 charitable work of feeding baby thrushes. 



Young Robins in their first coat of 

 feathers do not at all resemble their 

 parents. Instead of having scarlet breasts 

 their feathers are a mixture of dark and 

 light brown. 



