58 



partiality for small earthworms. In winter, when 

 frost and snow are about and few insects are 

 procurable, there is very little that comes amiss to the 

 Robin. Bread crumbs, boiled potato, ants' eggs, meat, 

 cheese, etc., being devoured with relish. In captivity 

 these birds thrive well on the usual insectivorous 

 diet, viz., ants' eggs, hard boiled egg, crushed sweet 

 biscuit, or bread crumbs, well mixed, and moistened 

 with grated carrot, with a mealworm now and again, 

 or a few small earthworms. 



Unlike most birds, the Robin frequently chooses 

 ver}^ quaint places for its nest, which is amph^ borne 

 out by the illustration in this number of " Bird Notes," 

 from a photograph of a Robins' nest in the remains of 

 an old watering can. Space does not permit of my 

 giving instances of the many curious homes chosen 

 by this little bird, but I can recollect, amongst others, 

 an old boot, and a disused tea kettle. However, the 

 majority of less eccentric pairs build in holes in walls, 

 hollow trees, ivy, faggot stacks, etc., the nest consist- 

 ing of moss, leaves, hair, and feathers. The young 

 iisually number five, and are spotted like young 

 Redstarts, with the exception that they are without 

 the chestnut-colored tail. 



Cinnamon Robins are frequently heard of, but 

 not often albinos — although last year there was a 

 iiest in the neighbourhood of Hatfield containing two 

 white and two partly white and partly normal colour. 

 They were described in "Bird Notes" for September 

 by our member Mr. F. Turnber, who also told me of an 

 incident he witnessed recently, which shows that if 

 given a little attention Robins soon become exception- 

 ally tame and fearless in their wild state. It was this : 

 an old gentleman had been in the habit of digging 

 over a little piece of ground so that the Robins which 

 frequented the garden could get the worms. On one 

 occasion he dug a few feet of ground over and then 

 sat in an arm chair with his legs crossed. The Robin 



