Observations on the birds of a suburban garden.



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There seems to be a robin for every clump of bushes, and

occasionally, as last year, one finds a young bird tame enough to

take a mealworm or caterpillar, especially a bright green one, from

the fingers, without previous coaxing. I believe these extra tame

ones generally fall victims to the cats which populate this neighbour¬

hood very thickly. There is always one robin to be found in the

rhododendrons near the aviary, and he seems to be always on the

watch, for, as soon as I come out, he is there, in case there is to be

a distribution of mealworms. He will tackle a cockroach, large

enough to strike fear into the heart of a cardinal or a wagtail. This

spring I was glad to notice his unselfishness in preparing these

delicacies for his mate, and this is especially satisfactory in the case

of a bird which can only be regarded as self-centred, naturally.


Hedge-sparrows occur in large numbers, but go quietly about

their business for the most part.


Wrens, blue and great tits are common, and I believe the

cole-tit occurs frequently. The long-tailed I have only seen once

personally and then they were high up in an elm tree.


Up to last year I had no idea that garden-warblers were to

be found in these parts; but last summer one was found on the

lawn, apparently in some sort of fit. She turned out to be a hen

and revived in a cage, taking well to artificial foods, and after sur¬

viving through the winter, died soon after being turned into an

aviary in the spring.


Every year we see a few birds, which we take to be willow-

warblers, although they are not heard to sing. They are seen

especially about September ; a good many are very bright yellow

and may be young ones. Sometimes they are fairly tame and sit

on top of the aviary. I have also seen them, together with blue-

tits, taking a bath under the lawn-spray. Another bird, which is

fond of a bath, is the spotted flycatcher, a great favourite of mine.

They may generally be seen at the right time of year and nearly

always in the same place, on a low iron railing, from which it is

very pretty to see them catching flies. The gardener tells me that

he has sometimes so drenched these birds when they have come for

a bath under the hose, that he has picked them up and placed them

in the sun to dry. The birds evidently like him (the gardener) as I



