50 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
Notes on the Habits of some Common Birds. 
By D. A. Boyp. 
[Read 27th September, 1892.] 
AnyonE who lives in the country may derive considerable 
amusement from studying the habits of common birds, Such 
observations may be conducted with little difficulty; and if the 
birds are frequently fed, especially during the period of frost and 
snow in winter, when they approach the house in search of food, 
they soon become comparatively tame, and return morning after 
morning in expectation of a free breakfast. When the snow lies 
deep on the frozen ground, we may soon gather a motley crowd of 
feathered dependents. Crumbs of bread, oatmeal, cold potatoes, 
and scraps of cooked meat, all furnish a varied and acceptable 
repast, and it is exceedingly amusing to watch the scramble for a 
share of the supplies. We usually scrape away some of the snow 
from a paved court outside the kitchen, so that the birds may 
readily get at their food. The sparrows watch these preparations 
from the top branches of the neighbouring trees, and are, of 
course, the first to arrive upon the scene, and the last to take 
their departure ; but they are speedily followed by robins, black- 
birds, thrushes, hedge-sparrows, chaffinches, greenfinches, blue 
titmice, great titmice, and various other birds. Among all these, 
it is needless to say that the sparrow secures, at least, its own 
share. Occasionally, however, in very severe weather, a flock of 
starlings descend on the feeding-ground, and soon empty it of 
every scrap and morsel. It is then amusing to see the sparrows 
reluctantly compelled to give way before their more numerous 
and powerful rivals. Quarrels are frequent, especially among the 
blackbirds and robins, and these prove, beyond doubt, that the 
golden rule forms no part of the birds’ code of morals. 
