THE BIRDS OF COOKHAM AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 13 
to be several among the cedar-trees. Its cunning in keeping 
close to the thickest boughs, and dodging round them as often as 
I caught sight of its breast fora moment, was quite provok- 
ing. After a chase of about two hours, I was fortunate enough 
to secure the present specimen, not without along hunt, for fal- 
ling from a lofty branch it was caught and hidden by a fork in 
the tree, and I had almost given up the search in vain. Mr. 
Tristram shot the bird, I believe, in the same neighbourhood.” 
A female Black Redstart was obtained near Hampstead in April, 
1868, and I saw it in Mr. Davy’s shop in the Kentish Town road. 
He informs me that the bird-catchers had been aware of its pre- 
sence in the neighbourhood during the whole winter. It was 
accompanied by a male who, however, up to the moment of 
writing has eluded capture. Itis very probable that they would 
have bred in this country, had they been undisturbed. 
Erythacus. 
28. Erythacus rubecula. The Robin Redbreast. 
The villagers of Cookham have a curious saying, that no Robin 
ever sees a third winter, as the old birds are always killed by 
their young. This is a new phase in the economy of the Robin; 
but as no one at Cookham has ever seen the young ones actually 
kill their parents, as far as I can ascertain, I hope very little credit 
is to be given to the assertion, which is, no doubt, an exaggeration 
arising out of the well known pugnacity of the species. It would 
seem almost preposterous to write another anecdote of the Robin’s 
tameness, yet the following will, I believe, vie with any yet 
recorded, as an instance of its docility. The little bird made its 
appearance soon after we went to live at Cookham, and used to 
come on to the verandah every morning for crumbs, and having by 
his familiarity become a great favourite, he in his turn became a 
tyrant, and would not allow a Sparrow, Water Wagtail, 
Chaffinch, or any other applicant to approach the verandah for 
food. In the garden his excessive tameness became quite a 
nuisance, as he used to sit on the gardener’s baskets, and take the 
fruit when it was thrown in, or if they were digging, he would sit 
on the spade and jump into the hole when the mould was turned 
out, and pick up worms. Once when Stephen was doing something 
