38 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



with andante movements, and almost always in the 

 minor key. 



Although generally huilding a new nest every 

 spring, the Robin occasionally makes use of the 

 nest of the previous year. A friend writing from 

 Norwood in the spring of 1863, says, — 



" Last year a pair of Robins built a nest in my 

 uncle's wood-house, and brought their young oif 

 safely, leaving an addled egg in the nest. I after- 

 wards threw this egg awa}'. This year a pair of 

 Robins, I believe the same pair, built a nest in a 

 basket in the wood-house, and brought their young 

 off, leaving as before an addled egg. As the basket 

 was wanted, nest and egg were inconsiderately 

 thrown away. Last Frida}^ I went into the wood- 

 house, and from the behaviour of a Robin suspected 

 a nest there. I looked about, and soon found that 

 she had laid five eggs m the old last year's nest on 

 the shelf. I took three eggs, and on Sundaj^ another 

 egg was laid. I regret to say, however, that the 

 nest has since been deserted.'' 



An instance, which I think very unusual, of a 

 Robin making use of the deserted nest of another 

 bird, came under my notice in the summer of 1865. 

 A pair of Robins took possession of the deserted 

 nest of a Hedge Sparrow in a yew-tree in a garden, 

 and after the eggs were laid the hen bird sat so 

 close that several times, on looking in upon her, my 

 face was within a foot of the nest, so that I had full 



