ROBIN REDBEEAST 



39 



walk came along on their way to meals. But she soon 

 became accustomed to them, and would sit quietly, although 

 numerous heads passed within ^ve or six feet. No one 

 disturbed the bird nor the nest with its four blue eggs, 

 and on May 6th I saw her feeding the young. Thus about 

 two weeks had been required for the eggs to hatch. Four 

 days after this event, while standing on the walk, I noticed 

 the heads of the young- 

 sters bobbing above the ^7\ 

 nest. They were gain- ' ^ ^ 

 ing strength rapidly. 



The morning of May 

 17th was cool and 

 rainy. A drizzling rain 

 had been falling for 

 some hours. This 

 dreary morning hap- 

 pened to come on the 



day when the young robins desired to leave the nest. Rain 

 could not dampen their desire, nor check their plans. At 

 seven o'clock three of them were found sitting motionless 

 a foot or more from the nest on the limb which held it. I 

 watched them for fifteen minutes but they scarcely moved 

 during that time, and only when I at length approached 

 them did they take notice of me. Each had gathered him- 



