14 BIRD NOTES 



to see it so far off as it did. I really believe that 



that little robin a young one, I think loved me 



as well as my crumbs. It always came to meet 



me when I went into the garden if it was there, 



or came to my call if it was in the next garden. 



But one day 1 called in vain. Only the day before 



it had hopped up to me in the most lively and 



affectionate manner ; but that day, and every day 



after, I called in vain ! It was a sad business. 



What became of it ? Was it cat or dog or trap 



that deprived me of my pet ? Or was it the 



jealousy of some older and stronger robin ? I am 



inclined to think that the latter was the cause ; 



and that an older and bolder robin (bolder towards 



birds, not towards me), that appeared in the 



garden about that time may have chased the tame 



one away, I am the more inclined to think this, 



first, because the tame one was very much afraid 



of other robins, and immediately sought the 



shelter of a bush if it heard the note of one in the 



distance, and also because the same thing happened 



once before, some years ago. In that case also 



the robin presented itself at my feet one day 



without any invitation on my part, and it seemed 



to me that it was aiming at the shelter of my 



dark brown dress. It was a very timid bird, and 



seemed seldom to leave the shelter of a bush 



except to come to nie. A frightened creature 



