BIRD TRAGEDIES 25 



I looked out there was nothing to be seen ; but 

 there was death below a murder had been 

 committed ! 



That is not the only tragic occurrence I have 

 witnessed here. One day a day of frost and 

 deep snow I found a little blue tit on the veran- 

 dah, dead, and almost buried in the snow. I drew 

 it up, hoping that life might not be quite extinct ; 

 but I could not restore it. Sometimes birds have 

 come with broken or dangling legs, or with only 

 one- a sad sight that ! One came thus for two 

 years, but generally such a disadvantage in the 

 struggle for life must tend to bring it to a speedy 

 conclusion. A one-legged robin came at one time, 

 but not for long. An old hedge-sparrow lived for 

 many years in the garden with its head quite bare 

 of feathers, and apparently very feeble on the wing. 

 It was a sweet singer and very tame, but it never 

 came to my window. When I last saw it, it was 

 lying on its side on the lawn in a sunny spot, 

 lifting up its wing to expose its old side to the 

 comfort of the sunshine. A simple gentle birdis 

 the hedge-sparrow, and very tame sometimes ; and 

 its song, though weak and wiry compared with 

 some, is very pleasant ; it is so peaceful. Besides, 

 it sings on when all other birds are silenced except 

 the robin. 



' Except the robin.' How often one has to say 



