92 BIRD NOTES 



January 25, 1885. 



A piebald sparrow made its appearance here 

 one day lately; a great contrast to the others, 

 some of which are unusually black about the head. 

 It perched on the verandah whilst the robin was 

 sitting there. The robin gave a start and a jump ; 

 without doubt it recognised the strangeness of the 

 sparrow's apparel. It looked up at me as if to see 

 what I thought of it ; then again at the sparrow, 

 and then flew down to the lawn below. 



Two robins are constantly here now, and have 

 become more friendly ; indeed it is easy to see 

 that they are already ' making up to each other. 1 

 They have been doing the strangest thing to-day ! 

 Fascination is no doubt the object ; but to human 

 eyes their usual demeanour is much more fasci- 

 nating. I heard a queer little rapid song going on, 

 and went to the window ; and there were my two 

 robins standing face to face on the edge of the 

 verandah, and going through a wonderful and 

 ludicrous performance. First one and then the 

 other kept up a kind of dance and song, attitudi- 

 nising like ballet dancers or nautch girls. One very 

 pleasing attitude appeared to be throwing the head 

 forward and on one side, and gazing fervently at the 

 sky. Whilst one of them acted the other looked 

 on in a state of admiring stupefaction. They 

 were not easily disturbed or my laughter would 



