96 BTPD NOTES 



' Now, Owl, I pray, what do you say, alone in the dark 



on the tree ? ' 



' no-no-no-no ! ' the Owl replied ; ' it is not dark to me ! ' 

 ' Then, Owl, tell me, what do you see ? ' ' Blind mice, 



one, two, and three : 

 ' Hullullalaloo ! to my mate I call, to come and sup 



with me.' 



April 2, 1885. 



There have been young robins about for two 

 or more months. Is it my feeding them, or the 

 mildness of the winter, that has made them so 

 early? They are almost fully red-breasted, and 

 already quite tame to me, at least coming when 

 I call them if they are near enough to see me. 

 The old ones make a rendezvous of my window, 

 and stand here listening for the voices of their 

 young ones listening very anxiously apparently 

 sometimes, too anxiously to eat ; sometimes wait- 

 ing with a bit in the beak till they have heard the 

 right song, and then away goes the bird and the 

 bit. I think there are two broods about, some 

 younger than the others. I have heard the soft, 

 long, calling note of the mother more than once. 

 I say mother instead of parent ; but I do not know, 

 only guess, that it is the mother that makes that 

 pathetic appeal. 



May 25, 1885. 



Thrushes about this year, but not blackbirds. 

 Perhaps they are offended or inconvenienced by 



