112 BIRD NOTES 



marked. The sweet little fluffy thing paddled its 

 feet in the rain in the gutter of the verandah, and 

 tried to sip some up. The old birds were very 

 fussy, and much excited, calling the young ones 

 with quite loud notes, and carrying off beak-loads 

 of bacon, of which they seemed to eat but little 

 themselves. 



A thrush has brought up one brood in the 

 garden, and is now sitting again, this time in the 

 Pyrus japonica. 



1887. 



This year the torn-tits claimed my hospitality 

 again, and I had no cole tits. They do not seem 

 to be able to associate even to the extent of feeding 

 at the same window. On the other hand, the 

 robins have been there continually, and also in and 

 out, feeding on my easel. I am beginning to think 

 that it is jealousy and greed, and not affectionate 

 discipline, that make the old robins so anxious to 

 prevent young ones from sharing one's favours. 

 The old robin has been curiously careful all the 

 year not to come in when the young one was 

 about. However, the young one found its way 

 into the dining-room below, where also I had put 

 food for it. 



Two blue tits became very tame, and towards 

 the autumn were always to be found hovering 

 about the window when I came down in the 



