118 BIRD NOTES 



We have diligently fed our birds, and kept 

 them alive and in fine feather. Strange to say, 

 not one of my yellow crocuses has been eaten this 

 year, though thrushes are continually about the 

 lawn. The taste of that old thrush must have 

 been peculiar ; or he may have been suffering from 

 some disease for which he had been recommended 

 to take yellow crocus ! 



The swallows will be late this year, I think, 

 for the south of Europe seems still buried in snow. 

 Talking of swallows, I remember recording, some 

 years ago, how I w r atched for some time the feeding 

 of some young ones on a low roof, and how very 

 irregularly the old bird did it. I have come to the 

 conclusion that it was my presence that disturbed 

 her on that occasion, for I watched a similar scene 

 last year, and was astonished at the regularity and 

 impartiality with which the old bird performed its 

 task. I watched for some time, and she never 

 made one mistake, though sometimes several 

 minutes must have elapsed before her return with 

 another fly. At last, however, another swallow, 

 the mate, I presume, came with a fly in its 

 mouth just as she was feeding one bird, and put 

 it quite in order into the beak of the next. 

 This seemed to disturb her very much ; she sat 

 down (so to say) beside them, and began to chatter 

 and twist about as if to reproach the other. 



