120 BIRD NOTES 



The old robin was more successful. It built 

 its nest in the hedge on the other side of the road 

 going up the hill. The boys found it out, I believe, 

 for Mrs. Halse overheard them talking about it, 

 and I suppose they thought it better to leave 

 the young until they were fledged. But the old 

 bird was too clever for them. She must have got 

 them out of the nest very early one morning, 

 before they could fly, and managed to get three of 

 them, at all events, into my garden, under the 

 gate, I fancy. She knew no doubt by experience 

 that it was a comparatively safe place. On passing 

 a gooseberry bush near the gate that day, I 

 observed a tuft, or rather a small thick layer, of 

 withered grass on the top of it. Thinking it 

 looked untidy, I raised it, and was about to throw 

 it away ; and behold ! there was a dear little round 

 speckled thing under it, with bright surprised eyes, 

 looking up at me from the very middle of the 

 bush ! wondering, but quite still and not afraid. 



Of course I replaced its cleverly and carefully 

 prepared shelter, and took care not to let it be 

 disturbed. The old bird could hardly have devised 

 a better fortress for the little thing, the youngest, 

 no doubt. It remained there two days, I think. 

 Two others were stumbling and cheeping about 

 the garden for some time ; one took an awkward 

 flight into the kitchen window. 



