LEARNING TO EAT 130 



Some starlings seem to remain here, but I 

 think large flocks come and go also, passing south, 

 I suppose, and returning. 



The birds at the window are curiously numer- 

 ous and tame this year, considering how warm it 

 is. It may be in consequence of the absence of 

 berries. I have not seen a holly-berry this year. 



May 25, 1882. 



How I wish birds ate slugs ! I am afraid they 

 do not. I am not sure about starlings. Do they '? 

 Bless them if they do ! I never had so many 

 young birds in the garden before, and how 

 amusing they are when they come to learn to feed 

 on the window-sill ! It is the swallowing that is 

 the difficulty with young birds evidently. I have 

 watched many young chaffinches being taught 

 to feed. They soon peck a bit up, but cannot 

 swallow it without assistance. I have been 

 laughing aloud at a young chaffinch to-day ; it 

 pecked up a long bit of bread, and of course could 

 not manage it, but was for all that quite deter- 

 mined to hold it against all comers. And so it 

 did ; with its back to the window, and the piece 

 of bread for a lance, it defied them all, putting its 

 little head down, as if it was going to fly at them. 

 A number of birds came sparrows, chaffinches, 

 and even a nuthatch ; but it held its ground and 



