YOUNG POBIN 159 



than the robin even, and so curiously well-packed. 

 It has no fear, but it takes good care not to 

 encounter a larger bird than itself, and never 

 comes till the others have fed and the coast is 

 clear of them. 



One of the little robins (a very fine bird) is 

 wonderfully tame. I made its acquaintance 

 whilst digging up some ground for a new violet- 

 bed. It came up confidently at once (its mother 

 did not know, evidently, or ), pecked about, 

 examined my boots curiously, looked up at me to 

 see the connection, walked in and out of the prongs 

 of my fork, and found a good-sized slug, out of 

 which it proceeded to peck the life, and also part 

 of the substance. I did not know that so small a 

 bird would eat a slug. It could not manage a 

 worm, and pecked shyly at a woodlouse. It is 

 always about the kitchen door, and if I turn up 

 earth in the garden it is nearly sure to come and 

 see about it. It eats moderately of bread, but is 

 always friendly to my maid and a great resource 

 to her. 



It seems wonderful that with a dog on each 

 side of the house the old robin should have been 

 able to keep these three little feeble fluttering 

 things out of harm's way; but the ingenuity it 

 shows, and the terrible anxiety it sometimes 

 undergoes, must be seen to be believed. The 



