58 REDBREAST. 



inches and three quarters across, and two and a half in internal diameter. 

 It is concealed with great care and success. W. Bridger, Esq. has 

 kindly forwarded me a specimen among a number of others. 



His late Majesty King William the Fourth had a part of the mizen- 

 mast of the Victory, against which Lord Nelson was standing when he 

 was mortally wounded, placed in a building in the grounds of Bushy 

 Park when he resided there. A large shot had passed through this 

 part of the mast, and in the hole it had left, a pair of Robins built 

 their nest and reared their young. The relic was afterwards removed 

 to the dining-room of the house, and is now in the armoury of Windsor 

 Castle. ' Victoria pacem.' 



A loft is frequently built in, and in one instance, the nest having 

 been obliged to be removed, for an alteration in the wall, the hen bird 

 did not forsake it, though placed elsewhere, even while dislodged mortar 

 and stones fell dangerously near her. A nest was placed on a shelf in 

 a pantry, among some four-sided bottles, so that it was made of a 

 square shape. When the housekeeper had to go in for any article, the 

 bird, instead of flying out of the window, as might have been expected, 

 alighted on the floor till she had gone, when it immediately returned 

 to its nest. 



Mr. Jesse relates the following: ' A gentleman had directed a waggon 

 to be packed, intending to send it to Worthing, where he himself was 

 going. For some reason his journey was delayed, and he therefore 

 directed that the waggon should be placed in a shed in the yard, packed 

 as it was, till it should be convenient for him to send it off. While 

 it was in the shed, a pair of Robins built their nest among some straw 

 in it, and had hatched their young just before it was sent away. One 

 of the old birds, instead of being frightened away by the motion of 

 the waggon, only left the nest from time to time for the purpose of 

 flying to the nearest hedge for food for its young; and thus alternately 

 affording warmth and nourishment to them, it arrived at Worthing. 

 The affection of this bird having been observed by the waggoner, he 

 took care in unloading not to disturb the Robin's nest; and the Robin 

 and its young returned in safety to Walton Heath, being the place from 

 whence they had set out; the distance travelled not being less than 

 one hundred miles. Whether it was the male or female Robin which 

 kept with the waggon I have not been able to ascertain; but most 

 probably the latter; for what will not a mother's love and a mother's 

 tenderness induce her to do?' 



The eggs, generally five or six in number, are of a delicate pale 

 reddish white, faintly freckled with rather darker red, most so at the 

 larger end, where a zone or belt is sometimes formed. Some are 



