2 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



shorter; but so it is, and Dr. Russ laments the fact in the 

 most pathetic fashion, particularly as regards the subject of 

 the present notice, for which he expresses a warm admi- 

 ration that is certainly in every respect, save one, its due. 



To the point, however. I have said that it has some 

 defects which detract from the general excellence of 

 its character, and so it has. In the first place, it is purely 

 of insectivorous habits, a serious difficulty in the matter 

 of keeping it until recently, for after a short dieting 

 upon the makeshifts that are vended for insect-eaters, 

 one of these birds will soon grieve its owner by having 

 a fit, or it may even carry its objection to its feeding 

 so far as to die, which of course is a most unreasonable 

 proceeding on its part, at least from the fancier's point 

 of view. 



We now come to defect number two: the Blue 

 Robin will go to nest quite freely in the aviary, making 

 a loose clumsy construction, of grass and leaves in any 

 convenient corner, and will lay and incubate its eggs 

 in the most praiseworthy fashion. Then, however, it 

 seems to consider that it has done enough, for nearly 

 always it refuses to feed the young, which are either 

 thrown out as soon as hatched, or, if fed for a few 

 days, are then abandoned, which is exceedingly annoying 

 to the aviarist, and decidedly cruel to the poor little 

 things themselves. 



Why the Blue Robins should act in such an unnatural 

 manner is difficult to say; some authorities think that 



