142 Robins Pugnacious. 



overhung by a similar pear tree, besides which there 

 were some shrubs just outside, and into this room, 

 being quiet and little used, the tomtits ventured 

 every now and then. I fancy the placing of flowers 

 in vases on the table or on the mantelpiece attracts 

 birds to rooms, if they are still. Insects visit the 

 flowers ; birds look for the insects : and this room 

 generally abounded with cut flowers. Entering it 

 suddenly one day, a tomtit flew from side to side in 

 great agitation, and then dropped on the floor and 

 allowed me to pick it up without an effort to escape. 

 The bird had swooned from fright, and was quite 

 helpless the eyes closed. On being placed outside 

 the window in five minutes it came to itself and flew 

 off feebly. In this way birds may frequently become 

 a prey to cats and hawks when to all appearance 

 they might easily escape becoming so overwhelmed 

 with alarm as to lose the power of motion. 



The robin is a most pugnacious creature. He will 

 fight furiously with a rival ; in fact, he never misses 

 an opportunity of fighting. But he always chooses 

 the very early morning for these encounters, and so 

 escapes suspicion, except, of course, from people who 

 rise early too. It is even said that the young cock 

 robins, when they are full grown, turn round on their 

 own parents and fight with them vigorously. Neither 

 is he a favorite with the upper class of cottagers 

 for there is an ' upper ten ' even among cottagers 

 who have large fruit-gardens. In these they grow 

 quantities of currants for preserving purposes. The 

 robin is accused of being a terrible thief of currants, 

 and meets with scant mercy. 



Sometimes while walking slowly along the foot- 



