CHATS, ROBINS AND WARBLERS 29 



come. Another year (1901-02) two, some- 

 times three, and occasionally four, robins 

 would be there together almost under my feet 

 and ready to pick up anything I threw them. 

 Very unlike most robins, they seemed on 

 perfectly good terms with one another. 



In November, 1905, a robin used to come 

 into the house through the open windows and 

 make himself quite at home ; he would some- 

 times sit and sing on the bannisters in the 

 hall. 



I saw a very tame robin at Budworth in 

 1904. I was in the garden with the lady to 

 whom it belonged when the bird flew on to 

 her hand, and he used to come into the 

 drawing-room without any hesitation and 

 take his place at afternoon tea. 



In 1910 a pair of robins built in the pulpit 

 desk of Oughtrington Church near here, and 

 hatched out four young ones. A friend who 

 went to service one Sunday evening in June 

 saw a robin flying about and singing until 

 the sermon began, but then it took up a 

 position on the back of a seat near the pulpit 

 and looked up at the preacher, quite silent 

 and apparently listening. 



One of the prettiest little episodes of bird- 

 life is the delicate attention bestowed by a 

 robin on the chosen partner of his joys and 

 cares that I have several times witnessed 

 during April and May. Whilst she remained 

 watching and waiting on the ground below, 



