THE REDBREAST 433 



lead a hole-and-corner existence. This was particularly the case with 

 the Left Corner bird, whose right to put foot in the yard at all was 

 disputed by the Yard Robin. The former passed, indeed, a large part 

 of his time making up his mind to descend upon the rich plain of 

 succulent ooze that lay spread before his eyes. About the end of 

 the year he disappeared from the scene. He was killed perhaps by 

 his more powerful neighbour, or seized unawares in some corner of 

 his shed by one of the lean and hungry cats that prowled about 

 the farm. 



As the division of estates made at the beginning of the 

 season cannot possibly satisfy all parties, there is nothing to surprise 

 us in the fact that boundary disputes continue throughout the winter. 

 A robin's life is, indeed, at this season, busier than that of most birds. 

 He has not only to find his food like them, and guard against surprise 

 from birds and beasts of prey, but also to keep an ever watchful eye 

 on the borders of his property. These disputes end often enough in 

 fights which are sometimes fatal. When not fatal, the combatants 

 are so fast and furious in their movements as they flutter in mid-air, 

 that they will sometimes drop to the ground exhausted and there lie 

 for a time, side by side, motionless, two little limp patches of rumpled 

 feathers. Some sing as they fight. One very wet day three were 

 seen engaged in mortal combat, all muddy, all exhausted yet still 

 fighting and singing. 1 



They frequently attack other species that happen to feed within 

 the limits of their estate, but, as far as my observation at the 

 Chesham farm went, these learn in time to regard the robin's assault 

 with a kind of tolerant indulgence, just moving a foot or two away 

 and continuing to feed. The species I saw behaving thus were 

 hedge-sparrow and pied-wagtail. On one occasion, however, a 

 hedge-sparrow chose to take offence and, turning upon the assailant, 

 drove him off". Robins are not equally pugnacious, some hesitating 

 to rush in where others show no fear. I have seen one continue 



1 C. R. Witchell, Nature's Story of the Year, p. 120. 

 3K 



