74 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



the sitting-room of a shoemaker in the village of Bishop's Cleeve, 

 Gloucestershire. It settled itself behind a teapot on the mantle-piece, 

 and there built a nest, and laid eggs, on which it sat, taking no notice 

 either of the family in which it had become domesticated, or of strangers 

 who came to look at the strange sight; it even allowed itself to be 

 touched and caressed, and when the meals were on the table, came 

 fearlessly down for its share, and even seemed to recognize the several 

 members of the family. 



There was another, that year after year, came and made itself a home 

 in a large house, in which many persons resided; into kitchen and 

 drawing-room, study and bed-room, went the impertinent bird, now 

 snatching a morsel of meat from the hand of cook, now from the 

 shoulder of the mistress flying on to the breakfast or dinner table, and 

 picking up such scraps as pleased its fancy; this was a tailless bird, 

 and therefore easily recognized as the same annual visitor; it preferred 

 to sleep in an outhouse, and regularly tapped for the window to be opened 

 when bed-time came, and to be let in again in the morning. If turned 

 out of a room for some misconduct, or because it was not convenient to 

 have him there, Robin would fly in at any opening he could find, and 

 be back again almost before the window was closed, from which he 

 had been expelled. If taken a distance of several miles, and let loose, 

 ho was sure to be back again in a very short space of time. There 

 is little doubt that this shared the fate of so many feathered pets fell 

 a victim to the cat! 



The pugnacity of the Robin is sometimes turned to account in effecting 

 the capture of others of its species; if one of them be fastened in a 

 cage, the door of which is left open, it will not be long before another 

 is attracted by its cries and fluttering, and entering the cage, will at 

 once engage in a furious fight with the captive, during which it can 

 be easily secured. Indeed it is not even necessary to use a cage for 

 this purpose; the decoy bird may be tied by the leg to any object, 

 and so intent are the combatants in their murderous work, that they 

 do not heed the approach of any person, and may be taken with the 

 hand. Better, however, to leave the poor bird at liberty; plenty of 

 opportunities will be afforded of hearing him warble his sweet and 

 somewhat melancholy song, and of enjoying the pleasure of his company; 

 he is so familiar and confiding, and comes so often of his own accord 

 to be fed and cherished, that it is a shame to abuse his confidence. 



The nest of the Robin is formed for the most part of moss, leaves, 

 and small twigs, lined with horse-hair or feathers; the eggs are from five 

 to seven in number, of a dusky ash-colour, mottled with reddish brown 

 spots; as a rule there is little variation in the colours, but specimens 



