FEBRUARY. 21 



noises in their eagerness to get at the spoil. So far as I could see 

 there was only one female bird among the crowd. By the way, a male 

 and female Chaffinch looked in during the afternoon. Could they 

 have been paired, for during the Winter one mostly sees the two 

 sexes of these birds quite apart from one another? We put a whole 

 dishful of pieces out at 1.30, and by 2 o'clock it was all gone. All 

 the small particles that were left a sweet little hen Chaffinch picked 

 up. It was amusing to see a rough old Starling fly into the Plum 

 tree with a piece of bread, whilst two or three Sparrows waited 

 underneath to partake of the fallen crumbs which my lord in his 

 ravenousness allowed to escape his notice. After a good fill the 

 Starlings repaired to a tree down the garden, and there sat sunning 

 themselves, quite indifferent to the cutting wind and driving sleet. 

 But the sight of some half-dozen Sparrows taking possession of the 

 dinner fragments was too strong a temptation; they came back and 

 speedily cleared off the lot. They must now be satisfied until 

 to-morrow's breakfast table is laid. I cannot understand why the 

 Greenfinch does not visit me more frequently. He is a most voracious 

 bird, but extremely nervous, yet what about the Starling? It was 

 some time before even he could sum up courage enough to come, 

 but he is now a regular visitor. A Song Thrush made its appearance 

 this afternoon, but made a short stay, a remark which also applies to 

 a Great Tit. The country around is frostbound, and the birds, I am 

 afraid, are suffering great privations. "What pleasure it affords to 

 watch them from the window, and to know that you have been the 

 means of filling many a hungry belly. During the day someone who 

 has nothing better to do has been banging away and taking advantage 

 of the tameness of the feathered tribe at this season. 1 am feeding 

 the birds for him to shoot perhaps! 



A few days ago I saw a Wren flitting across the road in front of 

 me; he disappeared into the hedge. How does such a wee feathered 

 mite stand this hard weather? His diet is of an insectivorous character, 

 but during the Winter I think scraps must be partaken of to a very 

 great extent. Yet, the Wren very rarely comes into my little plot, and 

 when he does he always hops about, along and underneath the fence, 

 and even if there is food put out for him does not deign to touch it 

 I would so much like to watch this feathered favourite mixing up with 

 the other guests. 



12th. -The Ring Dove at this season of the year feeds very 

 largely on the berries of the Ivy. A friend saw one just lately with its 

 crop crammed with these berries. He also tells me he has seen a hat- 



