Robins and Bullfinches, 1 1 



only reason which seems to suit the idiosyncrasies 

 of the Robin is this curious rivalry between young 

 and old. 



The Robins, I need not say, are everywhere ; 

 but there are certain kinds of birds for which we 

 must look out in particular places. I mentioned 

 Parsons' Pleasure just now ; and we may take it 

 very well as a starting-point, offering as it does, 

 in a space of less than a hundred yards square, 

 every kind of supply that a bird can possibly 

 want ; water, sedge, reeds, meadows, gravel, rail- 

 ings, hedges, and trees and bushes of many kinds 

 forming abundant cover. In this cover, as you 

 walk along the footpath towards the weir, you 

 will very likely see a pair of Bullfinches. They 

 were here the greater part of last winter, and arc 

 occasionally seen even in college and private 

 gardens ; but very rarely in the breeding-season 

 or the summer, when they are away in the densest 

 woods, where their beautiful nest and eggs are 

 not too often found. Should they be at their 

 usual work of devouring buds, it is well worth 

 while to stop and watch the process ; at Parsons' 

 Pleasure they can do no serious harm, and the 



