1 20 A Midland Village : Garden and Meadow. 



construction in the deserted nest of a Blackbird. 

 The only bird that had been forbidden access to 

 this Eden was the Bullfinch ; he duly made his 

 appearance, but was judged to be too dangerous 

 to the buds of the fruit-trees. Siskins and Haw- 

 finches have occasionally looked into this garden ; 

 but the Hawfinch has never bred here, and for 

 some unexplained reason the same is the case with 

 the Redstart. 



In my own garden, within a few feet of the 

 house, this last-mentioned friend found a very 

 convenient abode in a hole in my largest apple- 

 tree. The parents became very tame, and when 

 they knew their young were discovered, made 

 very little scruple about exposing themselves in 

 going in and out. The food they brought their 

 young, whenever we happened to see it, was a 

 small green caterpillar ; and I sincerely hope we 

 may have them again next year, both for the 

 benefit to my garden and for the pleasure they 

 give me. 1 May the sad loss of one fledgling 



1 They came, but found the hole occupied by the ubiquitous 

 Starling. He again gave way to a pair of bold Blue-tits, who 

 brought up their young here, flitting about the garden like large 

 blue butterflies. 



