28 REDBREAST. 



the new one. Here what remained to be done to the nest was 

 completed; the under part of the shoe was filled up with 

 oak leaves, the eggs were deposited in the nest, and in due 

 time hatched, the windows of the room being always left a 

 little open for the entrance and egress of the birds. My 

 friend informed me that it was pleasing to see the great 

 confidence the Kobins placed in him. Sometimes, in the 

 morning, the old birds would settle on the top of his glass, 

 nor did they seem the least alarmed at his presence.' 



A loft is frequently built in, and in one instance, the nest 

 having been obliged to be removed, for an alteration in the 

 wall, the hen bird did not forsake it, though placed elsewhere, 

 even while dislodged mortar and stones fell dangerously near 

 her. A nest was placed on a shelf in a pantry, among some 

 four-sided bottles, so that it was made of a square shape. 

 When the housekeeper had to go in for any article, the bird, 

 instead of flying out of the window, as might have been 

 'expected, alighted on the floor till she had gone, when it 

 immediately returned to its nest. The eggs were eventually 

 forsaken, and a new nest, the work probably of the same 

 bird, was made in the room over it, which happened to be 

 a workshop for a museum. At first its absence was desired 

 more than its company, and it was endeavoured to be scared 

 by the sight of some fierce-looking stuffed animals, but it 

 seemed to be aware that the HOB was dead, and eventually 

 fixed its abode on the head of a shark, enshrouded by the 

 tail of an alligator. Two ladies at Larne, seeing a Robin 

 anxious to build, placed a box in the porch of the house for 

 its accommodation, which it speedily occupied. Another pair 

 resorted for nidification to a hole left by a knot in one of the 

 timbers of a ship under repair, and even the deafening sound 

 of the driving of the trenails close to it did not affect the 

 quiet tenacity with which it kept its place. One, taken from 

 its nest, stayed in the hand of the person who found it, and 

 on his putting it back again, remained till the eggs were 

 hatched the following day. 



Mr. Jesse relates the following: 'A gentleman had directed 

 a waggon to be packed, intending to send it to Worthing, 

 where he himself was going. For some reason his journey 

 was delayed, and he therefore directed that the waggon should 

 be placed in a shed in the yard, packed as it was, till it 

 should be convenient for him to send it off. While it was 

 in the shed, a pair of Robins built their nest among some 



