30 EEDBEEAST. 



died in a few days, and the body was carried off by the 

 parent birds. The remaining four were regularly fed in 

 the presence of the children, and in due time reared. Soon 

 after their departure the old bird repaired the nest, and laid 

 three more eggs, which she attended to with the same 

 perseverance and success. We have often alluded to the 

 frequent returns of birds to the same nests, and perhaps 

 the most singular feature in this anecdote k that about twelve 

 years ago a Robin built in that identical pigeon-hole. Why 

 the visits were not renewed every year it is impossible to 

 conjecture, but that the pair of the present year were either 

 the same old birds, or young ones of the brood then reared 

 in it, is more than probable, from the circumstance of this 

 pigeon-hole being again selected, when others, forming the 

 school library, within the same framework, would have equally 

 suited the purpose. Another nest was constructed, and for 

 two successive years, in a still more extraordinary situation, 

 which we give, not on our own authority, but fully believing 

 it corroborated, as it may in a manner be said to be, by the 

 proofs of confidence already given. A few years ago, a pair 

 of Robins took up their abode in the parish church of 

 Hampton, in Warwickshire, and affixed their nest to the church 

 Bible, as it lay on the reading-desk. The vicar would not 

 allow the birds to be disturbed, and therefore supplied himself 

 with another Bible, from which he read the lessons of the 

 service. A similar instance occurred at Collingbourne Kingston 

 Church, in Wiltshire, on the 13th. of April, 1834; the clerk, 

 on looking out for the lessons of the day, perceived something 

 under the Bible in the reading-desk, and in a hollow place, 

 occasioned by the Bible's resting on a raised ledge, found a 

 Robin's nest containing two eggs. The bird not having been 

 disturbed, laid four more, which were hatched on the 4th. of 

 May. The still more extraordinary part of the story is, that 

 the cock bird actually brought food in its bill during Divine 

 service, which is performed twice every Sunday; and it is 

 further highly creditable to the parishioners, particularly the 

 junior portion of them, that the birds were never molested, 

 and not an attempt ever suspected to be made on the nest 

 and eggs deposited in so hallowed a spot. We can remember, 

 indeed, a Robin hopping more than once familiarly, as if aware 

 how safe from peril it was at such a moment, upon our 

 own Bible, as it lay open before ns, reading the lessons on 

 Christmas-day.' 



