BIED-ALTKUISM 71 



A KOBIN'S NEST 



I think it may interest some of your readers who are 

 lovers of birds to know that a robin has taken up its 

 abode in one of the bedrooms of a house here, and success- 

 fully hatched its young. It began building its nest on 

 some books on a shelf ; but as the books were being 

 ruined, a box was placed in a corner of the bookcase and 

 the sticks, etc., were carefully placed in it. The robins 

 seem to have been very well satisfied with the change, 

 for there are now five young ones in the nest. The old 

 birds are having a busy time feeding their little ones, 

 and seem to be quite at home, though the room is in 

 constant use. 



J. W. W. 



May 11, 1907. 



ANOTHER 



In a disused stable behind my house there hangs an 

 inverted human skull (left by a brother, now a doctor in 

 India). On the orbit, and resting against the wall, about 

 five feet from the ground, a robin has built her nest. 

 There were six eggs, two of which are now hatched, and 

 the birds have not deserted their home, notwithstanding 

 the fairly constant observations of the family, which in- 

 cludes three boys, aged respectively two, four, and six 

 years. The birds built although the gardener was con- 

 stantly going to and from the stable, where the garden 

 tools are kept. 



X. 



May 16, 1908. 



NOTE. Mr. W. H. Hudson has wished that when he 

 is dead an adder will make a hibernaculum of his skull. 

 I should prefer the robins. Death, where is thy vic- 

 tory, when thou ministerest thus to the uses and victory 

 of life? 



