Some Curious Notes from My Diary 



ping round the tub with wings adroop, breast depressed, 

 and bill raised at a threatening angle, showed clearly his 

 desire to intimidate. Making no visible impression by 

 these warlike displays the impudent wretch then 

 attempted to alight on the throstle's back, and annoyed 

 her until she took her departure. 



I saw a robin a little later on treat an old male black- 

 bird in a somewhat similar manner and with an equal 

 degree of success. A spotted flycatcher in possession of 

 the flint proved to be made of sterner stuff, and refused 

 to be bullied into taking his departure before he was 

 ready. His method of answering intimidation was to 

 lower his wings, raise his head, and, glaring defiantly, 

 snap his bill like the jaws of a trap. A great tit, a 

 robin, and a rather stupid-looking bullfinch tried one 

 after another to oust the plucky little fellow, but with- 

 out success. 



On one occasion perfect pandemonium suddenly 

 reigned in the hazel bushes and ash stalls growing all 

 round the tub. Blackbirds and chaffinches made the 

 wood ring with their loud and persistent alarm notes ; 

 great tits and robins added their jarring cries of anger, 

 and the wee brown wren began to tell all and sundry to 

 beware. I knew some hated enemy was at hand, and 

 presently a stoat crept under some trailing primrose 

 leaves on the edge of the tub, and reaching down took a 

 few laps of the water. Upon raising his head he gazed 

 steadily at my lens for a moment, and was portrayed 



in the act. 



***** 



K 149 



