THE ROBINS GO A-TRAVELLING 



Tuesday Was well pecked by a grackle. 



Wednesday Nearly lost an eye through 

 a dig from a cat-bird. 



Thursday Had a large tuft of feathers 

 torn from my breast by a robin, etc., etc. 



But democrat of democrats though she 

 was, she drew the line at receiving atten- 

 tions either hostile or friendly from English 

 sparrows. I have seen her rout a whole 

 band of the pert little fellows, when they 

 were simply minding their own business 

 and not thinking of interfering with her. It 

 was surprising with what haste they would 

 retreat before her. I had fancied that they 

 would turn upon her and retaliate, but they 

 always submitted meekly and fled. 



The terrible sparrow aggressiveness of 

 which we 'hear so much has never come in 

 the line of my observations. I made a par- 

 ticular study of the cheery, noisy little crea- 

 tures last winter with a view of learning 



