THE ROBINS GO A-TRAVELLING 



and at the sight of these tiny visitors (much 

 smaller than either sparrows or juncos), the 

 others respectfully retired. 



The new-comers were pine-siskins, and 

 they seemed wonderfully at home with us 

 from the outset. Without any fear of dis- 

 turbing them, we could stand at the win- 

 dow and watch the sharp, black, well- 

 pointed little beaks as they neatly picked 

 the kernel from the shell, the delicate claw 

 aiding by holding the nut in place during 

 the excavation. When the craws could ac- 

 commodate no more the little couple would 

 fly to a tree at the side of the veranda, 

 where they would clean their bills and 

 smooth their feathers with an air of great- 

 est satisfaction. 



But it was not until the siskins had left 

 that the juncos felt free to attend the re- 

 past; while the English sparrows, with their 

 reputation for unbounded pugnacity, came 

 149 



