200 BIRDS 



many chicks are in the homestead. Young Song 

 Thrushes, however, when fairly well feathered, 

 make a rather pretty picture, but these are nervous 

 youngsters and will often leave the nest for the 

 first time when suddenly disturbed. This greatly 

 agitates the parent birds, who give vent to their 

 feelings by scolding angrily and calling " clink, 

 clink, clink," and even flying round the intruder 

 in a most defiant manner. One may observe a 

 Thrush smashing a Snail against one of the stones 

 in the London parks, or dexterously balancing an 

 Earthworm in its beak, then tucking it up, like a 

 boy's Chinese cracker, and hurrying away with 

 the tit-bit to feed its young ones in the nest. 



The Mute Swan is well known as a tenant of the 

 various sheets of water in the London open spaces 

 and upon the Thames, and is a graceful ornament 

 wherever it frequents. 



The Robin is a favourite with almost every one. 

 It thrusts itself upon our attention, is most trust- 

 ful, and loves the companionship of humankind. 

 It also places its nest in most curious places. I 

 remember on one occasion seeing a Mother Robin 

 sitting contentedly at home upon her nest in an 

 old kettle. I chanced to place in this particular 

 nest an egg of the Yellow Bunting to see whether 

 the Robins would incubate the egg and rear the 

 young one. It so happened that just as the 

 Robins commenced to sit the only egg 1 could 



