I 



LONDON'S FEATHERED FOLK 201 



procure to place in the kettle-homestead was that 

 from a Bunting's nest I had watched for some 

 little time, where I knew the eggs had been sat 

 upon for some days. So it came about that within 

 twenty-four hours after placing the Bunting's egg 

 in the Robin's nest, the Mother Robin hatched the 

 egg. Imagine my excitement when I espied the 

 male and female Robin perched on the top of the 

 kettle chattering one to another in most extra- 

 ordinary language. Cock Robin was evidently 

 saying to his mate : " Well, how on earth have 

 you managed it ? For only a few hours you have 

 been sitting, and a chick has been born to us. You 

 have eclipsed all previous records in our experience. 

 How have you accomplished it ? " And the poor 

 little disconsolate mother seemed to shake her 

 head and reply: "Goodness only knows!" To 

 cut a long story short, the female Robin settled 

 down once more upon her eggs and the young 

 stranger. Eventually all the Robin's eggs were 

 safely hatched and the chicks reared. So, too, 

 was the young Yellow Bunting. Both the Robins 

 paid every attention to it and treated it as one of 

 the family! 



We can gain a good general idea of the Swift's 

 appearance as the bird flies rapidly through the 

 air, squealing as he goes. The sharp-cut and long 

 wings and the small head will doubtless arrest 

 attention. The wing-stretch of this bird is re- 



