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The Blue Robins were, I think, the first to begin opera¬

tions. They laid and hatched in a cigar-box, very early in

the season, when snow was on the ground. The young all

hatched out and did well for a few days, when, for some reason

or other, the old ones deserted them. The next time they built

in a bigger box close by; there were four eggs, and three

hatched out; they all flew and are now as big as their parents.

(August 2nd). By the way, I often wonder how Blue Robins

manage to hatch their eggs: as half the time the hen is gadding

about ; they must do well on a modicum of heat.


As soon as this lot was off their hands the}?- nested again,

and I did not discover the nest till they hatched out. They laid

four eggs again, one clear, and they are just on the point of

flying. (They flew to-day, August 2nd). The old birds carry out

the excreta, just as Starlings do, and they don’t seem to much

relish the job, by the way they clean their beaks afterwards.


I sold all my young Blue Robins last year down south,

and I often wonder how they have fared in their new home.


My next success was with Green Cardinals. These are a

splendid pair and quite tame. The hen does not mind my going

to her nest a bit. They commenced breeding very early in the

season, and built their nest in a big elder bush. It is very like

the nest of the Blackbird. The first time she laid three eggs, the

colour of a Thrush only with purple spots on the larger end in

place of black. One egg was unfertile, the other two hatched out.

The youngsters grew rather slowly and did not leave the nest

for about three weeks. One day on going to the nest, as I

thought it time they flew, I found to my dismay, the nest empty.

I concluded that the nest had been taken by some boys, as they are

always taking nests in the garden. I w?as bitterly disappointed,

as }?ou may imagine, but what was my delight, on going into the

aviary a few days after, to see the young Cardinals sitting as still

as death on some dense elder, not even winking an eyelid.

The young beggars had really flown : and the parents had

hidden them so skilfully that though I searched the aviary from

end to end, I failed to find them. The youngsters are a sort of

greyish colour, with a very small crest and no dark beard:

rather like a very pale hen bird. They are fed a long time by the

parents after leaving the nest. You can hear them being fed,

as they make a sort of plaintive cry, which sounds like si-si-si.


Am I entitled to the medal for rearing Green Cardinals ?*



No, the Green Cardinal was reared by Dr. Butler in 1895, and by others before him.—E d.



