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Miss Ethel Chawner,



Blackbirds and Thrushes — though familiar enough to make their

wants known when under stress of weather or when hungry families

have to be provided for—keep their distance and obviously look on us

as a kind of ‘ Whiteley’ or ‘ Harrod,’ to be patronised when occasion

arises. Robins are differently constituted. For the last ten years

at least we have never been without one or more finger-tame Robins,

who invade our rooms, observe our exits and our entrances, and

generally use us to suit their convenience. “ Bounce,” our reigning

Robin, does more than perch and away : he hovers in the air like a

Humming Bird while the mealworm tin is being opened, and then

sitting on a finger he picks out what he desires, perhaps stopping in

the middle to sing a few notes or put a feather to rights. A short time

ago he introduced his wife 11 Bet,” who at once showed herself as

fearless as he, and comes just as readily to hand. “ Bounce” will

he four years old next June: he is the child of “Jane,” who

was utterly fearless and who largely reared him on mealworms.

“•Jane ” came to an untimely end, but fortunately we had already

gained the confidence of her speckled nestlings, and “ Bounce ” we

hope is good for several seasons yet. When callers come he is

always to the fore, ready to show off' and be fed ; he appears in the

kitchen, in the drawing room or in my bedroom with equal confi¬

dence, and I have more than once been awakened by his trill shouted

literally into my ear, and have found him on my pillow demanding

immediate attention. Or he comes in dripping from the birds’ bath

on the lawn to dry himself on my towels. When mealworms are

not forthcoming he will condescend to “ pine nuts.” These nuts,

really the kernels of the stone pine, are most useful in winning the

confidence of birds, who all take to them at sight. Tits and Finches

of all kinds delight in them ; Blackbirds and Thrushes bolt them

like pills as fast as they can swallow, and Warblers generally enjoy

them slightly crushed. They are clean to handle and carry about

in the pocket, and a pound, which costs about 1/2, lasts a long time.


Great Tits, Blue Tits and Cole Tits all visit my room regularly

for pine nuts. They come attended by their families in the summer,

and it is pretty to see a brood of young Great Tits sitting on the

dressing table while father and mother ply them with pieces of the

kernels. For some years I had a special friend, a kind of super-Tit,



