66 A CAXAIOGTJE Or THE BIRDS 



breaks it up, using its strong bill like a pickaxe. The blows of 

 the biixl, -wben breaking a sbell in this manner, may be heard at 

 some distance. In my garden there are certain stones round 

 which there are always a number of snail shells left broken by 

 the Thrushes, and I have frequently seen stones in the same 

 manner in the woods." Mr. St. John was the first to draw my 

 attention to the above facts which are briefly noticed in the 

 works of Montagu and Yarrell, but I have never had the good 

 fortune to observe the Thrush engaged in breaking snail shells, 

 though I can corroborate what is said with regard to the stones 

 used in the process, having often seen them in woods and else- 

 where, stoTounded by the remains of shells broken by the birds. 



(52. RUBECULA, Brehm. 



69. E-EDBREAST. E,. EAMILIARIS, Blljth. 



Sylvia rubecula, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, I., 155. 

 Erithaca ,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, I., 247. 



Common and generally distributed. A resident. 



This bold and familiar little favourite can easily be brought to 

 place the utmost confidence in man. In less than half an hour 

 I induced a nestling, that was a perfect stranger to me, flitting 

 about the grounds at Oatlands, the residence of my friend Mr, 

 W. C. Hewitson, to come and feed on my hand. All that was 

 necessary was to be careful not to startle or alarm the bird by a 

 too rapid advance, or by sudden motion of any kind, when plac- 

 ing before it small tempting worms. The first worm I offered 

 it I placed on the ground a few feet from where I sat : the bird 

 cautiously advanced, and devoured the worm then and there. 

 The next worm was placed on my extended hand, and the little 

 fellow flitting past took the worm skilfully off without touching 

 my hand ; my confiding friend then boldly alighted on my hand 

 and swallowed, while there, the third worm. 



After this I had })ut to stretch out my hand and it came to it; 

 and thus I fed the Bobin for days ; and so tame and fearless did 

 it become, that it would feed with the greatest confidence fi'om 

 the hands oven of strangers. 



