my hands and knees, I succeeded in 

 approaching him within about fifteen 

 yards. Having the advantage of the 

 wind and a foggy atmosphere, and being 

 moreover concealed by the rocks and 

 some shrubs, I could indulge in quietly 

 observing him and his family. On a 

 small sandy patch was an adult cock and 

 three hens busily engaged in taking their 

 breakfast, which consisted of the berries 

 already mentioned, growing hereabouts 

 in abundance. From time to time the 

 lord of this little family stopped in his 

 repast and crowed his shrill war-cry, 

 which was answered by a rival on 

 another hill at some distance. At other 

 moments again, when the sun broke forth 

 for a short time, all stretched themselves 

 in the golden rays and, rolling in the 

 sand, shook the morning dew from their 

 fine plumage. It was a beautiful sight; 

 and I looked upon it with exceeding 

 pleasure — so much, indeed, that I could 

 not find the heart to destroy this little 

 scene of domestic happiness by a leaden 

 shower from my fowling piece. Sud- 



denly the birds showed signs of uneasi- 

 ness ; and I soon discovered the cause in 

 a Japanese root-digger coming from the 

 opposite direction. I therefore took up 

 my gun, and standing on my feet raised 

 the birds also ; and as they flew towards 

 the next hill, I had the good fortune to 

 bring down the cock with one barrel of 

 my gun, and one of the hens with the 

 other." 



Mr. Cassin also says that the Japanese 

 root-digger expressed great interest in a 

 gun which would fire twice and kill two 

 birds, and that he told him the name of 

 this Pheasant was Ki-zhi. During the 

 day, Mr. Cassin observed several Japan- 

 ese who were firing matchlocks at a great 

 rate but had no game. He concluded 

 that they were firing for the purpose of 

 driving the Pheasants to places where 

 they would be more secure from strange 

 hunters. The game laws of Japan are 

 very severe, and their observance has 

 even been made a special article of the 

 treaty with the United States. 



THE ROBIN'S CHOICE. 



Gathering a wisp of dry drass from 

 the way of the lawn mower, our nine- 

 year-old said: "Mamma, Pll make a 

 bird's nest in the flowering currant bush 

 by the veranda." Of little avail we 

 thought it, as we saw it placed among 

 the branches, but the next day the 

 Robin found it and she thought differ- 

 ent. For the first time the robin's nest 

 building went on in full view from the 

 front window. Working very early in 

 the morning, resting at noon until even- 

 ing, very speedily the nest, deep and se- 

 cure, was finished. 



After a day or two of rest, lo, one 

 blue e.gg, then two, three, four and no 

 more freedom for mother bird. 



Hearing chattering unusual we hast- 

 ened to find the cause and discovered a 

 pair of crow blackbirds, beautiful in 

 bronze and green and gold in the morn- 

 ing sunlight, investigating the robin's 



nest. But quickly the watchful owner 

 came with a chirp o.f alarm. Then also, 

 a little sputtering wren hovered around 

 as if to dispute the right of way, and 

 after a slight shower, a bright, alert, 

 little bird, with olive green back and 

 w^hite breast came too, to view the rob- 

 in's nest. Sir Robin called, and down 

 by the rose bush flew Mother Robin to 

 lunch upon fish worms. In just two 

 weeks from the day the first &gg was 

 laid, there was one featherless bird in 

 the nest; then all who looked, supposed 

 there were four, until the heads came 

 above the nest, and only three were 

 found. Farther examination revealed 

 one useless egg remaining. Leaving 

 the nest, one fluttered out, then all; 

 perhaps too soon, for several days after- 

 ward we found one among the leaves 

 beneath the bush. The bird had swal- 

 lowed a head of grass and failed to 



n3 



