MOVEMENTS OF LONDON BIRDS 141 



deal, and frequently appear in the most unlikely 

 places. Some of these are no doubt birds of 

 the year hatched in London or the suburbs, 

 and others may be migrating robins passing 

 through. 



At the Tower of London robins occasionally 

 appear in autumn, but soon go away. The 

 last one that came settled down and was a great 

 favourite with the people there for about two 

 months, being very friendly, coming to window- 

 siUs for crumbs, and singing every day very 

 beautifully. Then one day he was seen in the 

 General's garden wildly dashing about, hotly 

 pursued by seven or eight sparrows, and as he 

 was never seen again it was conjectured that 

 the sparrows had succeeded in killing him. 

 The robin is a high-spirited creature, braver 

 than most birds, and a fair fighter, but against 

 such a gang of feathered murderous ruffians, 

 bent on his destruction, he would stand no 

 chance. 



The Tower sparrows, it may be added, 

 appear to be about the worst specimens of their 

 class in London. They are always at war with 

 the pigeons and starlings, and would gladly 

 drive them out if they could. It is a common 



