THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



they would confidently fly down from their place of retreat, and hop about 

 the floor, enjoying the rich feast thus provided them, now and then looking 

 up at the smiling workmen, with a pert twinkle in their eyes, and a merry 

 chirp, by which, doubtless, they meant to say, " Now you are nice decent 

 fellows too, we know you wont hurt us." The kind-hearted men soon took 

 a great interest in the welfare of their little red-breasted friends, and felt so 

 proud of the confidence placed in them that any ordinary person hearing 

 them speak would have supposed them " childish." Would that everyone 

 were possessed of a good share of that excellent quality, (a love for birds), 

 no matter what name unthinking persons may choose to call it. When the 

 nights were mild and the snow was off the ground, they occasionally passed 

 a few nights in the open air, but a touch of frost would force them to seek 

 their former retreat, where they were always sure of a kind welcome. 



Gladsome spring, with its sunny showers and its array of wild flowers, 

 came at last, and no one seemed to welcome its coming more than our 

 little robins. Eood was now more plentiful in the fields, and they spent 

 most of their time in the open air, although, occasionally, they would take a 

 look into the store just to see their old friends, and to assure them that 

 though times were now changed they had not forgotten them. 



But soon the inseparable pair seemed to have put their heads together, 

 and after, I dare say, discussing the pros and cons of the question, they 

 decided to build a house in which they might dwell, and wherein they would 

 rear up a healthful young family of red-breasted hopefuls. The situation for 

 their nest seems also to have been fully discussed, for one fine morning the 

 workmen in the store were surprised and delighted to see their little feathered 

 friends busy flying out and in, conveying material with which to build their 

 nest. And in the coolest manner possible they selected for that purpose a 

 quiet corner between two great heaps of paper, and there they built their nest. 

 Their nest was completed about a month ago (March 20th), and I have no 

 doubt that by this time a flourishing young family of red-breasts will be 

 rejoicing their parents' hearts, and making free use of the store room. Here 

 my story for the present ends, and if I find time to visit the locality soon, I 

 will be happy to bring my Robin story down to date. 

 Tradeston, Glasgow. 



OUR LONDON LETTER. 



The end of March proving vJarin and sunny, found T. liyemana flying ! 

 briskly among the oaks in Epping Forest, and on the 31st some half-dozen 

 G. r/iamni were observed gaily fitting about in a warm corner, a rather 



u 



