Notes on the Pckin Robin. 
271 
1 tlu n iliouglit that tliey had given things up as a 
had job, lor I had nol seen them carrying nesting material 
aljoui, but on July 23rd, our member, Mr. Bright, was paying 
me a visit, and wliile going through the aviary, he suddenly 
said " What nest is that r " and there hanging below a sway- 
ing elder twig was another Pekin cradle containing eggs — in 
due course two chicks were hatched out, and though the 
weather wa^i very unsettled, heavy thunder-showers being prev- 
alent, all went well for nine days and the young were all but 
fledged and everything promised well. On this ninth day 
Ca])t. Reeve called to see the young birds, he had to wait 
for another heavy shower to pass before entering the aviary. 
He was much interested in the young birds, but thought the 
nest very fragile. In the late evening and partly through 
the night gales of wind and rain prevailed, and it was with 
some anxiety that I made my early morning visit to the 
aviary. .Vgain the distressful cries of the Pekins prepared 
me for disaster — as soon as I was inside I saw the worst, 
the rain had saturated the nest, and caused one of the grass 
suspending" rojK's to give, thus letting out the young. I could 
only find oiu' of them and this is now in spirit along with 
the yomig one of the third attempt. Third week in August, 
leaves no chaiice of success this season, was my comment, 
but I was more sorry for the parents than myself, their dis- 
tress was so very real. 
However, they belonged to the "try-again'" brigade 
and within three days another nest was com,pleted and the first 
egg laid; incubation occupied just thirteen days, and then 
on venturing to look in the nest I saw three gaping mouths 
aiiid once more hope reigned supreme. On September loth. 
Captain Reeve again called and saw the young, then just 
seven days old, and we both agreed that success seemed very 
probable. On September i 5th, there was a perfect clamour 
in the aviary and I really feared some .pirate bird was ap- 
propriating the young Pekins, but on entering the aviary my 
fears were soon dispelled, for the Pekins were only shouting 
" Hurrah, brought it off at last" There, hopping amid the 
branches, were two strong young Pekins. quite unable to fly, 
but very active amid the twigy branches of the privet hedge- 
