REDBREAST. 
3 
shelter of the surrounding brambles. It is now over four years since poor Bobby was last seen, and no 
Robin has taken up its quarters near the spot he frequented : stoats and weasels were by no means 
scarce amongst the cover on the rough hill-side, and on one occasion I plainly detected a marten in the 
beech-grove: probably our old friend fell a victim to one of these marauders. It is exceedingly 
amusing to watch the fascination exercised over small birds by such animals : on the 10th of 
September, 1883, while driving along the coast-road between Shoreham and Lancing in Sussex, my 
attention was first attracted by four IVhcatears perched two and two in the middle of the road intently 
regarding with outstretched necks the antics of some diminutive creature rolling over and over at the 
side of the track ; the birds appeared helplessly spell-bound, turning their heads at every movement Avith 
m regularity of clockwork. A Whitethroat was hovering at the same time directly over, while safe on 
his perch on a twig in the thorn hedge a Robin quietly, though with evident suspicion, looked down 
upon the proceedings. Having ascertained that a young iveasel was tlie cause of the excitement, I put 
a stop to his designs with a charge of shot, before he had obtained a chance to secure any of the deluded 
and intatuated spectators. 
A weakly or wouuded Eobi.i is a sad spectacle, tlie poor bird usually draws near to one who seems 
mteres ted m its '™lfore and claims assistance. Towards the end of last January an unfortunate with 
ts beav broken off at the base took up its quarters in our indoor fernery, and in a piteous manner 
looked up when approached, evidently in hopes of obtaining assistance. Soaked bread, spom-e-eake 
and chopped worms were provided, but after lingering a few days the sullerer succumbed. To cool the’ 
base of Its beak, on winch a fungoid growth was forming, the bird was constantly dipping its head iu 
water and rubbing it on the stones. A Eobiu with a club-foot was known for sereral years to frequent 
he grounds of the Manor Uouse at Portslade near Brighton; during the day he constantly attended 
^aidenei and after dark, if forgotton, his tap at the window was soon heard; when admitted he 
speedily sought Ills aeeustomed roosting-plaee on the pinnacles of an old oak clock. At tea-time in winter 
he usimlly joined the party iu the kitchen, helping himself to what he fancied best and sholb,! a 
predilection for the currants in a fresh cut cake, which he dexterously e.xtraetcd while perched on °the 
Mhile eagerly searching to provide food for their earlier broods the Eobin, tint .t , 
ferneries are more conading than at any other season of the year ; they will take butter ” 
e&yimriu which the gardener had brought for identidcatlor ora ‘!prt' oT wiUow'rterrsecT''’ 
to some full-grown yoiin- to whom he oeea ' V ■“* P*'izc m triumph carried it off 
work of procuring sustenance almost too le ”” 7 rf*’ weather having rendered the 
that come amiss o Eobins 11^^ d st „! ZT i ““ 'i'"™ are few insects 
vegetables. On a few oecajiori; lit 17 tL’rub ‘17 T.Z “““ 
they also prey upon both centipedes and carwi.is,°nioths andtr f’ ‘ “‘“a Ix^aks; 
worms. On the 10th of June 1883 I watched ' 1 ? I ■ • ° every description, as welt as small 
the bark of an old alder-stum’p on ^ne of tl tilt‘‘ “T"®’ f " ’'''"'>''P“>ver. up 
particular spot and pecked for a few moments 7itli tat’vi!oui. itlosT® “““ -‘'‘“l 'Z ““ 
tree and discovered the empty cocoon from whieli be t i °i n’ examined the trunk of the 
large moth. In September 1883 immclT quatie! ' 17' chrysalis of some 
Phlotjophon, meticulma), as well as those of a few buttormes f Tl* angle-shades, 
butteiilies, were found dropped below the rockeries, 
