AMONG THE ROBINS 
51 
was portioned into territories. Ruby, strongest and most 
astute, secured an excellent position on the terraced path 
between house and lawn, where, perching on the balustrade 
of some steps to a French window, he could at once command 
the attention of the household and keep his own kindred at a 
respectful distance. Raggie gained the freedom of half the 
lawn, and looked like a little red blossom in the heart of a 
yucca, in which she elected to dwell. The other half was 
dominated by Big Boy, while poor Snatcher was relegated to 
a remote cedar and bullied by all the rest till he relapsed into 
semi-barbarism, coming occasionally for a mouthful of cheese, 
but not daring to indulge in social intercourse. 
Bien-Aime’s lines have fallen on a path between river and 
kitchen-garden, with the second apple-tree for his perch, the 
first being occupied by his mortal foe. Bouncer, a really bad- 
hearted bird. The spirit of John Calvin might be re-incarnated 
inside Bouncer’s red waistcoat, to judge by his inveterate 
dislike to the sight of other people enjoying life. His puri- 
tanical temper steels him even against the desire of cheese, and 
he never sets foot on mortal hand — this sounds like a bull — 
except when the sight of Bien-Aime lunching becomes more than 
his acrimonious heart can bear. Then he swoops down and 
drives him into temporary exile beyond the river, from whence 
Bien-Aime, who is no fighter, but a splendid singer, returns to 
pour out the most moving and pathetic strain, which has not 
the slightest effect on the adamantine Bouncer. 
The robins are perfectly friendly to visitors, and, generally 
speaking, will come to anyone who invites them ; but they 
prefer Miss Walton, answer her call and whistle, and follow 
her about the garden in a manner most fascinating to behold. 
The British workman, coming for orders, has more than once 
had his mental horizon enlarged by the sight of Bien-Aime 
hopping down incontinently from a tree and peeping over the 
brim of her hat, or Raggie rushing impetuously into collision 
with the object of her affections ; his surprise usually taking the 
form of a murmured, “ Well, Bm blowed ! ” 
The individuality of these little birds is perfectly wonderful. 
To untutored eyes one robin, no doubt, looks much the same as 
another, but to those who have watched them month after 
month and coaxed them into friendly confidence they differ as 
much in temper, appearance and character as our human 
acquaintances. They are indeed notably diverse in such details 
as weight and build. Ruby and Big Boy are sleek, handsome 
birds with good colouring, and a fine stripe of blue-grey feathers 
bordering each side of their breasts ; but in Bien-Aime the 
olive-brown back is full of delicate and varied tints, and the blue- 
grey stripe is carried round him in a line diminishing to the 
thickness of a hair, and exquisitely drawn. His red waist- 
coat terminates in two perfectly symmetrical scollops over a 
nether garment of far more creamy and even hue than any 
