28 
NATURE NOTES. 
TAME BIRDS. 
HY should we not all have native tame birds ? By 
this I do not mean our feathered songsters im- 
prisoned in a cage, but tame birds in our parks 
and gardens ; many people might have them, if the)^ 
really loved them, and took care of them in the winter. I will 
give you my experience, which has added much pleasure to my 
life. 
Some years ago when we were living at Nazing Park, in 
Essex, on the borders of Hertfordshire, I first began to tam.e 
them. I carried bread-crumbs Avith me Avhen I AA-ent out and 
threAv them about in the garden ; I Avas always talking to 
them, and many of the birds neA^er seemed afraid of me. 
The robins in particular Avere A-ery tame — not only with me 
but Avith anyone about the place, eA’en the gardeners. For tAA'O 
or three years running, some robins built their nests in some 
holes (meant for pots) at the back of our conservatory, and 
Avhen the little ones began to fly about they and their parents 
Avould come and pick the bread-crumbs off the tips of our 
boots and the hem of our dresses Avhen Ave Avere sitting in 
the conserA'atory. One Avinter, tOAvards the end of November, 
a robin took up its quarters altogether in the house, and lived 
generally in the dining-room, ^^’hen A\'e Avere at late dinner 
it Avould fly round the table, perching on the back of our chairs, 
and hopping on the table AA'Ould pick up the crumbs. \\ hat 
became of this bird aa’o neA-er kneAV, as Ave Avent abroad for six 
months just before Christmas, and it did not seem to care for 
the house after the famil}" left. Some of the robins AA’ere 
equally tame in the summer. When I Avent into the garden 
with my floAver-basket in my hand, they AA’Ould come and perch 
on the handle, and look knoAAungly at me ; and Avheu the goose- 
berries AA'ere ripe, if I squeezed the seeds out upon my finger 
they Avould come and pick them off. I haA'e seen them do this 
eA'en Avith one of the gardeners. 
And now I must tell you my experience in feeding birds 
from my bedroom AvdndoAv sill. At Nazing, my AvindoAv Avas 
OA’er a portico, and the birds had a nice place to assemble upon 
before they fleAV on to my AvindoAV sill ; here I had all kinds of 
dainties arranged for them — bread-crumbs and bird seed, hemp 
and canary for the robins, chaffinch, sparroAVS, &c., besides a 
hunk of suet hanging on a nail close to the glass, just outside 
the AvindoAv, for the tit family, and nuts for the nuthatch. Early 
in the morning, as soon as it A\’as getting light, I could hear 
the little tits at the suet, tap, tap, tap ; and after I Avas called 
and the blind draAvn up, it pleased me Avhile in bed to Avatch 
them at their breakfast, AA’hich they thoroughly enjoyed. 
In A'ery cold Aveather I put the bread-crumbs, &c., out OA’er 
night, otheiAvise I preferred giA'ing the food in the morning, and 
Avatching them afterwards. Of course I put the food out several 
