MANAGEMENT OF FLEDGLING ROBINS. 
men-of-war guns near the English coast. Despite his many- 
good qualities, there is no denying that the robin is a pugnacious 
little Turk, whom nothing delights more than a “ row ” and a 
battle. In less time than it takes to write, the challenge of 
your decoy bird, or rather the challenge you have made in his 
name, is accepted by a bold scarlet-breasted robin ; down he 
plunges, and is yours. Make haste and remove him, however, 
for if you allow the captive sufficient time to recover his pre- 
sence of mind, he will give your decoy such a mauling as may 
be the death of him. 
Nesting for Robins. — As has already been intimated, the 
robin will build his nest almost anywhere. Truly says the 
poet, 
“ High is his perch, but humble is his home, 
And well concealed ; sometimes within the sound 
Of heartsome mill clack, where the spacious door. 
White with dust, tells him plenty reigns around ; 
Close at the root of briar-bush that o’erhangs 
The narrow stream with shealings bedded white, 
He fixes his abode and lives at will. 
Oft near some single cottage he prefers 
To rear his little home ; there, pert and spruce, 
He shares the refuse of the goodwife’s churn ; 
ISTor seldom does he neighbour the low roof 
Where tiny elves are taught.” 
As a rule, however, the robin’s nest may be sought for in thick 
bushes in quiet lanes, or among the thick ivy that* covers old 
walls. It is not a particularly handsome nest, and is most 
generally composed of dried grass, moss, and dead leaves. The 
robin lays from five to seven eggs, and they are white, spotted 
with reddish brown. Sometimes, instead of spots, the marking 
takes the form of tiny rings. 
The Management of Fledgling Robins. — If you want 
nestling robins, the time to search for them is the .first week in 
May, as, generally, they will at that time be about a fortnight 
old. You will find the male and female nestlings much alike, 
namely, all yellow, but the male is invariably the brightest 
bird. Keep them in a basket, among some wool, and feed 
them every hour and a half with a mixture of shredded meal- 
worms and ants’ eggs if you can procure them. If you cannot 
procure for them this diet, make them a mash of finely cut 
lean roast beef and boiled carrot. They are voracious little 
birds, and will eat till they die of surfeit if you let them. 
Enough at each meal will be four or five pieces (administered 
at the end of a feather) about the size of a horse-bean. 
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