IDYLLS OF BIRD LIFE 
i, 
excitement and saw a big black cat that belonged to one of the 
neighbors about to pounce upon poor mother robin, who was 
bravely defending her eggs. Hastily seizing a good-sized stone 
I hurled it at that cat. The throw was true, and I don’t sup- 
pose he knew what struck him until about five minutes after¬ 
wards. As soon as he collected his wits he was off, and up to this 
. j 
/> 
v , dayjte has not disturbed a bird about our premises. 
^^bout the last of May the robins were hatched, and now 
was the busy time for the father and mother, who were kept at 
/ „work early in the morning until late at night feeding the four 
} \ hungry birdlets. The youngsters developed fast, and it seemed 
that the faster they grew the more they ate, until finally they 
had the poor parents working overtime; I also helped to feed 
6 
them. In about eleven days the young birds were able to leave & 
OfV, 
'e nest, and then I saw them no more, as they generally take 
,_s 
o the deep woods after the brooding season. The old birds, 
however, visited me almost even' day, and ate the food I pro 
vided for them 
1 '° 
vy- 1 ,' d /.It was the third Sunday in May and a bright sunny afterY 
noon when a crowd of bovs and girls, mvself included, decided ^ 
■ ■■■ ■ 
