young robins killing the old ones; I cannot ascertain that it
has any foundation--in fact, every robin fights his neighbour all the
year through, except when paired and busy with domestic duties. As dead
redbreasts are not found specially in autumn, I do not think there can
be any truth in the superstition.

[Illustration]

FEEDING BIRDS IN SUMMER AND WINTER.

On wintry mornings, when leaf and twig are decked with hoar-frost and
the ground is hard and dry, affording no food for the birds, it is a
piteous sight to see them cowering under the evergreens with ruffled
feathers, evidently starving and miserable, quietly waiting for the
death that must overtake many of them unless we come to their rescue.

It is one of my delights to feed the small "feathered fowls" through all
the winter months, and I only wish all my readers could enjoy with me
the lovely scenes of happy bird life to be witnessed through the French
window opposite my writing-table. These gatherings of birds are the
result of many years of persistent kindness and thought for the welfare
of my bird pets. Their tameness cannot be attained all at once; it takes
time to establish confidence; it needs thought about the kinds of food
required by various species of birds, regularity in feeding, and quiet
gentleness of manner to avoid frightening any new and timid visitors.
Doubtless there are very many lovers of birds who share this pleasure
with me, but for those who may not happen to know how to attract the
feathered tribes I will go a little into detail.

This being a large garden near game preserves, and surrounded by a wide,
furze-covered common, I have been able to attract and tame the ordinary
wild pheasants by putting out Indian corn, buckwheat, and raisins, till
now they come to the doorstep and look up with their brilliant,
red-ringed eyes, and feed calmly whilst I watch them. It is a really
beautiful sight to see three or four cock birds, with their
golden-bronze plumage glistening like polished metal as the morning sun
rests upon them, and as many of their more sober-coloured mates
feasting on the dainties they find prepared for them; as a rule, they
are very amicable and feed together like barndoor fowls. When satisfied,
the brown hens run swiftly away to cover, while the cocks, with greater
confidence, walk quietly away in stately fashion, or remain under the
trees.

Wood-pigeons are usually very shy and wary birds, yet these also come,