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the French doors where we tapped the breadboard
free of wholemeal crumbs. Despite competition
the Robin never went short, simply by virtue of
being there first. Enriching the offerings with
crumbs of digestive biscuit and cheese we switched
them to a sloping sill outside the main windows,
which is closely overhung by the boughs of a
curtailed apple tree, so that the Robin could
circuitously approach its vantage point before
descending like Zebedee without the 'Doing'. It
was soon quizzing us beadily through the window which
we thereafter kept open whenever possible. We now
put the food in a wooden clog on the inner window ledge,
or even 18 inches further in on the table below, both
places being used before the day was out. From the
start we could sit in the room, talking, or even
moving about discreetly, and frequently directing
both our gaze and speech to the feeding Robin, which
was only rarely and briefly disturbed. Re-opening
the window, we could usually summon the bird at once,
and by 7 o'clock each morning its red breast was
conspicuous on the bough above from which it would
often fly down within inches of me before I could move
away. We did not exploit the possibilities, nor
attempt to feed by hand, being concerned to observe and
if possible understand a little of what we were
privileged to see and hear.
Entries from my diary which I keep, such as:-
20th July 'Eileen thought saw young rat loping about
in dining room. Edged forward to discover Robin
calmly eyeing her from plinth of door.'
3rd August 'Robin caught white butterfly on lawn,
let go, and flew off.'
5th August 'L. and N. with us at table for tea.
Robin just fails to dare join in.'
12th August 'Eat tea at card table sunny lawn.