A few years ago a lady whom I knew very well, and who resided at Halstead Grange in this county, Mrs. Chester by name, published a small brochure detailing some extraordinary incidents in connection with two Redbreasts that had lost their bills in traps set to catch mice, and subsequently sought her protection and kindly favour. One bird, so far as I remember, lived in the house, chiefly in her bedroom, and would come almost at any time to her call, while the other passed its time out of doors, but was equally tame; and if any of the readers of these notes meet with the pamphlet in question, they will find recorded that the latter of the two birds was in the habit of accompanying the carriage when Mrs. Chester went out to pay calls, and that, on one occasion, when her carriage was announced for her departure, the Robin was announced at the same time. Mr. Knox's reference to apocryphal anecdotes is still ringing in my ears, but I merely relate the gist of what I have read with my own eyes and seen attested by the signature of the lady who published the story.
The nesting-sites chosen by the Redbreast are many and varied. In 'The Vertebrate Animals of Leicestershire and Rutland' instances are recorded of this species having bred in an old tea-kettle tossed aside into a hedge, also in a flower-pot and in a meat-tin; but illustrations of the kind might be multiplied indefinitely.
The average clutch in my experience is six eggs; I have taken seven, and regard eight as quite unusual. Sometimes perfectly white eggs, without spot or speck, are met with, and this beautiful variety was not uncommon in my schoolboy days in Herefordshire. I took a clutch of this character near to Ashlands in May, 1880.
