12 JANUARY 1951, Page 13

COUNTRY LIFE

My recent reference to the blue feather in the robin's wing has orought an interesting letter from a reader in Sussex who, in the routine of her work among her chicken-houses, has made a close friendship with a robin. This bird has developed a particular taste for the small biscuit-meal given to young chicks. It perches on our reader's hand to enjoy these free meals, and thus she has been able to observe minutely every marking on her little companion. She says, "I have noticed that he has pale blue feathers just showing under his wing ; in fact I noticed this several weeks back when he began to get his red breast, as it helped me to distinguish him from some of the other robins in the garden.... I do not think all robins have these blue feathers." So there we are ; still indeterminate. No doubt other evidence will be coming in to our Gower Street Court of Enquiry.