26 JANUARY 1951, Page 18

COUNTRY LIFE

ANOTHER tamer of robins, who brings them to feed from her hand, has something to say about the hypothetical blue feather. She says it is not on the wing, but is a band outlining the red on the breast. " It seems to vary in width according to the way the bird is holding the feathers. If anxious, they are drawn tight, and the blue, especially across the head, is barely visible. But when at ease it is quite a band of lovely colour." This close observer, and witty describer, also says that robins - do have a little light or white feather edging the wing, like the slips men wear under waistcoats on state occasions. I have also noticed that young robins have almost black legs, the others almost fawn."