2 FEBRUARY 1940, Page 17

A Powerful Robin

A certain country vicarage in East Anglia has been invaded by mice which rejoice in the absence of any cat. Birds are regarded as too precious to permit the presence of so treacherous a foe. Mouse-traps are the necessary alternatives. Unhappily a robin which had penetrated into the house was caught in one of these, which was of the sort that kill as soon as they catch. The robin, however, resisted the spring and dragged the trap half across the room. When released it flew away strongly, not a penny the worse for the accident. The incident is strange, since robins are often peculiarly sensitive and will perish when caught even in the harmless sparrow trap.