An amusing side issue of this Oxford robin's friendship is
its effect on the dog of the house, an Irish setter of singular beauty even in his race, which is always beautiful. He is obviously and unashamedly jealous of the robin, does not like the phrases of attraction and endearment addressed to it, and confesses his hurt feelings in several ways. He is peculiarly dainty in his feeding habits ; will not look at casual food and considers 'bread beneath his notice ; but when crumbs are thrown out on purpose for the robin he at once proceeds to eat them up. It seems that the phrase" dog-in-the-manger" is not so great ,a libel on the race as Aesop sometimes perpetrated. Such -rivalry between birds and dogs is not without parallel. A 'certain pet jackdaw would wait for the dog to go to -sleep in order that he might with safety tweak his tail. .Nor are dog-bird friendships quite unknown. As for sheep- dogs they -are ioften expert at collecting and herding
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