Zoology. 657 



reception of food into the stomach seemed to act as a stimulus 

 to the propulsion of the intestinal contents, though the contrary 

 was frequently the case. The young birds flourished, and, when 

 nearly fledged, the nest was discovered by some lads, who 

 took them from their " clean, warm, soft nestf and from the 

 parent birds," and one by one deliberately pelted them to 

 death. Such was the result of my second trial to rear a brood 

 of tomtits. 



My next step was to hang up a small circular box, with a 

 hole just large enough to admit a small bird, against the wall 

 of an outbuilding, in hopes some friendly tomtit would adopt 

 it as a habitation. The first summer, tom did not come, at 

 least did not build ; the second summer I was one day walking 

 past, and heard a noise, as if some bird was confined in the 

 box, and beating the side with its wings. I found it was 

 tommy building his nest ; and the noise, which I often heard 

 afterwards, was made by the bird, as I suppose, adjusting 

 the moss. The nest was completed, the eggs were laid ; and 

 so " hard " did the old bird sit, that I several times carried 

 the box into the house, a distance of forty or fifty yards ; and 

 she never evinced any wish to escape. It is true I closed the 

 openings ; but she made no effort to stir from the nest. The 

 result of this experiment was just what I wished, the young 

 birds " flew," to the great discomfort of the old gardener, 

 who thought I must be either a " fool, or a soft," to train up 

 a brood of such mischievous little creatures. For myself, I 

 believe they do much more good than harm : though the 

 gooseberry trees do suffer a little from their depredations, yet 

 they are almost harmless, even among gooseberry trees, com- 

 pared with several other birds. 



I hope this narrative may induce some others to avail them- 

 selves of similar favourable circumstances ; and to give the 

 birds a house to live in. I had but little hope that they would 

 take possession of my boxes ; and was much ridiculed for 

 thinking of such a thing ; they however show^ed more thank- 

 fulness than I gave them credit for. — Aliquis, Manchester, 

 21st of 3d month {March), 1832. 



On the question of which exceed, the " benefits or injuries 

 resulting to man from Parus caeruleus," I may cite evidence 

 from Cambridgeshire. In the north part of this county, the 

 cultivation of fruits, especially of gooseberries and currants, 

 as well as that of vegetables, is extensively practised. Through 

 these gardens the titmice, in some numbers, but far fewer than 

 occur in districts more wooded, range in winter, and, with un- 

 welcome industry pick out, or mutilate in their attempt to pick 

 out, buds innumerable, principally, I believe, of the gooseberry 



Vol. V. — No. 29. u u 



