656 Zoology, 



either a lad or a mouse must be the manufacturer, for there 

 was very little appearance of " architecture :" the brown moss 

 seemed to be just laid in the box. I therefore examined the 

 nest, and, carefully hidden, with apparent carelessness, I found 

 three beautiful eggs. The nest was thus covered after the 

 deposit of each egg (I believe one was laid every morning), till 

 the number was completed, when they began to sit ; and, of 

 course, the eggs were not afterwards covered. Fourteen days 

 (I believe fourteen) brought to light a fine family of little 

 ones. We three were all very happy with our fine prospect, 

 but in a few days one of the old ones, I suppose the mother, 

 was killed with a stone. The young ones soon died. Indeed, 

 I am not aware that the other bird ever visited the nest after 

 he lost his mate. Thus ended the first trial ; and a sore trial 

 it was to a lad, to lose so promising a family. 



The following year, another nest was built, eggs ^vere laid, 

 and the bird began to sit. In order to discover whether birds 

 " sit so hard," as is represented, I repeatedly disturbed the 

 hen whilst on the nest ; and several times, with a small stick, 

 actually turned her " topsy-turvy," but never frightened her 

 from the nest. In due time I had a brood of tomtits. When 

 first hatched, the hen sat upon the young ones several hours 

 during the day. This time was gradually shortened, till they 

 were sufficiently fledged not to need such a means of warmth. 

 Nothing but small grubs and caterpillars were brought to the 

 nest, and I was induced to believe that the depredations of 

 these birds are not, at that time of the year, injurious to vege- 

 tation. Many insects did they bring, from some apple trees 

 that grew near, but no buds. 



Now, as to the method by which the nest was kept clean 

 and wholesome. Some time after the young ones were hatched, 

 I noticed that the old bird, liaving fed the young one, did 

 not immediately fly away, but waited a few seconds ; and if 

 the young one which had just received the food had any alvo- 

 motive inclination, it instantly changed its position, by locating 

 the tail where its head had previously been, the excrement 

 was voided, and was immediately taken up in the beak of the 

 old bird. I observed this so frequently, that I am satisfied 

 the old bird always stayed a few seconds; and if the young 

 ones retained their position, which was often the case, the old 

 one flew away ; but if the young one had a call, it instantly 

 tumbled itself, " head over heels," and while tail was upper- 

 most, the old one seized the voided material, and flew away 

 with it, and the young urchin immediately resumed its natural 

 position. All this was transacted in a much shorter space of 

 time than is occupied in reading the account. In general the 



