276 Rev. D. Landsborough on the 



own good qualities, and loved for the donor's sake, was brought 

 down to her sweet villa at Ardrossan. Her villa was conti- 

 guous to that of Miss Hamilton of Holmhead, and as our 

 rook had then the free use of his wings, and was of a social 

 disposition, he paid frequent visits to his neighbours, and soon 

 formed acquaintance with the occupants of Miss Hamilton's 

 poultry-yard, consisting of a cock and two hens. The inti- 

 macy increased ; the visits became longer and longer, till at 

 last the crow became domiciled along with them ; and when 

 Miss Oswald left Ardrossan, being unwilling to break asunder 

 the ties of affectionate friendship, she left the crow in its 

 adopted dwelling-place. The longer they were acquainted the 

 stronger did the friendship become, though it was evidently 

 most ardent on the part of the crow. He was exceedingly 

 attentive to his chosen friends the hens, and would often ar- 

 range their feathers and dress them to his own taste, so that 

 his officious services were sometimes rejected as troublesome. 

 The cock was still a greater favourite, and he roosted every 

 night beside him, nestling under his wing. 



After this platonic friendship had subsisted for several 

 years, one of the hens became sick and died. During her ill- 

 ness he w T as unremitting in his attentions, waiting on her most 

 affectionately ; but he could not ward off the stroke of death. 

 A still greater calamity awaited him, for the favourite cock 

 also died. He was unceasing in his attention to him during 

 his trouble, and when he died he was so disconsolate that he 

 would not taste food for several days. 



At last old age, which indeed had carried off the others, 

 crept on the remaining hen. When she became feeble and 

 helpless he scarcely ever left her for a moment, striving to 

 cheer her by innumerable little acts of kindness. There were 

 two steps up from the poultry-yard to the house in which they 

 roosted, and when she became too weak to mount the steps, 

 as he could not himself lift her up he always came to the 

 kitchen-window, and kept up an incessant clamour till some of 

 the servants came out and lifted her up. 



For two days before her death she could not leave the roost- 

 ing-house, and he remained along with her bringing her food, 

 laying it down before her, and coaxing her to eat it. 



Notwithstanding his unwearied assiduity and affectionate 

 attentions the poor hen died, and it was thought that he would 

 not long have survived her. He was quite disconsolate. Life 

 had lost its charm. He scarcely tasted food and became al- 

 together changed ; so that from being lively and cheerful and 

 active, he drooped and became timid and spiritless. 



Some young poultry were purchased in the hope that they 



