Singular Nidif cation in Birds. 



3S 



within the mouth of Tom Otter, who had been executed for 

 murder, and hung in chains. At Leamington, a blue titmouse 

 built its nest, for three years successively, if not successfully, 



in the betwell, or batwell 



which 



hung 



(Jig- 5 



upon a peg, not more 



than six feet from the 

 ground, against the wall 

 at the back of a cottage. 

 The betwell, it may, per- 

 haps, be necessary to in- 

 form some of our readers, 

 is p,n implement made of 

 close basket or wicker 

 work, about the size and 

 shape of an ordinary de- 

 canter, and used in brew- 

 ing, being placed in the 

 bunghole of the mash- 

 tub, for the purpose of 

 preventing the escape of 

 the hops, &c, when the beer is to be drawn off into another 

 vessel. Of this betwell the tomtit made choice for its 



" pendent bed, and procreant cradle j" 



and no bad thing was it for the purpose; provided only the 

 bird had so timed its labours between the intervals of brewing, 

 as not to have interfered with that operation, which, of course, 

 would put the betwell in requisition. Our Leamington 

 titmouse was not so provident. The first year of its selecting 

 this situation, the nest, I was told, happened not to be dis- 

 covered till after the beer was brewed, when the old woman, 

 upon cleaning out her betwell, was not a little surprised to 

 find therein a bird's nest full of eggs. Recollecting the cir- 

 cumstance, and having occasion to brew again about the same 

 time the following year, she took the precaution to examine 

 the betwell previously, and found it again occupied by the 

 tomtit. The nest was unceremoniously removed, and the 

 brewing proceeded as usual. In spite of former failures, the 

 tomtit made a third attempt, the following year; and, as a 

 reward, I suppose, for its perseverance, was permitted to re- 

 tain possession of the utensil. It was upon this occasion that 

 I was witness of the fact, just as the eggs were on the very 

 point of being hatched. On my going to the house to see 

 this curiosity, the betwell, with its contents, was immediately 

 taken down from its peg and placed in my hand for inspec- 

 Vol. VI — No. 31. d 



