128 MILDNESS OF THE PAST WINTER. 



lessened by the perpetual warfare waged against the feathered tribes. Thrushes 

 and a few other species continued singing all through the late mild winter, 

 although thinned in number by the peripatetic sportsmen, who generally 

 take the field about Christmas, and the few which remained rendered wilder, 

 and nearly scared away; still a few were to be heard enlivening the short 

 days with their cheerful notes until the severe weather in February set in. 

 Then came forth gallant sportsmen, armed with double-barrels, shot-belts, 

 and powder-flasks, traversing the fields, and peeriug into hedges, bringing 

 down many a pretty songster. 



Now and then during the short time snow remained on the ground, a 

 glossy sable Blackbird, with golden beak, or a brown Thrush, with beautiful 

 speckled breast, would appear on my lawn, and gradually approach the 

 house with cautious series of hops, in expectation of food; but immediately 

 your attention was caught and interest awakened, forth crept a cat from 

 beneath the shelter of the nearest evergreen shrub, and scared your welcome 

 visitor away. I have banished these detested cats from my house, but 

 there is no means of ejecting them from my gardens, as they are fostered 

 in the houses adjoining, and all gardens are alike subject to their depre- 

 dations; no walls or fences have power to exclude them. With a view of 

 keeping them clear of my premises, I have lately procured a rough Scotch 

 terrior, of the Dandy Dinmont breed, and have trained him to as great 

 an enmity to cats as Hannibal had to the Romans. The very sight of a 

 cat from a window throws my Pepper into fits, and his excitement becomes 

 quite amusing, until he is free to rush after the intruder; but his scam- 

 pering and noise makes the remedy nearly as bad as the disease, added to 

 which my friend Pepper has in his nature something of the character given 

 by Edic Ochiltre to the worthy and eccentric Laird of Monckburn, — "His 

 bark is wawr than his bite;" and this the cunning felines have discovered 

 in this wise: — A few days back, Master Pepper was too quick for one of 



them, (a wily she ,) long my abhorrence; she turned upon him with 



open mouth, glaring eyes, and projected claws, ready for defence or assault. 

 My less ferocious and good-tempered assistant drew back, and consequently 

 lost his mission for terror. His bark now is daily less heeded. 



I am pretty well arrived to the conclusion, that all attempts to study 

 Natural History in the neighbourhood of a populous city such as this, 

 amounts to the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties nearly insurmountable. 

 The only chance of gratification in so agreeable and health-inspiring a re- 

 creation is in rural and retired districts. To such a spot I shall henceforward 

 aspire. 



Bath, March 20th., 1858. 



