FEATHRHED RESIDENTS IN THE GROUNDS OF TERRICK HOUSE. 25 



instead of the gun; it frequently happens that we merely wish to ascertain 



to J what species a bird may belong; this the gun will only enable us to do 



by possessing ourselves of the dead or mutilated body, which may be of no 



use to us whatever, while the telescope would enable us as effectually to 



satisfy ourselves upon the point, without the sacrifice of the life of the bird, 



which cannot fail greviously to mar the pleasures of the humane ornithologist's 



studies, besides tending seriously to lessen his opportunities of study. We 



can generally, too, approach birds sufficiently near to identify them with 



a good telescope, while to approach them within gunshot is often, from their 



wildness, shyness, and wariness, extremely difficult. Could the use of the 



gun be entirely dispensed with, 



"A consummation 

 Devoutly to be wished," 



this shyness and wariness in birds would soon wear off; we should then expe- 

 rience comparatively little difficulty in approaching them, for the purpose of 

 observing their habits, and that in a far more satisfactory manner than we 

 are now enabled to do. 



The grounds of Terrick House, the residence of one of my three brothers, 

 J. S. Stone, Esq., have afforded the feathered tribes an asylum for several 

 years past. Within the limits of these grounds no gun is ever discharged; 

 nor nets, nor traps, nor other engines of destruction allowed to be used; here 

 the birds are at full liberty to enjoy themselves as best they may; all are 

 free to come, and free to go; free to pursue the round of courtship, marriage, 

 nest building, laying, incubating their eggs, and rearing their young; welcome 

 to the shelter its evergreens afford from the blasts and storms and snows and 

 cold of winter; welcome to the protection those evergreens, as well as deciduous 

 trees and shrubs, afford from the powerful rays of a noontide summer's sun, 

 and its consequent parching heat, tempering that heat, and diffusing a delightful 

 and refreshing coolness around; welcome to partake of the fruit or vegetables, 

 or any other fare the place affords; welcome to disport themselves, if they 

 be of aquatic habits, upon its waters; welcome, and more than welcome, to 

 solace themselves, their partners, and the inmates of the house with their 

 music. 



The consequence of this freedom from molestation is, that the Barn Owl 

 breeds annually in a neighbouring barn, or Dove-house, or hollow tree, changing 

 from one to another as circumstances may render it necessary, or desirable so 

 to do. There is something wayward, capricious, and inconstant in the way in 

 which it produces its eggs, both as regards number and the periods between 

 their production; for I have found the nest containing young ones which 

 varied very considerably in their respective ages; thus affording presumptive 

 evidence that the eggs had been laid at long intervals. I have known it 

 produce four eggs at regular intervals of three days, commencing the task 

 of incubation upon the first and each succeeding egg as soon as laid;* and 



* See "The Naturalist," vol. i., page 62, for a confirmation of this curious fact. — B. R. M. 



