23 



A GLANCE AT THE FEATHERED RESIDENTS IN, 

 AND VISITANTS TO, THE GROUNDS OF TERRICK HOUSE; 



WITH A FEW REMARKS FROM PERSONAL 

 OBSERVATION UPON THEIR HABITS AND PECULIARITIES. 



BY S. STONE, ESQ. 



In the few remarks I may have occasion to make on the habits of the 

 birds I am about to bring under notice, I may be able to offer but little, if 

 anything, new, or differing essentially from that which may be gathered from 

 the various works upon Ornithology, published or being published; but impressed 

 with the belief that it is possible many readers of "The Naturalist," may 

 not only be prevented by the nature of their avocations from making obser- 

 vations for themselves, but may also be precluded by the want of pecuniary 

 means from partaking in the advantages to be derived from the perusal of 

 Ornithological works, which if good, must necessarily be expensive; believing 

 also in the desirableness in Ornithological as well as in spiritual matters, of each 

 one giving to the rest the ^'benefit of his experience," and that the only 

 way to arrive at the truth in investigating any subject, is to bring together 

 every fact connected with the subject it is possible to collect on either side; 

 I am induced to offer the result of my observations to the readers of "The 

 Naturalist," trusting that it may not be wholly valueless, although possibly 

 as the agricultural operation of ^^paring and burning," is advantageously 

 practised upon some descriptions of land, so might the like operation, and 

 that to a considerable extent, be performed with corresponding benefit upon 

 my papers; this however is a point which I will leave the reader, that is, if 

 I should chance to have one, to decide. 



Birds and other animals are found to vary somewhat in their habits, at 

 different times in different localities, and also in different individuals; we can- 

 not therefore hope to meet with a history of birds, quadrupeds, etc., approaching 

 completeness, until a perfect knowledge of these various habits and peculiarities 

 is gained, and the only way to obtain this knowledge is for each district to 

 be provided with its "constant observer," and for each observer to publish the 

 result of his observations, for which purpose the pages of "The Naturalist" 

 are specially adapted; the immense number of interesting facts already recorded 

 therein renders this magazine of great value, and it cannot fail of materially 

 assisting in the advancement of science. 



To recline upon a well-cushioned sofa in a well-appointed drawing-room, gazing 

 upon the beaming countenance of some "fair denizen of earth," or listening 

 to the music of "the last new opera," her fair fingers cause to proceed from 

 the instrument at which she is seated, or to the words of a favourite air, 

 that opera contains, warbled from the sweet throat, may be a situation enjoyable 

 enough, especially in winter; but give me, in summer, a seat on or near the top 

 of some "greenwood tree," let me listen to the music of ^'the minstrels of the 

 grove," as they sit warbling their "native wood notes wild," and pouring forth 



VOL. IV. E 



