FEATHERED RESIDENTS IN THE GROUNDS OF TERRICK HOUSE. 219 



several nests before it finally settles down into one; this may arise not so 

 much from fickleness of disposition, as from its having discovered after hav- 

 ing begun, or after having completed a nest, that some secret danger was 

 lurking about the neighbourhood, which drove it to the abandonment of the 

 spot, and caused it to look out for a fresh situation, so that, that which 

 might, on a superficial view being taken, have an appearance of fickleness, 

 will, on searching deeper, be found to proceed from that principle of love for 

 its oift^pring, an All-gracious Creator has implanted in the breast of every 

 creature, which aroused, leads to the preservation of the species. 



This hardy little bird is another of our permanent residents, braving the 

 severity of our m.ost rigorous winters; nor does it appear to sufier much 

 from the effects of cold. I have heard it pour forth its song with an energy 

 for which this species is remarkable even in the middle of a rather severe frost. 

 When hill and valley, forest, field, and grove, have thrown oflF the gorgeous 

 livery with which they were adorned in spring and summer; when the splen- 

 dours of autumn have departed, and the golden hues and varied tints the 

 leaves at that season displayed, have vanished away; when the once smiling 

 face of nature is veiled in frowns, and the genial shower and gladdening 

 sunshine have given way to tempest, storm, and gloom; when the chill 

 wintry wind comes in blasts from the north, and the earth is inwrapped in 

 its mantle of snow, it is extremely interesting to watch this little creature, 

 as it may often be seen round the margin of the pond or stream, now 

 creeping like a mouse among the tangled roots, or into the cavities, which 

 occur in the overhanging banks, unmindful of the avalanche which is im- 

 pending and threatening to overwhelm it; now safely emerging and hopping 

 fairly out upon the ice-bound and snow-bestrewn surface, and ever and anon 

 even here picking up, or seeming to pick up a stray insect or food of some 

 kind. It may also be seen in the interior of barns and other out-buildings 

 in search of spiders; nor does it enter these buildings by stealth, as the 

 Sparrow in search of grain is obliged to do, if it enter at all, and in severe 

 weather when insect food becomes scarce, it is sometimes driven to make the 

 attempt, but it enters boldly and fearlessly; you may be standing within a 

 yard or two of the aperture through which it enters, it takes but little 

 notice of you, but proceeds calmly in its work of exploration. The obvious 

 reason of the marked difference there is between the 'entree' of this bird and 

 that of the Sparrow, is, that the latter is subjected to constant persecution, 

 from which the former is happily exempt, at least comparatively so, most 

 children being brought up to regard it, with the Redbreast, Martin, and 

 Swallow, as a sacred bird. 



It likes to have a snug and comfortable "berth," wherein to pass the cold 

 and stormy nights of winter; sometimes a nest, constructed, — it may be with 

 this definite object in view, — late in the previous summer, is resorted to; 

 and sometimes a hole in the side of a hay-rick is selected for the purpose, 

 into which I have occasionally found feathers introduced, in order to render 



