216 FEATHERED RESIDENTS IN THE GROUNDS OF TERRICK HOUSE. 



something nice for supper. The toad certainly was not just exactly the animal 

 I wanted; but so very like that^ we must hold if it be not a coincidence, 

 that it was a mere scientific inaccuracy, the Cat not just being able to 

 distinguish more than many bipeds in the division Batrachia, between the 

 genus Rana, to which the frog belongs, and the genus Bufo, in which the 

 toad is classified! 



I know a Cat in the centre of the town, belonging to a certain lone 

 widow woman, who shuts up her house on Sabbath. The Cat, a social sort 

 of creature, does not appear to relish Sabbath life in the house of her mistress, 

 and therefore regularly leaves it of her own accord, on the Saturday night, 

 for the house of a well-knoAvn gentleman, and there remains over the Sabbath, 

 punctually returning home on Monday morning. I know another Cat, belonging 

 to a farmer in the parish of Cortachy, which often follows her master far 

 a-field like a Dog, and springs on his shoulders on the appearance of danger. 



Watt Institution^ Museum, and Library, Dundee, July 5th., 1854. 



A GLANCE AT THE FEATHERED RESIDENTS IN, 

 AND VISITANTS TO, THE GEOUNDS OF TERRICK HOUSE; 



WITH A FEW REMARKS FROM PERSONAL 

 OBSERVATION UPON THEIR HABITS AND PECULIARITIES. 



BY STEPHEN STONE, ESQ. 

 ( Continued from page \Q2.) 



Lower down, and within about four feet of the ground, some mortar has 

 fallen from a lath and plaster partition, disclosing an aperture between the 

 laths but just over three-eighths of an inch in width; if we introduce a 

 small stick into this aperture, a hissing sound from within will greet our ears; 

 we shall moreover receive, not an electric shock certainly, but something 

 akin to it, caused by a smart blow upon the stick from the beak of the 

 Blue Titmouse, [Parus coeruhus,) who happens like a good Housewife to be 

 where she ought to be, at home, and not idly gossiping with a neighbour, 

 but earnestly engaged in the discharge of domestic duties. We look about 

 if haply we may discover some larger aperture, doubting whether it be pos- 

 sible for the bird, small as it is, to pass in or out through this one; no other 

 however is to be found, and we are constrained to believe that through this 

 aperture it actually does force itself; and if we station ourselves within view 

 when the period of incubation has passed, and it has a family to provide for, 

 we shall have ocular demonstration of the fact; no wonder that our cred- 

 ulous ancestors, on witnessing a feat of this sort, should also be impressed 

 with a belief in the possibility of witches entering apartments, or making 

 their exits therefrom through key-holes. I wonder whether our tight-lacing 

 Misses have an idea that with proper training they will some day be able 

 to rival these latter-named worthies in the performance of this feat; I trust 



