FEATHERED RESIDENTS IN THE GROUNDS OF TERRICK HOUSE, 217 



that, train themselves as much as they please for the purpose, they will never be 

 able to accomplish it, though I must confess it appears somewhat problematical, 

 judging from the slenderness to which it seems possible to reduce the human 

 frame, a distortion which, however it may cause them to be admired by 

 dandies, fops, and coxcombs, will never, they may i:ely on it, render them 

 objects of greater regard, esteem, or affection, among sensible people, whose 

 admiration is alone worth caring for. Could they but be persuaded to lay 

 aside this most pernicious habit, they would feel themselves infinitely more 

 comfortable, would enjoy infinitely better health, and consequently be far 

 better able to discharge the various duties of life, and we should moreover 

 be blest with their society in this lower world for a greater number of years; 

 for that hundreds are prematurely cut off and consigned to the tomb in the 

 very flower of their age, from this practice alone; and that it is the primary 

 cause of lingering, painful, and often incurable disease to thousands in more 

 advanced years, scarcely admits of a doubt. 



The nest of the Blue Tit varies in the quantity of materials, according to 

 the size of the hole in which it is placed; it is sometimes a vast accumulation 

 of green moss, with a thick bedding of cow-hair. The eggs vary in number 

 from seven to thirteen or more; they are white with numerous specks of pale 

 red; some are more faintly as well as more sparingly marked than others. 

 The industry of the parent birds is rather heavily taxed during the period 

 they have their family to provide for; the war they then wage with the 

 caterpillar tribe, with which this family is principally, nay, as far as my 

 observations go, entirely supported, and the good service they consequently do 

 us in ridding our fruit trees and shrubs of thousands of insidious bud and 

 leaf-destroyers, ought to be as the seven-fold shield of Ajax to them in pro- 

 tecting them from harm; instead however of this being the case, the very 

 fact of their being seen in our gardens in search of these creatures, brings 

 destruction upon their innocent heads from those upon whom they are conferring 

 great and gratuitous benefits; but who, unobserving as they are, obstinately 

 and blindly persist in accusing them of destroying those very buds they are 

 most assiduously engaged in preserving from destruction. They are very fond 

 of picking a bone, and have a great liking for suet and fat meat. Butter 

 is an article in especial favour among them ; I generally place a small portion 

 at breakfast time outside the window of the breakfast room, which is reg- 

 ularly shared in by two or three Redbreasts, a couple of Great Tits, and 

 four or five Blue Tits, who all seem instinctively to know the breakfast hour, 

 assembling with great regularity about that time. 



The talented and observant Editor of "The Naturalist," Dr. Morris, has 

 recorded an instance of his having heard this bird sing sweetly; another 

 instance has since been recorded by the equally talented and observant Author 

 of "A History of British Birds," the Rev. F. O. Morris. This is a pleasure 

 I have never yet enjoyed, but I do not now despair of obtaining it some 

 day: were this pleasing accomplishment to become general among the species, 



