256 CHARACTEBISTICS OF COMMON BIRDS. 



insectivorous in his habits, and who plays no insignificant part in the currant 

 or raspberry bushes, and yet he is spared, whilst other birds, which are not 

 a whit more destructive, are sacrificed without mercy. I do not mean to 

 advocate the destruction of this or any other bird, and more especially this, 

 for I like his familiarity, his pretty appearance, and his sweet song, and 

 probably he owes his safety a good deal to all these, but still there lurks the 

 same inconsistency in the exception thus made of him. The little Wren 

 may well be spared, but the angler must have her wings for flies, and there- 

 fore, take them all in all, of common birds, the Robin is the most honoured 

 and spared. 



Another remark I remember making, one Winter time, when I was re- 

 covering from an illness, and had leisure enough to look out of the window, 

 more than anything else, was this, that a particular bare deciduous tree will 

 be the especial resort of all sorts of birds. Opposite the window in question 

 was a pretty large Laburnum, and I suppose never was there a better ren- 

 dezvous for the feathered tribes than this tree. They did not appear to 

 collect ought from its bare twigs or soft buds, but would perch on it only, 

 and seemingly, though of mixed kinds, in very good harmony. I remember, 

 in particular, the Titmice, {Pari,) of all kinds, might be seen there, sometimes 

 three or four sorts at once, more especially the Cole or Blue Tits, and then 

 would come a Marsh Tit, or a great Parus, although I do call to mind that 

 this ■' great man " was somewhat reverenced by the rest. Then a Bullfinch 

 would pop up ; a Blackbird, a Sparrow, a Chaffinch ; and I think I almost 

 date my love of Natural History, or rather of Ornithology, from that time. 

 I only lighted, the other day, on some wretched attempts I then made to 

 delineate my feathered friends ; and, considering that a shilling paint-box of 

 those times was my only resource, they might have been worse. One of the 

 most interesting sights, perhaps, to a lover of natural study, is to see a bird 

 " building." But this must always be under difficulty, for they are cautious 

 in this proceeding, and always more or less conceal their little homes. 

 Swallows and Martins are perhaps the most notorious, whereas our neatest 

 architects work (to us) a good deal in the dark. I have watched all kinds, 

 and should say that the bill was the chief agent, not only in bringing, but in 

 adapting the materials brought, and then the breast in moulding the interior 

 to the circular cup, the form required. This is especially the case with the 

 Thnish,.who makes her own neat, shell-like nest often as if it had been 

 foraied elsewhere, and deposited on the bare branch. All these things are 

 wonders, and beautiful reflections they call forth ! Look how the little 

 weaker birds go about almost always in numbers, whilst the bold, strong 

 accipiters, who prey upon them, soar aloft, in single confidence of strength. 

 Listen, how the Night-birds clamour to give notice of their whereabouts, and 

 how kind Nature has given to those which do not possess feathers for flight 

 till an advanced period of their existence, the power of gliding on beneath 



