than usual, and give them time to forget their 

 suspicions. I did so, and they now creep about my 

 person as if I were of no more interest than Alexander 

 was to Diogenes. When I throw down some maggots 

 they come skipping along from bough to bough. 'To 

 the discreet belong the spoils,' is written in every 

 timorous step and stealthy movement. 



They are ' cocky ' little beggars, and as full of 

 self-importance as the minister of the two Cumbrays, 

 two miserable islands in the mouth of the Clyde, who 

 offered up this prayer: ' O Lord, bless and be gracious 

 to the Greater and Lesser Cumbrays, and in thy 

 mercy do not forget the adjacent islands of Great 

 Britain and Ireland.' The Tits seem to say the same 

 to me : ' Look after us, and do not forget the rest.' 



They are a most devoted little couple, never apart 

 for more than a few moments and then never happy 

 until the}' are together again. If one were to die I do 

 not think the other would be long behind. I never 

 see them making love : it is always there. It reminds 

 me of what a dear old man used to say to me of his 

 love making : ' I dinna maike it, it comed spontaneous 

 loike.' 



I hope someday to be able to record the successful 

 nesting of the devoted little couple, but then Hope is 

 a hen that lays more eggs than she can always hatch 

 out ! I console myself with the thought that there is 

 plenty of time 5'et, as the Parish priest once said to 

 his Bishop who had written to him for neglecting his 

 spiritual flock. The letter ran somewhat as follows : 

 ' My Lord Bishop, — I have received and beg respect- 

 fully to acknowledge 3'our Lordship's letter. I believe 

 that your Lordship can hardly be aware of the con- 

 dition of the roads at this time of the year. I am 

 satisfied that if your Lordship saw them you would 

 think with me that it is impossible at present for our 

 Great Enemy to reach my Parish. As soon as the 



