158 Some Peculiar Occurrences in Natural History. [Sess. 



most unfair, and consisted of springing suddenly forward and 

 snapping viciously at the poor crab, which evidently had 

 great difficulty in keeping its feet, and the prolonged struggle 

 appeared at last to be telling severely upon it. In one of the 

 attacks the crab got upset, and before it could recover itself 

 the terrier had caught it gingerly in its mouth, and tossed it 

 high in the air. It fell among the broken rocks, and was so 

 stunned by the fall that the dog without difficulty munched 

 it to death. After this the fraternity proceeded leisurely 

 along the shore, looking apparently for a fresh combatant, and 

 the time and place gave a new reading to the lines — 



" Where every prospect pleases, 

 And only man is vile." 



For the past few months a robin-redbreast has taken entire 

 possession of what is called the " Winter House " at the Eoyal 

 Botanic Garden. He has, so far as one can learn, no legal 

 right to occupy the said premises ; but not only does 

 the robin keep and hold possession of the glass-house in 

 question, but he refuses to permit any feathered friend to do 

 more than pay him a passing call, and he chases and chastises 

 without mercy any " forlorn and shipwrecked brother " who, 

 constrained thereto by the late severe weather, desires to take 

 advantage for a short time of the heat and shelter afforded by 

 the Winter House. It has been left also to our friend to 

 dispel another of the fond illusions of our youth, in that he 

 has once and for ever reduced to the category of fables the 

 beautiful stories which old country-folks delight to repeat re- 

 garding the loving character of the robin, and particularly with 

 reference to his conduct to Jenny Wren when the little lady 

 was in trouble, and of the wonderful care and attention which 

 he in such circumstances lavished upon her. On two different 

 occasions has this nineteenth-century tenant chased, captured, 

 and killed wrens, who, trusting to the family traditions, called 

 at the Winter House, expecting to receive food and shelter, 

 but, alas ! who only survived their visit long enough to realise 

 that even among friends, when it comes to be a struggle for 

 existence, the weakest must go to the wall. Mr Lindsay, the 

 Curator, tells me that the gardener in charge of this particular 

 house was on each occasion an eyewitness of the tragedy, and 



