In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 191 



(lay concerning these birds, by Mr. Edward Kilvert, of Langley 

 Burrell Vicarage, Chippenham. On the lawn of the vicarage a 

 peculiar kind of fungus grew, which seemed to be considered a 

 great delicacy by a pair of these birds, and also by a pair of Squirrels 

 which frequented the garden, neither of them seeming to consider 

 that the other party had any right to the dish. The Squirrels, as 

 lords of the manor, would hop up to the fungus, and settling them- 

 selves down on their haunches, would commence their repast with 

 the greatest sang fro'ul, nibbling round the edge with precise regu- 

 larity. The Missel Thrushes, however, did not seem to see this at all, 

 and would attack the Squirrels with the greatest pertinacity, scolding 

 and chattering meanwhile, and endeavouring, by seizing the Squirrels' 

 tails, to pull them back by main force. The Squirrels, in their turn, 

 would run after the Thrushes, barking at them like little dogs, and 

 showing their resentment in every possible way. The Thrushes 

 would, however, at last succeed, but Master Skug would not be 

 beaten in this way. The Missel Thrushes had their nest in an acacia 

 tree on the lawn hard by, and directly the Squirrels were driven 

 from the fungi one of them would immediately mount the acacia 

 tree, and annoy the Thrushes by peering into their nest and pretending 

 that they were about to take possession, and roll themselves up in 

 it. This being too much for the equanimity of the owners, they 

 would in turn leave the fungus to defend their property, which took 

 up all their efforts, and proved as much as they could do. The 

 Squirrels then, having had enough of the contest, would once more 

 descend from the tree and make for the fungus, when the same 

 scene would take place over again; and thus the battle went on, 

 day after day, success varying, now on one side, and now on the 

 other, and affording my friend many a hearty laugh at the adroit 

 manoeuvres displayed by either side. For the last two years a pair 

 of these birds have built in the same spot, close to my garden, in 

 the fork of a small elm tree by the roadside, almost within reach of 

 your hand from the ground, and, curious to relate, have hatched their 

 last brood in safety. This is the more singular, as in their first nest 

 they not only built it in the most conspicuous spot, which everybody 

 passed and repassed as they went to and from Church, but also 



