NOTE -BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 131 



and many have looked upon these ' accidents' as inven- 

 tions of John to account for the absence of eggs and birds 

 which have found their way to distant parts per rail. 

 But that such misfortunes do really happen there can be 

 no doubt. 



In a clayey country in Somersetshire where the cracks, 

 one hot summer, had become dangerous even for dogs, 

 two old birds were seen one fine morning in June ' in 

 great trouble.' Upon looking about near the spot where 

 they had been disturbed, a huge crack was seen to yawn, 

 which, though not quite so big as the gulf into which 

 Vathek tumbled the fair boys whom he offered to the 

 insatiate Giaour, was all-sufficient for the purpose of 

 swallowing up young partridges. The old birds had been 

 scratching about the edge of the crack, where ' they had 

 done more harm than good.' Upon looking in, a dozen 

 young ones were seen down in the crack. They were 

 hooked out one by one with a stick ; and the parents 

 stood, ' not more than a pole off,' anxiously watching the 

 operation and receiving each of their offspring as it ran 

 from the edge. 



A hen, which was most pugnacious, flying fiercely at 

 every one who came near her chickens, had wandered 

 with her brood near a fagot-pile, into which they had 

 scrambled, and had contrived so to entangle themselves 

 that they could not get out. The piercing cries of the 

 bewildered chicks were equalled by the fidgetty clucks 

 and gestures of the mother. But when assistance came, 

 instead of buffeting the helper, she stood patiently wait- 

 ing till, after taking off some of the fagots, he caught her 

 chickens and restored them to her. 



A mare brought forth a foal some eight or ten days 

 before its time. The foal was attacked with spasms in 

 the stomach and bowels, and, as it generally happens in 

 cases of premature birth among horses, died. Every aid 

 that could be thought of was given ; medicines were ad- 



