Natural Hi iftory.— Deaths. LOE 
_ feize his prey, as to knock him from the hen to a confider- 
able diftance; and the timely aid of this faithful auxiliary, 
the turkey-cock, faved the bantam from being devoured by 
the hawk.” 
During my refidence at Wilton, early one morning I heard 
a noife from a couple of martins, who were jumping from 
tree to tree adjoining my dwelling. They made feveral at-. 
tempts to get in a box or cage fixed againft the houfe, which 
they had before occupied; but they always appeared to fiy 
from it with the greateft dread, and repeated thofe loud cries 
which firft drew my attention. Curiofity led me to watch 
their motions. After fome time a {mall wren came from the 
box or cage, and perched on a tree near it, when her fhrill, 
notes feemed to amaze her antagonifts. After fome time fhe, 
flew away. The martins took this opportunity of returning 
to their cage: but their ffay was fhort. Their diminutive 
adverfary returned, and made them fly with the greateft pre- 
cipitation, They continued manceuvring in this way the 
whole day, and I believe the wren kept poffeffion during the 
night. The following morning, on the wren’s quitting the 
cage, the martins immediately returned, took pofleflion of 
their manfion, broke up their own neft, which confifted of 
twigs of different fizes; went to work, and with more indu- 
firy and ingenuity than I fuppofed they poffeffed, they foon 
barricaded their doors. The wren returned, but could not 
re-enter. She made attempts to ftorm the works, but did 
not fucceed.—I wil] not prefume to {ay that the martins fol- 
Jowed our modern maxim, and carried with them a fuffi- 
ciency of food to fuftain a fiege, or that they made ule of the: 
abftinence which neceflity fometimes, during a long and bad 
fiorm, might probably occafion; but they perfevered for 
near two days, to defend the entrance within the, barricado; 
and the wren, finding fhe could not force an entry, raifed the. 
fiege, quitted her intentions, and left the martins in, quiet 
polleffion without further moleftation, 
DEATHS, 
On Friday, the 11th of October, Samuel More, Efy. w ee 
for many years pat filled the office of Secretary to the Society 
7 | for 
~~ a - Bond 
