GROUNDLESS ALAEMS 47 



hold of the edge of the plate with one claw, so as 

 to reach further with its beak. The blue tit is 

 clever with its claws ; it holds down a piece of 

 bread with them and picks it to pieces. I see 

 none of the others do that. After this came a 

 robin boldly and jumped straight into the middle 

 of the plate twice he did this. Then followed 

 the nuthatch, who looked puzzled and afraid, and 

 could not reach any of the bacon, that round the 

 edge having been removed. So I opened the 

 window and put the bacon all on the edge, and 

 when it came again it fed very confidently. Last 

 came the little hedge-sparrow, creeping round the 

 corner as it always does, but it looked much 

 disturbed, and crept back again. All this time 

 several chaffinches had been fluttering about the 

 window, but not one had had courage to come, 

 though their wish to do so was strong, I could see, 

 and they greatly prefer bacon to bread. They are 

 not stupid birds, and perhaps the greater fear of the 

 unknown implies a greater intelligence. I have 

 only seen one chaffinch a hen take a piece from 

 the plate, although the other birds, sparrows ex- 

 cepted, are now as much at home with it as I 

 am. 



April 15, 1882. 



To-day I have peeped into a thrush's nest with 

 young birds in it ; yesterday I heard the white- 



