I RIVERSIDE LETTERS 5 



the Winchester Quincentenary Celebration 

 this year I met him, reduced in size, and, like 

 Bottom, translated. The beard was gone. 

 The history of its disappearance was this. 

 In the spring of this year my friend a most 

 ardent naturalist watched from his dress- 

 ing-room window the nest-building of some 

 tits ; they were sorely put to it for hair to 

 line the nest. How they made known to 

 him their want I know not, but the emergency 

 was so great, and their anxiety to be ready for 

 the coming family so urgent, that at last he 

 made up his mind to the sacrifice of his beard, 

 depositing the shorn glories on his window- 

 sill, and watching the process of weaving 

 the lining of the nest with calm regret and 

 satisfied charity." 



