xix RIVERSIDE LETTERS 143 



puffed up, quite unlike the slim and gallant 

 shape they present in the summer. The 

 blackbirds, on the other hand, never seem 

 to lose the pride they take in the gallantry 

 of their appearance, and raise and lower 

 their tails on alighting as usual. I provide 

 for the thrushes a little at times, by hunting 

 out lumps of hybernating snails which I 

 throw on to the lawns, where the thrushes 

 soon make quick work in despatching 

 them. I have never noticed any other bird 

 but the thrush attack these snails. 



The tits do not really need much outdoor 

 relief, as the trees, bushes, old walls, &c., which 

 are their usual hunting grounds, are not inter- 

 fered with by the frost or snow. They never 

 appear to me in the least distressed by the 

 cold as other birds do, and I only hang bones 

 and fat on strings for them, partly to keep 

 them away from my gooseberry bushes, but 

 chiefly for the pleasure of seeing them close 

 up to my window. The little brown wrens 

 never seem to come for food at all ; no 



