AFFECTIONS OF BIEJDS. 155 



A farther instance I once saw of notable sagacity in a 

 willow-wren, which had built in a bank in my fields. This 

 bird, a friend and myself had observed as she sat in her nest, 

 but were particularly careful not to disturb her, though we 

 saw she eyed us with some degree of jealousy. Some days 

 after, as we passed that way, we were desirous of remarking 

 how this brood went on ; but no nest could be found, till I 

 happened to take up a large bundle of long green moss, as it 

 were carelessly thrown over the nest, in order to dodge the 

 eye of any impertinent intruder.* 



A still more remarkable mixture of sagacity and instinct 

 occurred to me one day, as my people were pulling off the 

 lining of a hot-bed, in order to add some fresh dung. From 

 out of the side of this bed leaped an animal with great agility, 

 that made a most grotesque figure ; nor was it without great 

 difficulty that it could be taken, when it proved to be a large 



were able to leave the nest, this helpless one remained, only half fledged, and 

 suffering from cold, when it had the whole nest to itself. There was at the 

 time a bitter north-east wind, which penetrated through the openings in the 

 basket-work, and which, of course, added to the misery of the poor bird. All 

 at once the old ones were seen to come with clay in their mouths, and in a 

 short time they built up a wall against the basket, which effectually screened 

 the young one from the cold wind. It was reared, and took its flight. 



I cannot resist giving another strong instance of parental affection in the 

 feathered tribe : 



A gentleman in my neighbourhood had directed one of his waggons to be 

 packed with sundry hampers and boxes, intending to send it to Worthing, 

 where he was going. For some time his journey was delayed, and he there- 

 fore directed that the waggon should be placed in a shed in his yard, packed as 

 it was, till it should be convenient for him to send it off. While it was in the 

 shed, a pair of robins built their nest among some straw in the waggon, and had 

 hatched their young just before it was sent away. One of the old birds, (the 

 female, most probably, for what will not a female do?) instead of being fright- 

 ened away by the motion of the waggon, only left its nest from time to time, 

 for the purpose of flying to the nearest hedge for food for its young ; and thus, 

 alternately affording food and warmth to them, it arrived at Worthing. The 

 affection of this bird having attracted the notice of the waggoner, he took care, 

 in unloading, not to disturb the robin's nest ; and my readers will, I am sure, 

 be glad to hear that the robin and its young ones returned in safety to Walton 

 Heath, being the place from whence they had set out. The distance the 

 waggon went, in going and returning, could not have been less than one 

 hundred miles. ED. (Gleanings). 



* I have known a fly-catcher, whose nest I had discovered in a pear tree 

 against my garden wall, conceal it by drawing some of the leaves of the tree 

 over it. ED. 



