Lll.l OF SELBORNE. 139 



A pair of these little birds had one year inadvertently placed 

 their uest on a naked bough, perhaps in a shady time, not being 

 aware of the inconvenience that followed. But a hot sunny sea- 

 son coming on before the brood was half-fledged, the reflection 

 of the wall became insupportable, and must inevitably have de- 

 stroyed the tender young, had not affection suggested an expe- 

 dient, and prompted the parent birds to hover over the nest all 

 the hotter hours, while with wings expanded, and mouths gaping 

 for breath, they screened off the heat from their suffering off- 

 spring. 



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 

 ns with some degree of jealousy. Some days after, as we passed 



SI'OTTKI) Kl.YCATCILKIt S KC.ti. 



Hint 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 

 nvcr 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 hotbed 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 white-bellied 

 tield-mouse with three or four young clinging to her teats by 

 their mouths and feet. It was amazing that the desultory and 

 rapid motions of this dam should not oblige her litter to quit 

 their hold, especially when it appeared that they were so young 

 as to be both naked and blind ! 



