66 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Robin, and then a very malicious persecutor of his first 

 companion. Often was she driven away for her vio- 

 lence, but it continutd ; and as being- shut up had no 

 proper effect, she was, at length, presented to a school- 

 fellow. Tiny was now thrown among several fowls, 

 and, strangely enough, she tried to pursue her former 

 course, and to have all her own way ; but the chief of 

 the party would not suffer the aggression, and with judg- 

 ment worthy a superior creature, made her keep her 

 proper place. Meanwhile, Beauty's circumstances were 

 changed; she had had a brood of chickens, one of which 

 only survived, and in due time was nearly as large as 

 her parent. A third hen was now presented to the 

 same children ; but rough, indeed, was the reception it 

 had from Beauty and her offspring ; it was, therefore, 

 placed one evening in a hutch for defence. But, alas ! 

 this availed not ; it was found next morning absolutely 

 pecked to death through the openings in the hutch. 

 The same feeling is strangely apparent in the male 

 bird. It is only for a stranger to appear for an attack 

 to commence : sometimes a furious battle ensues, and, 

 if possible, the intruder is driven away in disgrace. 



A circumstance of a different kind occurred at a gen- 

 tleman's seat near Berwick. His mower cut a partridge 

 on her nest, and immediately took the fourteen eggs it 



