BIRD NOTES 135 



and again compelled him to relinquish the object 

 of disputation. * But the Crow was not nimble 

 enough of wing to seize it, and made no effort 

 to repossess it. Hoodie made a mistake in im- 

 agining himself a Skua. 



In the spring of 1898 a hen, wanting badly to 

 sit, contented herself by sitting most assiduously 

 on two common stone ginger-beer bottles. It is 

 needless to say her labours were vain; and one 

 might almost imagine that anything so foolish 

 could never have been attempted by any creature 

 known to be unaddicted to the bottle ! 



Owing to the dryness of the season in the July 

 of 1896, the snails and slugs in certain districts 

 gathered into the strawberry-beds; thither the 

 Blackbirds followed them, to the indignation of 

 the market-gardeners, who at once not only accused 

 them of stealing strawberries, but commenced a 

 warfare on them. Many scores were slaughtered, 

 and their carcasses hung up as a warning to others. 

 What was done by the slugs upon the finest of 

 the berries was laid to the Blackbirds 1 charge. 

 Notwithstanding this, many quarts of strawberries 

 perished for want of gathering. It was not only 

 a pity, but a very great mistake, to slaughter so 



