14 IN NATURE'S WAYS 



PAGE 



WHY CATS LIKE FISH 176 



Ancestral habits Different instincts in cats Their 

 dislike of water Cats as fishermen. 



THE FAIRY GOLDCRBST 180 



One of our choicest birds Nest and eggs. 



SWIFTS 181 



How they build Sixteen hours a day on the wing 

 Evening manoeuvres Young birds The early date of 

 their departure The cottager's favourite Anecdote of 

 a curious accident. 

 A HEAVEN-SENT DISH OF TURNIPS 18 



HARVEST MICE 186 



Summary of their habits Their curious round nests 

 Mother and young A wonderful tail Qualities as peta 

 Pretty animal studies The field-mouse The dor- 

 mouse's nest. 



THE EVENSONG OF THE ROOKS ..... 191 



GOSSAMER 192 



When spiders go sailing Gossamer showers The 

 riddle of gossamer At the mercy of the wind. 



BLIND INSTINCTS 194 



A RAT'S LARDER 196 



Whiter sleeping-places How rata increase Mother 

 and young. 



LOVERS OF NUTS ........ 196 



The squirrel, the mouse, and the nuthatch How they 

 open nuts Studies in the nuthatch's habits Nests and 

 eggs The squirrel's ways Life-story of the nut- weevil 

 The cat that brought up squirrels. 



LINNETS ......... 204 



Winter flocks Their evening chorus Nest and eggs 

 At the sign of the dew-pond. 

 TIMOTHY THE TORTOISE ....... 206 



Habits and food of the tortoise Its great ago The 

 tortoise as weather-glass Anecdotes of Timothy, Gilbert 

 White's pet The Greek tortoise and its eggs The giant 

 tortoise. 

 THE CUCKOO-PINT 212 



A plant that traps insects How birds scratch out its 

 roots " Lords-and-Ladies " A poisonous family The 

 curious leaves How the plant cares for its insect prisoners 

 A romance of botany. 



THE ROBIN AND THE WREN 216 



Singing habits The robin and his friends Legend of 

 his rod breast Persecution of the wren Autumn songs 

 Robins and their young Mystery of the wren's nests 

 Wrens and their young Wrens as sentinels. 



