SOS THE COMMON HARfc. 



persuaded that among a thousand of them,, no twe* 

 could be found exactly similar: a circumstance 

 little suspected by those who have not had oppor- 

 tunity to observe it. These creatures have a sin- 

 gular sagacity in discovering the minutest alteration 

 that is made in a place to which they are accus- 

 tomed, and instantly apply their nose to the ex- 

 amination of a new object. A small hole had been 

 burnt in the carpet ; it was mended with a patch, 

 and that patch in a moment underwent the strictest 

 scrutiny. They seem too to be very much directed 

 by smell in the choice of their favourites. To some 

 persons, though they saw them daily, they could 

 never be reconciled, and would even scream when 

 they attempted to touch them; but a miller coming 

 in, engaged their affection at once: his powdered 

 coat had charms that were irresistible. It is no 

 wonder that my intimate acquaintance with these 

 specimens of the kind has taught me to hold the 

 sportsman's amusement in abhorrence. He little 

 knows what amiable creatures he persecutes; of 

 what gratitude they are capable; how cheerful they, 

 are in their spirits ; what enjoyment they have of 

 life; and that, impressed as they seem with a pecu- 

 liar dread of man, it is only because man gives them 

 peculiar cause for it. 



tf That I may not be tedious, I will just give a 

 short summary of those articles of diet that suit 

 them best. 



"I take it to be a general opinion that they 



graze ; 



