J 20 WOODVILLE : ITS PETS AND ITS PURSUITS. 



his master called him by name, and instantly quitting a 

 flock of his congeners, he returned to the hand of his 

 owner, and resumed his life in the parlour. Such a cap- 

 tivity could not sour his spirit, and Shilly was a benevo- 

 lent old bachelor. He would sometimes carry about his 

 food in his bill, evidently desirous of sharing his morsel 

 with others; and, probably unaware of the distinction 

 between spiders and insects, he more than once brought 

 his insect-loving patron choice specimens of the former, 

 and pressed on his acceptance the dainty dish. To gratify 

 this desire of feeding others was not difficult at Woodville. 

 There was seldom a summer which did not leave upon the 

 hands of its inhabitants orphan nestlings, or little " feather- 

 less" foundlings ; and Shilly found scope for his kind assi- 

 duities in rearing one or other of these foster children. 



Nothing came wrong. Hedgehogs and ichneumons, 

 dogs and rabbits, pigeons and jackdaws, cockatoos and 

 parrakeets, were equally welcome, and under a Noachian 

 patriarchate, all lived in surprising harmony. To these 

 must be added a host of occasional pensioners. When- 

 ever he took "Ms walks abroad," the lord of the manor 

 was sure to be followed by some of these humble re- 

 tainers, — sparrows, finches, and redbreasts, — for whom he 

 had pocketed a supply of bread at the breakfast-table, 

 and who, in process of time, would bring to his feet and 

 commend to his guardianship their rising families. 



