ABSORBING NATURE OF THE TASK. 221 



A number of pleasing anecdotes in illustration 

 of the absorbing nature of this occupation are 

 related by ornithologists. Mr. W. Thompson says, 

 that a friend of his, discovering a robin-redbreast's 

 nest, in which the bird was seated, remarked its 

 apparent stupidity, and having lifted it off the 

 eggs, and laid it on his open hand, it sought not, 

 and indeed seemed to want the power to escape. 

 He placed it in the nest again, and returning the 

 next day found the young brood out. The ap- 

 pearance of the bird in its almost paralysed state 

 on the previous day, it was now presumed had 

 been caused by its extreme intentness in the last 

 stage of incubation. Another interesting account 

 referring to the same bird, was related to the 

 Rev. Leonard Jenyns. This red-breast had built 

 its nest in some ivy against a wall in a garden at 

 Whitburn, near Sunderland. The bird was sitting 

 upon four eggs, when the gardener one day 

 trimmed the ivy so close with his shears as almost 

 to destroy the nest. In consequence of this 

 violence the eggs were precipitated to the ground. 

 There they lay till they were observed by a lady, 

 who shortly afterwards was attracted to the spot 

 by the plaintive cries of the bird. It was at first 



