AUGUST, 1882. 209 



of this timid and harmless member of the family. It 

 seemed so thoroughly overcome with the dolce far niente 

 of the hot afternoon that it made no effort to escape, 

 although fully alive and uninjured. 



The eaves of our cottage can be reached with the 

 hand, and yet, although close to the road and dotted 

 with windows, so confident are some of our native birds 

 that nests are actually built in the Cottonia that hugs the 

 front of the dwelling. A foot or two from the windows, 

 a few feet from the ground, and in the way of being almost 

 rubbed by the passing shoulder, the wren (troglodytes) 

 had commenced one nest and finished two others, all 

 within a radius of a yard or so. The charming little 

 domiciles had apparently never been occupied, whether 

 from her mate declining to entrust his precious existence 

 so close to humanity, or from her ladyship being herself 

 dissatisfied with her workmanship or site. It is quite 

 possible she was only practising house-building, and that 

 last having been quite a little masterpiece, she may have 

 removed herself and her skill to more suitable quarters. 

 Yet the plentiful greenery of the neighbourhood of our 

 doorway must provide a sufficiency of insect food, and 

 we yesterday observed a little blue tit clambering among 

 the escalonia and cottonia, and devouring the insects, as it 

 hung, all ends up, within a foot or two of our door and 

 ourselves ; whilst a redbreast in the pursuit of flies entered 

 the open window of our sanctum, and getting between 

 the two panes, had to remain imprisoned securely until 

 we liberated its panting bosom. 



Some one has been endeavouring to explain on 

 Darwinian principles why the greater proportion of flowers 

 are yellow, although we can scarcely consider the effort 

 successful. On similar lines, can it be explained why 



