JUNE, 1883. 311 



discovered it had we not caught sight of half a dozen 

 delicately-speckled bluish-white eggs. Had the eggs 

 been brown, like the others, we should scarcely have 

 noticed the whereabouts of the nest. We are acquainted 

 with no more dexterously-concealed nest than that of 

 this little linnet ; and it has been almost always through 

 accident that we have found it. But why should the 

 eggs be coloured as they are ? 



Scratching itself? No, it is too steadily persistent and 

 exact in its movements. What is the little fellow about ? 

 He has on the muzzle with a row of iron spikes, so 

 frequently placed on Highland calves to prevent them 

 sucking their mothers. But this effort of man's is very 

 often a vain one a Highland cow's skin being tough, 

 and a calf s ingenuity wonderful. We have even heard 

 of cows that lay down and rolled over, so that the 

 youngsters could obtain a drink without progging it. 

 The muzzle is carried back and tied round the neck with 

 a small rope in this case, and the calf has discovered a 

 fallen tree with the stump of a small branch standing up 

 at right angles. This it is endeavouring to insert between 

 the cord and its neck, so as to tear the latter off, and 

 during our somewhat lengthened observation of the fuzzy 

 fellow it did not vary in its consistent and intelligent en- 

 deavour to release itself of the muzzle. It clearly 

 understood that the neck cord, and not those about its 

 head, was the main difficulty to be overcome ; and, 

 having found this suitable projecting stump, it would no 

 doubt keep steadily at it until the cord gave way. We 

 were much struck with the intelligence displayed in 

 going direct to the heart of its grievance, and never 

 wavering in its confidence in its own perspicuity. It is 



