250 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



containing six eggs, was discovered by a little boy 

 near one of the entrances to the park. On the following 

 morning a seventh egg was added, and a very few 

 days afterwards the youthful naturalist made another 

 discovery, notwithstanding the short time that had 

 elapsed since the deposition of the last egg, he found 

 the nest full of young ones ! Such astonishing pre- 

 cocity on the part of the wren family, naturally 

 puzzled the child's sister, who was old enough to 

 appreciate such an unusual phenomenon. Assuming, 

 therefore, that either the birds or the birdsnester had 

 made some mistake, she examined the nest herself, 

 and found it tenanted by a plump little Dormouse, in- 

 dulging in a sound nap after having feasted on the* 

 eggs. 



It scarcely need be said that we have no difficulty 

 in finding the Squirrel (Sciurus Europaus\ or that 

 hunting the squirrel was a favourite pastime with the 

 rising generation in byegone days. In later times, 

 bordering on the present, dogs have spontaneously 

 taken to the sport, and not far from the village there 

 were two, Rover, a spaniel, and Jessie, a retriever, 

 that singularly excelled in it, each in his way. Those 

 who have paid attention to the habits of the squirrel, 

 are aware that when one is surprised feeding on the 

 ground, he rears himself on his haunches at the least 

 alarm to reconnoitre, and if the danger that threatens 

 him appears to be very pressing, he bounds off with 

 all speed to the nearest tree ; but instead of making 

 straight to the body of the tree, he invariably directs 

 his course to one side or the other, so as to run up it 

 in a spiral direction, and put the tree between himself 

 and his pursuer. Jessie was as well aware of this as 

 the most experienced naturalist, and instead of at- 

 tempting to overtake the fugitive on the ground by 

 running directly after him, he would dash round one 

 side of the tree, while "Scug" was attempting to 

 escape round the other, and in this way he has very 



