WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 163 



found in the window first. Old-fashioned windows 

 often have a broad sill inside, the window frame be- 

 ing placed nearly .at the outer edge of the wall, so that 

 the thickness of the wall forms a recess, which is lined 

 with board along the bottom. Now this wooden lin- 

 ing was decayed and drilled with innumerable holes 

 by boring insects, which threw up tiny heaps of saw- 

 dust, as one might say, just as moles throw up mounds 

 of earth where they tunnel. Perhaps these formed an 

 attraction to the wren ; she also frequently visited an 

 old-fashioned bookcase, on the top of which it was 

 very low I often left some old worm-eaten folios and 

 quartos, and may have occasionally picked up some- 

 thing there. Once only she ventured to the foot of 

 the bed. After leaving the room she always perched 

 on a thin iron projection which held the window open, 

 and uttered her singularly loud notes, their metallic 

 clearness seeming to make the chamber ring. Star- 

 lings often perched on the same iron slide, and spar- 

 rows continually ; but only the robin and wren came 

 inside. Tomtits occasionally entered and explored 

 the same board-lining of the window, but no farther. 

 They will, however, sometimes explore a room. 



I know a parlour, the window of which was partly 

 overhung by a similar pear tree, besides which there 

 were some shrubs just outside, and into this room, be- 

 ing quiet and little used, the tomtits ventured every 

 now and then. I fancy the placing of flowers in vases 

 on the table or on the mantelpiece attracts birds to 

 rooms, if they are still. Insects visit the flowers ; 



