SOLITARY AND GREGARIOUS. 5# 



siderable heat or cold,, though it is not easy to reconcile 

 it to any of the received theories, supplies the only 

 known reason why some of the smaller and seemingly 

 tender animals outlive the rigours of our severest win- 

 ters. The magpie (Pica caudata, RAY), though ra- 

 ther a hardy bird, has been found having recourse to 

 what is often practised by smaller birds several of 

 them huddling together during the night, to keep each 

 other warm. A gentleman of intelligence and veracity 

 informed us that he once saw a number of these birds 

 (probably a young family with their parents) on a tree, 

 in a fir plantation, sitting so closely together that 

 they all seemed to be rolled up into a single ball. 

 Little is known of the roosting of these birds ; but 

 among smaller species the habit in question is not 

 uncommon. Even during the day, in severe winter 

 weather, we have observed a similar practice in the 

 house-sparrow (Passer domesticus, RAY). On a 

 chimney top, which can be seen from our study win- 

 dow, we have often remarked the whole of a neigh- 

 bouring colony of sparrows contest by the hour the 

 warmest spot on the projecting brick ledge, which 

 happened to be in the middle. Here the sun shone 

 strongest, the kitchen fire below sent hither its most 

 powerful influence, and here the fortunate occupant 

 was best sheltered from the frosty wind which swept 

 by its companions that had been jostled to the two 

 extremities of the row. But none remained long in 

 quiet, for as soon as the cold air pinched them on 

 the exposed side, they removed to the middle, 

 scolding and cackling most vociferously ; and as 

 those who held the best places refused to give them 

 up, the new-comers got upon their backs and insi- 

 nuated themselves between two of their obstinate 

 companions, wedge fashion, as you thrust a book 

 into a crowded shelf. The middle places were thus 

 successively contested, till hunger drove the whole 

 colony to decamp in search of food. 



