102 



COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



about at nightfall. His food consists of earth, and the minute 

 creatures therein contained, besides the leaves of weeds and other 

 flowers. 



" At midnight I have watched him slowly popping his head out 

 of his hole (which at times is a good depth below the surface, and 

 in the case of clay soil at depths varying from ten inches to two feet 

 and more), drawing his body cautiously forward, and resting for the 

 matter of three or four seconds, again sliding " upward " until almost 

 the whole of the body is withdrawn. Now, should a movement be 



NEST AND EGGS OF ROBIN IN A TOMATO-TIN. 



made, such as a smart rap on the ground with the palm of the hand, 

 the Worm disappears with incredible swiftness ; but dig on the far 

 side of his retreat, and, with amazing rapidity, he will quickly crawl 

 out again and make haste to escape. He mistakes the digging for a 

 Mole, who consumes the Earthworms in large numbers." 



A correspondent asks me to give a list of regular British breeding 

 Birds. The following may be subject to revision, and 1 shall be pleased 

 to receive information as to any birds included or excluded, which 



