INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 27 



proach of a man with a gun, while they follow the 

 plough so closely, as to be within reach of a long 

 stick ; and they are undoubtedly aware of the 

 immunities brought by the sabbath day ; so much 

 so that it is a saying in some parts, " Bold as a 

 rook on Sunday." A gentleman in "Wiltshire, 

 who was a strict preserver of his game and fish, 

 had his ponds regularly visited by herons on a 

 Sunday. Not a heron was to be seen near them 

 011 any other day. 



Some birds in a state of confinement, make a 

 skilful application of their powers in the attempt 

 to liberate themselves, or to remove difficulties. 

 A tame raven, which was confined by a chain 

 of three feet long, fastened to a ring round its 

 neck, had recourse to this contrivance whenever 

 it flew or hopped about. It always gathered the 

 chain in its bill so as to prevent it from hurting 

 its neck. 



These birds, and their congeners, are prover- 

 bially clever and sagacious in pilfering and con- 

 cealment, and their inquisitiveness renders them 

 ever on the alert to make some new discovery ; 

 they have also been known to show a remarkable 

 retentiveness of memory. Two magpies, kept in 

 a large kitchen garden, were in the habit of con- 

 cealing bits of meat and other stores. Some men 

 were one day set to dig up that part of the ground 



