The Mentality of Wild Birds and Beasties 



gymnasts, and can easily cling upside down to a small 

 kernel hung on the end of a piece of thread and bite 

 pieces off whilst twirling round and round in mid-air. 

 Great tits will frequently watch and try to imitate, but 

 generally without success. However, it occasionally 

 happens that an exceptionally brainy member of the 

 latter species will come along, and by an intelli- 

 gent anticipation of producing results from known 

 causes, which is reasoning, will stand on the twig 

 to which the thread is tied and haul it in reef by 

 reef, carefully setting a foot upon each until the prize is 

 secured. 



During cold spells of weather in the springtime flies 

 are content to rest on the ground or elsewhere, and I 

 have noticed whilst driving under such conditions 

 swallows and martins flying round and round the horse 

 and trap catching insects compelled to rise into the air. 

 It is precisely for the same reason that yellow wagtails 

 accompany grazing cattle, and so bold and confiding do 

 they become that they will readily run between the legs 

 of a cow in pursuit of some disturbed insect. 



Very few wild creatures understand the properties 

 of glass from its darker or inner side, but they are 

 certainly capable of learning. 



Two house sparrows used to visit my kitchen every 

 day in search of crumbs or to help themselves to 

 canary seed. If the window by which they usually 

 gained access happened to be closed they flew round to 

 a small trap-door in the wall of a scullery leading into 

 the kitchen and readily found their way to the place 



77 



