352 SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS [Tol 



a time to see whether it will move again, then carefully advanc- 

 ing nearer and nearer examines it well, and satisfying itself of 

 its nature, returns to its position and lays itself down again to 

 enjoy the warmth it loves so much. Should the danger be real, 

 however, it flies like lightning. And because in all these move- 

 ments it is so conscious of its feebleness, it is like the feeble- 

 minded man, who is constantly suspicious of impending danger ; 

 and its timidity is its protection from the calamities it fears to 

 face. MU. 



An Incitement to Tolerance. 



That birds do mischief among ripe corn there can be no doubt, 

 but the harm they cause in autumn is amply compensated by 

 the good they do in spring, from the havoc they make among 

 the insect tribes. The quantity of grubs and caterpillars annually 

 destroyed by rooks and various small birds must be immense. 

 Some which feed on the wing, as swallows, &c., devour millions 

 of mosquitoes and other winged insects. Even the titmouse 

 and bullfinch have been proved to attack only those buds 

 which contain a noxious insect. These facts should incite us 

 to tolerance. Undoubtedly it is provoking to see a bird, or an 

 evangelist, or a stump-orator, doing mischief. The notion of 

 some people is to exterminate them at once in flagrante delicto. 

 But this is rash folly. A fair investigation of the entire pro- 

 ceedings of the offenders for a whole year will reveal that their 

 good offices exceed their occasional mischievousness. GA. 



Tolerated Offensiveness. 



The Bengal vultures (Gyps JBengalensis) feed upon carrion, 

 and gorge themselves into a state of inactivity whenever an 

 occasion presents itself. The recognition of the good services 

 which they render to the public health in consuming putrid 

 matter protects them from disturbance, so that, like licensed 

 scavengers, they are allowed to go about their dirty business 

 without molestation. Though cowardly, they lose all shyness, 

 because they know they will not be hurt by man. Offensive 

 as their habits are, he tolerates them as he does other nuisances, 



