The Taunton Pair. 79 



and out of their nest without showing the sHghtest sign of fear. 

 Again, another pair built close to the wheel of a lathe in a 

 workshop at a brass manufactory at Taunton amid the incessant 

 din of the braziers ; yet here the young were hatched, and the 

 mother-bird became perfectly familiar with the faces of the 

 workmen ; but if a stranger entered, or any one belonging to 

 the factory, though not to what might be called her shop, she 

 quitted her nest instantly, nor would return till they were gone. 

 The male, however, had much less confidence, and would not 

 come into the room, but brought the usual supplies of food to 

 a certain spot on the roof whence she fetched it. All these 

 anecdotes prove how interesting would be the relationship 

 between the animal creation and man, if man ceased to be their 

 tyrant or destroyer. 



As regards this particular bird, it is not only elegant In its 

 appearance, but amiable and attractive in all its ways. " They 

 are," saysBewick, " veryattentive to theiryoung, and continue to 

 feed and train them for three or four weeks after they can fly; they 

 defend them with great courage when in danger, or endeavour to 

 draw aside the enemy by various little arts. They are very at- 

 tentive also to the cleanliness of theirnests, and so orderly as to have 

 been known to remove light substances, such as paper or straw, 

 which have been placed to mark the spot." As regards this 

 proof of their love of order, however, I would rather suggest 

 that it may be a proof of their sagacity and sense of danger: 

 they suspected that some human visitor, of whose friendly 

 character they were not convinced, was intending to look in 

 upon them, and they thought it best, therefore, to decline the 

 honour of his visit. 



