2132 Quadrupeds, fyc. 



in the parlour at his mistress' feet, purring and sleeping, and indulging in his golden 

 day-dreams. It ehanced that, a few months after Dick's location in his new home, 

 his fond mistress received a present of a dove from a distant relative, whose cognomen 

 was " Tom," — " pretty Tom." And a pretty dove he was! Oh, how proud to take 

 his morning ablutions, and plume his soft feathers ! how sly in turning round his ex- 

 pressive eye ! and how affectionate as he pushed his hill against your closed lips to 

 kiss you ! how joyous his coo-coo ! and how gladsome a companion for Dick ! See — 

 see them both in the parlour, eating of the same crumbs ; all the animosity that 

 should naturally exist is lost, — the best of friends from the very first trial. Bright 

 are the eyes with joy, as all the family look at the interview, when Tom is put on the 

 carpet. He goes strutting towards Dick, cooing in his most glorious manner, — and 

 Dick listens, charmed by the Orphean notes, and makes no stir, no spring, no move- 

 ment. Oh ! happy animal and bird ! your friendship has begun ; and, so happily 

 formed, how long will it continue ? Sure, too good to last ; but no, for sixteen years 

 were they daily companions, never once disagreeing or betraying any hostility. Often 

 was Tom perched on Dick's soft back, enjoying the warm fire ; and often, by instinct 

 led, they travelled abroad into the garden, and walked proudly round the little paths. 

 Oh ! happy friends! but their happiness, being earthly, was limited; for poor Dick, 

 in December, 1846, pined and died. The loving attentions he experienced are often 

 needed by poor starving outcasts ; but yet they availed not, for his hours were num- 

 bered : he died, and was buried in the garden. His companion survives, for this last 

 Christmas I saw him ; but in his eye we all fancied that brightness was not found 

 which in earlier days we certainly saw there sparkling. — E. R. Twinn ; Bowburgh, 

 near Norwich, March, 1848. 



Extraordinary Instance of Parental Care in a Rat. — Some traps had been set about 

 our premises for the purpose of taking vermin, when, a few mornings ago, a large fe- 

 male rat was discovered in one of them, caught by one of its fore legs, but squatting 

 over a nest containing six young ones. The animal, during the previous night, had 

 actually — with the fore paw, which was free, and probably with the assistance of her 

 hind feet — contrived to scrape together a quantity of the neighbouring grass, and 

 formed the nest, thus providing for the warmth and comfort of her young, though tor- 

 tured with pain, and one might have supposed almost disabled for such a preparation 

 by her position in the trap. — A. B. Hemsworth ; Shropham Hall, Larlingford, Nor- 

 folk, March 16th, 1848. 



Catalogue for Eggs.* 



[A friend of mine — the head of a large manufacturing establishment — obligingly 

 sent me a ticket of admission to what might be called the opening of a new Steam Ap- 

 paratus, for feeding with regularity a fire that was constantly to be kept in. On my 

 arrival I found quite a little company assembled, and the proprietor pointed out the 



* ' A Systematic Catalogue of the Eggs of British Birds, arranged with the view 

 to supersede the use of Labels for Eggs.' By the Rev. S. C. Malan, M.A., Vicar of 

 Broadwindsor, Dorset. London : Van Voorst. 1848. 



