Quadrupeds, <Sfc. 2183 



Among the chief traits of Nero's character is his affection. When our footman used 

 to be off the premises — as oft he was — then how long and wailful a lamentation did 

 the poor dog send forth ! It appeared that he had a more than common instinct to 

 know his friend was away ; for the restless agitation of the beast, his whine of agony 

 and wail of sorrow, were more intense and acute than the inward pangs of many pro- 

 fessed friends at parting ! ! When first I witnessed this touching proof of his attach- 

 ment, and the almost human method of displaying it, I took to my heart's memories a 

 love for that dog, though (to confess a weakness of mine) I never felt a very strong 

 partiality for the canine race. The family had, for the amusement of the children, a 

 dear little kitten, so black and velvetty that " Tinker " was his undivided cognomen ; 

 and a pet he was, and yet is. " Nelly," Tinker's mamma, had continued (being an 

 old-established housekeeper of nearly ten years) to hold her high station, which she 

 had enjoyed before Nero's appearance ; and often in her peripatetic rambles she took 

 a survey of Nero's abode, stopped and examined, and wondered " who or what" the 

 new visitant could be, — so to me did her actions imply. Well, in time Nero ventured 

 to look at her ; then by degrees he lengthened his chain ; at last he stood out full 

 length ; and yet, during these manoeuvres, Nelly stood like an ancient dame in her 

 silks, unmoved, as one who was not to be put down or deprived of her ancient rights. 

 Let me tell you that an intimacy sprung up between them ; and when the time arrived 

 for Tinker's introduction to Nero, oh ! then had you, with me (as often since I have), 

 seen the dog's fondness, shown so endearingly and delightedly ! such barkings, such 

 springings as far as his chain would permit, such rubbing of his head against the kit- 

 ten's soft coat, such playfulness and tenderness, as though fearful to hurt, that I once 

 more registered on my memory's tablets the love of that dog. Many are the times 

 that I have watched them feeding from the same trencher, eating of the same food, 

 sporting together and lying side by side, as happy as kings, and happier too ! When 

 in the sight of Nero the servant has fondled Tinker, then how joyously has he frisked, 

 as though the kindness were shown to himself! The lessons which I have garnered 

 from him are many and precious ; and to all my readers I would urge the necessity of 

 their studying the habits of that portion of Natural History they are most in the midst 

 of; and with a watchful eye and observant mind, they will have cause for admiration 

 (almost daily) that He who is our God and Father has not neglected, in his universal 

 scheme of love, sources of gratification of a refined and elevating nature for even ani- 

 mals. — G. R. Twinn. 



Ornithological and other Observations in Norfolk for the months of April and May, 

 1848. — Early in the spring a specimen of that singular animal the black line-worm 

 (Lineus longissimus), Sowerby's Brit. Misc., was captured on the north coast of Nor- 

 folk, having become entangled in some cod-lines. As this worm is not of common oc- 

 currence on the east coast of England, and has not to our knowledge been previously 

 noticed on the Norfolk shores, we extract from the ' Transactions of the Linnean So- 

 ciety ' the following observations respecting its history. 



" This species of Gordius " * (says Col. Montagu)f " is not uncommon on several 



* It is culled by Montagu, Gordius mariuus. \ Trans. Linn. Soc. vii. 72. 



