344 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



THE NUTHATCH AND THE STARLING. 



NOTES DURING A VISIT TO HAMPSHIRE. 



L 



In our First Volume (p. 169), a much- 

 valued correspondent, "P.," drew our atten- 

 tion to the nuthatch — a pair of which birds, 

 remarkably tame, she informed us had win- 

 tered in her garden. They came regularly to 

 the window to be fed, both in winter and sum- 

 mer. Our correspondent asked us to insert 

 some particulars of these sweet birds. We 

 did so, and they will be found recorded as 

 above. 



Little did we imagine at that time (March 

 15, 1852), that we should be on June 1, 1853, 

 peeping in at the young family of those same 

 nuthatches, closely and happily nestled in the 

 hollow of an old tree, growing in a sequestered 

 village in Hampshire ! Yet such is the fact. 

 A particularly kind invitation was given us, 

 which we most readily accepted ; and we have 

 seen the birds whose praises we sang, busily 

 engaged in feeding their young. A pretty 

 sight indeed it was ! 



The extreme tameness of the parent birds 

 pleased us not a little. They freely permitted 

 us to ask, — " Is there any one within ? " — and 

 they seemed delighted to hear the inquiry 

 responded to by certain tiny voices in the inner 

 cradle. We could both hear them and see 

 them ; for the nest was by no means high. 

 When we withdrew a few paces, the mamma 

 immediately came creeping down the branches ; 

 and entered the hole leading to her habitation 

 w T ith the most unsuspecting confidence. Her 

 mouth was well filled with delicacies. These 

 were soon distributed ; and she came out to 

 make room for papa, who was also the bearer 

 of other tid-bits. A nicer couple were surely 

 never mated. They were so perfectly happy ! 

 Let us add, they ought to be so ; for a kinder 

 mistress and a fonder master could not be 

 found. Every living thing on the estate 

 proved it. 



Our readers would have stared to see us 

 " cosset "-ing a fine cat ! We really did do 

 this. Aye, and how the time flew ! 



Whilst in the lovely garden, we discovered 

 quite a variety of nests, — some with eggs, 

 some with little families ; others in progress 

 of completion. It was delightful to know 

 how sacred they all were here ! It was still 

 more delightful to observe how well the birds 

 seemed aware of their security ; for they took 

 little care to conceal their dwellings. Oh ! 

 the joys of a country life ! 



Our kind host and hostess resided some 

 few miles from Basingstoke. It would be 

 superfluous to say that we were most hos- 

 pitably received by them, or that we were 

 " happy" in so very delightful a spot. The 

 fact is, we were more than happy ; and so let 

 us describe our actual feelings. It is pretty 



generally known, how dearly we love animals, 

 —birds, dogs, &c. Here, "we found them in 

 choice variety. It was singular to notice how 

 soon the dogs, in particular, cultivated our 

 acquaintance. Well did they know we were 

 a friend to their tribe ! 



Whilst sojourning in Hampshire, we paid 

 several visits to Oakley Park — the residence 

 of Colonel Beech, who, observing the great 

 interest we evinced in the numerous starlings 

 domesticated here, very kindly pointed out 

 to us one of their nests, built at the extremity 

 of a long iron tubular chimney. It was very 

 amusing to see all the little heads raised up, 

 when we whistled at the orifice of the 

 chimney. 



The number of starlings living in Oakley 

 Park is considerable. The sun, which shone 

 brightly on their plumage the first day of 

 our visit, set their colors off to great advan- 

 tage. We followed them far and near, and 

 were highly diverted by the rapidity of their 

 movements, and their untiring spirit of fun. 

 Mirth and jollity, amity and good-will, seem 

 characteristic of their tribe. We try to 

 attract these birds to our grounds. They 

 often visit us ; but our tender-hearted neigh- 

 bors as often disperse them with their mur- 

 derous guns. 



We left at least one half of our heart in 

 Hampshire. We saw so much, and so many 

 of the charms of a rural life, that we positively 

 sighed when compelled to turn our back upon 

 them, — again to revisit this city of bricks 

 and mortar ! We could not help soliloquising 

 as the train sped furiously homewards — 



" Beatus ille qui procul negotiis ;" 



and we vowed that, if ever Fortune should 

 give us the humblest independence (without 

 our being compelled to toil so desperately hard 

 for it), we would accept it joyfully ; and bid 

 adieu for ever to London and its artifi- 

 cialities. 



Non est vivere sed valere vita : 



Existence is not Life, properly so called. 

 Nobody can " live !' in London, and be 

 " happy." It is a matter of impossibility — 

 unless indeed the mind never soars above 

 terrestrial objects. 



HOME— SWEET HOME ! 



'Tis Home where the heart is,wherever that be, — 



In city, in desert, on mountain, in dell ; 

 Not the grandeur, the number, the objects we see, 

 But that which we love is the magical spell. 

 Like " the dove" on the waters, no rest can we 

 find, 

 Whilst backwards and forwards we listlessly 

 roam. 

 " Home" is the word that brings peace to the 

 mind, 

 Wherever the heart is — he sure that's its 

 Home ! 



