Birds. 



7997 



his good friend Turnbull might he just within bearing, and had the presence of mind 

 to call out repeatedly, at the top of his voice, " Turnbull ! Turnbull ! " Now it so 

 happened that his wife at home felt a little anxious ; and the more so, seeing that 

 the dog, instead of being with his master, was lying comfortably asleep before the 

 embers on the hearth. She went out, therefore, to try if she could see or hear any- 

 thing of her husband, and stood, earnestly watching, on the top of a little hill near 

 the house, when the distant call came upon her ear. In haste she descended, 

 guessing well the nature of the impending danger, and taking the dog to the same 

 spot, she made him stand beside her, gently patting him that he might be still and 

 listen. In a few moments the faithful animal heard — as his mistress had done, and now 

 a little nearer — the well-known call, " Turnbull ! Turnbull !" No more was needed : 

 the clog instantly darted off at his utmost speed, and was soon lost to the sight of the 

 trembling wife, who gazed after him, rivetted, as it were, to the spot where she stood. 

 It need hardly be said how thankful the poor man was to hear his bounding step, nor 

 how quickly the cruel enemy fled on seeing his antagonist approaching. Turnbull, 

 however, followed up the chase, and it was some time before he returned, bearing 

 abundant evidence, in his wounded and blood-stained appearance, what a conflict had 

 taken place between him and the wolf, and leaving little doubt that he had been the 

 victor. Another case my dear father related, in which a wolf, taking up a little child 

 by its clothes, was carrying it off as fast as such a heavy load would allow him. The 

 child, just old enough to speak, and possibly having been accustomed to.be played 

 with, or even thus carried, by one of the large dogs, thought it very nice, and enjoying 

 the ride, exclaimed in the Irish language " I'm a-going!" repeating the words in a 

 singing tone, until rescued from its perilous situation by its parents, who were in time 

 to follow and bring back their darling in safety. One more instance I remember, in 

 which several wolves attacked one of the Malone family, when returning from a journey 

 on horseback, one dark night. . He put spurs to his terrified steed, but the wolves 

 were close behind, and actually made several leaps on to the horse's hind quarters, 

 inflicting severe wounds with their fangs. The traveller just reached his own door, 

 however, himself unhurt, though frightened almost out of his senses, exclaiming to 

 his brother at home, " Oh ! James, James, let me in— my horse is ate with the wolves !" 

 — Jonathan Grubb ; Sudbury. 



Notes on Birds Nests. — The following curious instances of materials used by birds 

 in building were noticed by me last year at Ealing. 



Pied Wagtail. I took a nest from the lop thatch of a haystack. Another pair of 

 these birds took possession of a deserted nest of the robin in an ivied wall: the vouu«- 

 were reared. 



Blackbird. A nest in a bed of nettles ; another composed of dried stalks and 

 leaves of cabbage ; another with a considerable quantity of horse-hair in the lining. 



Spotted Flycatcher. Fastened to two branches, projecting from the trunk, by a 

 band of coarse cord. 



Chaffinch. A nest covered outwardly with curled quill-shavings. 



Magpie. Without a dome, though containing four eggs. 



Hedge Accentor. A nest built and lined with hay ; another composed of sticks 

 about a foot in length, laid crosswise and projecting all round, resembling a chevaux 

 de frize ; lining red and white cow-hair; in the ivy on a wall. 



