356 



RURAL GLEANINGS. 



abruptly. What further remarks I have to make on the history of 

 this celebrated bird, want of space here compels me to reserve for 

 another opportunity, At page 235, line 21, for " black," read while ; 

 and at line 26, erase the word crimson. 



No for June, page 263, line 22, for " builds," read build; page 

 268, line 5, in a note which I have endeavoured to express in writing, 

 the commas should be reversed : one should be placed after the sound 

 " pee" and all those after " wi" should be erased. The tame cole- 

 tit, whose habits I have there described, is since dead, but the degree 

 of familiarity which he in time attained was most extraordinary : he 

 would follow and play with a piece of thread for ten minutes together; 

 like a kitten, and perform a variety of other little diverting duties, in 

 many of which he exhibited a singular and most unexpected quantum 

 of sagacity, quite surprising in so minute a creature. It is worthy of 

 remark, that the cole-tit has a larger head, in proportion to its body, 

 than any other small bird we have. 



Tooting, Surrey, ljtk July. 



RURAL GLEANINGS. 



BY SOLITARIUS. 



It is amusing to observe the wide difference which frequently exists 

 between the disposition of animals of even the same species. At the 

 house where I am at present staying, there is a bantam cock which is 

 so deficient in point of courage (for which this breed of fowls is so very 

 famous), that he avoids and keeps at a distance from the other cocks, 

 and runs away like a coward whenever they approach. Yet this bird, 

 although wanting in natural courage, is in other respects more daring 

 than his companions ; for whilst they run away from every stranger 

 in human shape, he keeps his ground and will fight for a long time 

 with one's foot, if it be presented to him in a menacing manner. The 

 display of affection manifested by parent birds for their young has 

 often attracted the attention of mankind. Passing by a hen the other 

 day, she was so solicitous for the safety of her brood, that she flew up 

 at me as high as my chest. White has well remarked that " a hen 

 become a mother is no longer that placid bird she used to be," and that 



