496 



MISCELLANIES BY SOLITARIUS. 



discover any resting elsewhere. I have recorded a somewhat similar 

 instance, respecting a number of swallows hidden in a long creek, near 

 a streamlet's bank, being put to flight upon my approach. 



It should be the endeavour of every naturalist to gain the confidence 

 of the animals that venture to draw near unto his dwelling, instead of 

 giving them cause to fear him. It is my practice every morning to 

 throw the bread that has been soaking all night in that very inebriating 

 s and fattening beverage, known by the name of toast-and-water, on to 

 the roof of an abutment at the back of the house for the food of the 

 sparrows and other birds that choose to come hither for a breakfast. 

 This practice affords me matter for amusement even before I am up, 

 for whilst in bed I can watch them hopping about, not only on the 

 chimney tops, but on the window-sill, where, by their clamorous 

 chirping, they signify in very plain terms, their readiness for their usual 

 gratuitous meal. The sparrows constitute the greater part of my little 

 pensioners, and they are rather desirous of appropriating all the food to 

 themselves, and once, but not without some provocation, made a very 

 ferocious attack upon a crow, who "was in the habit of arriving every 

 morning punctually at the time of feeding, and giving a most practical 

 proof of the sharpness of his appetite, by swallowing the whole of the 

 breakfast, to the great disappointment of the rest of the company, who, 

 considering him more free than welcome, gave him at length to under- 

 stand that his visits would be no longer countenanced, by their making 

 a simultaneous attack upon his sable person one morning when he made 

 his usual appearance. Since then, I do not think he has ever honoured 

 them with his presence. But in his stead a more welcome and less 

 selfish guest has come, who, for what he receives, requites me with 

 a song. A young female relation has enabled me to address this latter 

 bird, the robin, and also the sparrows, in verses, which breathe sen- 

 timents felt by all who take compassion upon these little commoners when 

 pinched by hunger, and consequently, perhaps, will not be altogether 

 unacceptable to some of your readers. 



When breaks, in fog, the autumnal morn, 



And hoar frost glitters on the thorn, 

 And winds blow hard and chill, 



The redbreast then the forest leaves, 



And joins the sparrows from the eaves, 

 Upon my window-sill : 



By hunger pressed he hither comes 



To pick the freely scatter'd crumbs, 

 Till he has pick'd his fill. 



