310 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
“At this point the auditors were very attentive, 
for the idea of being henpecked was not agree- 
able. 
“ ‘ The next thing to be done/ proceeded Dr. Pica, 
‘ is to weave a little moss, or hay, or anything of a 
similar character, so as to make a soft bed for the 
eggs to lie upon. For, gentlemen, you may not be 
aware that the calcareous envelope of eggs is of a 
highly brittle character.’ 
“ ‘ I could have told you that/ said the rook, and 
straightway went off to dinner in a field, where he 
was seen by two scientific gentlemen, one of whom 
said that he ought to be killed for injuring the crops, 
while the other contended that he ought to be pro- 
tected as a friend to the farmer, as he only ate the 
grains that were infested with worms. But I do not 
think that the rook was much the better for the dis- 
cussion, as the latter gentleman shot him, in order 
to prove, by dissection of his crop, that he ought to 
be protected. 
“ By this time Dr. Pica was beginning to lose his 
temper at these desertions, but the report of the 
scientific gentleman’s gun restored his equanimity, 
and he went on with his lecture: 
“ 6 At this stage I would recommend the use of 
a little clay, which might be nicely kneaded and 
spread; and then some wool or feathers can be 
