DUNNOCK. $ 
advancing into open ground, or frequenting trees of larger 
size. 
Even in the depth of the severest winter, when, as in this 
February, 1853, the ground is everywhere covered with snow 
a foot deep, and you would think that every motion must 
be chilled in the breast of even the hardiest bird that is 
exposed to the damaging attacks of the two ‘weird sisters,’ 
cold and hunger, by night and by day; you will see the 
Dunnock flirting about some low bush in the splendid sun- 
shine that succeeds the bitter blasts which have come and 
gone, and warbling its unpretending little lay, as if to shew 
that an even and quiet temper is that which will best sustain 
under the most adverse circumstances of life. Now it has 
come down upon the snow, and its tiny feet move nimbly 
over the crystal surface, its tail quickly moved up and down 
the while; now it stops for a few moments, now hops on 
again, and now is gone, in company with its mate, pursuing 
or pursued. Or, half-hopping, half-walking, its usual gait, it 
approaches the door, in search of any chance crumbs, which, 
if you are charitably disposed, you will have placed there 
for any feathered pensioners, whom the inclemency of th: 
season may compel to a more intimate acquaintance thar. 
they otherwise would have chosen. ‘Never turn thy face from 
any poor man, says the Holy Word, ‘and then the face of 
the Lorp shall not be turned away from thee,’ and so in 
like manner let your benevolence embrace even those whose 
actions alone can speak their wants.—‘O give relief, and 
Heaven will bless your store.’ 
These birds never under any circumstances, or at all events 
very rarely indeed, enter into houses by the open door or 
window, as some others do through stress of weather, though 
so devoid of shyness in their approaches to them. ‘The 
neighbourhood of the hedge is their favourite haunt, from 
whence they venture but a little way into the field, or the 
road. Sometimes however they are seen in towns, in such 
places as squares, where trees and shrubs are planted. 
They are by no means gregarious, though three or four 
may sometimes be observed at no great distance from each 
other. They are seldom seen among or on the upper branches 
even of a bush or hedge, and as Mr. Macgillivray remarks, 
it is very rare to see two flying in the same direction, 
although they are generally observed in pairs. In dry sunny 
weather in summer, they may be seen sometimes basking in 
