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natural

history

re-assemble unmolested interest
attendance apparently hospitable

"A REMARKABLE circumstance in natural bistory has lately occurred in Miss Sparrow's schools, in the village of Colwich, Staffordshire. During the holidays in Easter-week, one of the windows of the boys' school being open, a robin flew in and built her nest between two parcels of books on a shelf, which any of the boys could reach. On the re-assembling of the school, the nest was shown to the boys, and it was put to their good-feeling that the bird should be allowed to lay her eggs and hatch them in peace; and for this purpose the window by which she entered was still left open, so that she might come and go as she pleased. There are more than one hundred boys on the books, and nearly that number in daily attendance, so that the fate of the poor bird seemed to hang upon a very slender thread, as one mischievous hand would have been enough to destroy all her hopes. To the great credit, however, of the boys, not one has been found untrue to the pledge which they all gave, and she has been allowed for five weeks to fly in and out unmolested—to lay her eggs, and hatch her young, and at last to take them all off in safety.

Whilst the boys have been at work or at play, or even when singing at morning prayers, the bird has

been going in and out, apparently quite unconcerned, fetching worms for her chicks, or sometimes sitting at the open window watching the scholars, if not joining in their song. Her mate seldom, if ever, ventured into the room, but constantly brought insects to the window, or to a neighbouring tree, which she fetched away to her brood as fast as he supplied them. Monday (May 21st, 1860), being strong enough on the wing to be safely trusted out (though not able to fly up to the high window at which the dam entered), the young birds were caught and allowed to fly into the neighbouring bushes. Till then it had not been observed that there were more than four of them, but after four had been caught and sent out, the mother still kept flying in and about the room as if in search of something. At length a chirp was heard on the floor, and there a fifth chick was found, which was caught and put through the window to the rest, to the great and unmistakeable delight of the mother who flew to welcome it with joy, apparently proving beyond a doubt that the anxious parent could count her flock and miss one if absent. Since then she has returned to the room no more. It will be a matter of interest to see whether another year she will seek again the quarters where she has met with such hospitable treatment." Staffordshire Advertiser.

Unmolested.—Undisturbed; e. g., the enemy left us unmolested. Apparently.-Seemingly; e. g., he was apparently nine or ten years of age.

Unconcerned.-Unmoved; e. g., he looked as unconcerned as if he were a perfect stranger.

LONDON: PRINTED BY EDWARD STANFORD, 55, CHARING CROSS, S.W.

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