The male Sandwich Bernicle, although so much smaller than the common Gander, displays towards him, if allowed to join his family party, an implacable and unceasing enmity, jealousy, or aversion, which is exhibited by a continued course of persecution and annoyance, rather than by any violent and decisive attack. This offensive conduct is returned, though with somewhat less pertinacity, by the Gander, who seems as if he would be heartily glad to be relieved from the endless pushes, feather pluckings, and grinning insults (if a bird can grin) of the swarthy foreign dwarf. The one stares with his bright black eyes; opens his red lined mouth to its utmost gape, sticking out his tongue; contorts his fleecy little neck into snake-like curves, and creaks defiance with such feeble voice as he has; for it more resembles the noise of a long unused wheelbarrow, or of a dilapidated pump-handle, than the sound emitted by any English living creature. He seems inclined to patronise the Goslings, though it is doubtful whether he would pay the slightest polite attention to the Geese but the Gander he worries from morning till night, and perhaps all night long too, if he has the opportunity. He is careless of being occasionally "floored" by his more weighty adversary, and of having his shoulders half-stripped of feathers by the rebuffetings he so well deserves; and it would thus appear impossible that the two species should live amicably together, and increase their kind, in the same inclosure.

:

Birds in their little nests agree [Cuckoos excepted];

And 't is a shameful sight

That Gander should with Gander be

So much inclined to fight.

CHAP. XIII.J

A PARALLEL.

433

It is neither size nor strength exactly which gives the supremacy in these struggles, but unyieldingness. Chi dura vince, says the Italian proverb. Constant dropping will wear out the most adamantine heart of the bravest Gander; the everlasting nuisance grows to be insupportable; and it is thus that, without actual slaughter committed, one species of bird or beast will succeed in dislodging another from its rightful locality. Thus the Norway Rat seems likely to exterminate the old black British kind; the Red-legged Guernsey Partridge would, if permitted, establish itself on the grounds of the genuine gray old-fashioned sort; and the Silver Pheasant would act the same part, where it had the chance, towards the established species of our preserves. A parallel may be found in human life. The meaning of most speech uttered by the arrogant, the overbearing, and the grasping, is, "Depart; make room for me; emigrate! You see how crowded we are; seek space for yourself elsewhere; this place is mine, I cannot share it with you; seek yours in some other spot, where I care not, or with what success, that is your affair, my foot is planted here!" So the weaker body yields to the collision of the more persevering and powerful the poor rolling stone goes on, too often gathering no moss, but is battered from pillar to post, drifted from shoal to rapid, till it sinks at last into some quiet earthy bed, to be rolled to and fro and ground to dust no longer. A little vis inertia, or immovability, or spirit of resistance to the assumptions of impudence, is now and then quite necessary for selfpreservation, and, as a consequence, for the preservation of those dependent on us. Squeezeableness is not a fortunate quality to be gifted with.

FF

May it not be suspected that some species of the brute creation have thus been driven into domestication

by their stronger comrades, and have taken refuge under the protection of Man, to escape the persecutions of their more nearly allied kindred, just as the Hare and the Dove have been known to throw themselves into our very arms, to avoid immediate death from the Hound and the Falcon ?

The diet of the Sandwich Bernicle resembles that of its near relatives in every respect, i. e. grain and herbage. I have observed no sign of its eating worms or insects at any time. The male weighs 4 lbs. Bill black; irides dark brown; pupil black. Front of head black, extending behind the eye, and in a stripe down the back of the neck. Fore part of neck fawn colour, down to its junction with the body, where it is terminated by a

CHAP. XIII.]

PLUMAGE AND INCREASE.

435

dark ring. Feathers of neck woolly, and clustered in tufts. Quill feathers blackish gray, darker towards the tips. Feathers of back and scapulars gray, each one having a dirty white band at the tip, giving somewhat of a barred character to the plumage. Belly dirty gray. A blunt spur at the elbow-joint. Tail black; under tail-coverts and parts about the vent pure white. Legs and feet black, with the webs much cut out. The female quite resembles the male, but is smaller; her weight is four pounds. They never have large nests, sometimes in this country sitting on as few as two eggs. The gosling is smoke-cloured. For the opportunity of figuring the one on the opposite page I am indebted to the Earl of Derby.

CHAPTER XIV.

CONCLUDING DIALOGUE.-THE NIGHTINGALE,

INTERLOCUTORS: CAMBRIAN, EAST-ANGLIAN, BIRD-CATCHER.

A country walk.-Local curiosities.-An agreeable surprise.-Limits of the Nightingale's migrations.-Topographical caprice.-The ravisher of Nightingales. Particulars of capture.-Subsequent management.-Touching song and wakefulness of the bird.-Antique notions.-Effects of a Nightingale diet.Enter bird-catcher.-Rural simplicity.-Diamond cut diamond.-The bird is caught.-Amount of its accomplishments.-Modes of causing their exhibition. -Au revoir.

CAMBRIAN. HOW I do enjoy this ramble! It is the very day for a walk. The delicate freshness of the green leaves is a most luxurious contrast to the naked twigs that for so long have been laden only with hoarfrost and snow-flakes. It is cheering to see the spring flowers once more spread out upon that shady bankthe lovely mixture of primroses and dog-violets-telling us, by signs on earth, how far the sun has advanced through the signs of the zodiac. The air is bright here, and clear; but I think it is colder, I had almost said keener, than we should feel it, if you were at this moment paying me a visit, and we were taking a stroll together on our Welsh coast, instead of through an inland Norfolk lane.

EAST-ANGLIAN. You expected such a climate when you came, did you not? I hope, too, you remembered it in packing your portmanteau, and included winter flannels as well as clean shirts in your travelling wardrobe. When the wind blows direct from the north, we have it genuine as imported; for there is not a bit of