Jan, 17—Walked this morning through drizzling rain and yet enjoyed it: with ears attuned to the sounds of ancient China T smiled as 1 walked through the cobbled main street of a litle town for there was. silence where my ear would have been delighted with the "click-clack" of the old-fashioned "Ting"ah" (meaning the grotesque leather clogs with heavy studs called pin-shoes). Only my old friend Grandma and her loyal spouse now dare to wear such things all the rest are either barefoot or wearing what we call "rubbers"
(Tao"ah), Slogging through slippery country T noted how the farmers take advantage of the semi-dry creckbeds to plant tines of bamboos (with eaves complete) which mark their family boundaries....sometimes {wo or three lines in the same creek oF lagoon representing the furrows of the land—it it did not happen to be under water. Thinking of such things found myself being followed by two young. countrymen. who. being interested in my appearance, - were shouting remarks to one another as hey walked in Indian fle:—No. 1 This foreigner must be a poor man—~ {S look at his torn coat (Be-z0ng)—Note: 1 admit I am never very well Gressed), No. 2: Look at his trousers (Ku-tzu) which are all muddy! No, Many foreigners are now poor and dirty—not like Chinese." Just then I happened to cross a stone bridge on which my spiked" shoes clattered palsily; then:—No. 1: Listen to thal! These foreigners have taken to weuing Chinese "pin-shoos"! Heaven rest the soul of my shoemaker in. Burlington Arcade who prides himself on hiis steel-spiked golf shoes. There can really be no doubt that everything was first Invented in China, Jan, 21—It has always been a matter of great interest to me to try and find out where the dividing line between instinct and thought can be placed with regard to the actions of birds: in particular it is positively fascinating to follow this study. In the ease of really clever. birds such as Magpies. Take the case of the birds which are now building the, Sonora! Government, It ts, there ore, "Sitstactory 0 find that the people ad Dar are, Desiong. Yo make released liso of the aciilice afforded, During the year 1078-70, tne number of Keiers and papers (ranenitied amount upwardy of 30,00 00, Former Of nearly 1,000,000, me Ghat of" the your Before 3-14)
Foose mur "Nonru-Cunsa Darcy News," or January 26, 1877
Two chato coolles at wey no commie. amt troke of Bust: Capt. Claneny of the' steamatip: Danube St" appears. that Seayepan a ae he tae a was to bein mith yf the "bucket having been "taken off. their neWw"tiést in' my garden, Sticks of all shapes and sizes are brought and many of these have to be "worked" to give them the right shape for the structure: Maggie herself is apparently the best worker for stich delicate operations, while Father docs the majority of the fetching and carrying (though T admit he bit of a slacker at times and has {o be brought to his senses by a good rating from the weaker vessel): in many cases Maggie takes, the sticks tup {0 the chimney-pots of my house and, using the coping as an anvil, knocks them into shape—then flies to the nest with them; but in other eases when she Is using willow-twigs of awkward shape, she lays them in the bird-bath and works them under watér—just as basket-makers do in England. "Now, T admit that many fof these' birds' actions are purely Me Sstinctive and show no. traces of thought—such as the building of unnecessary nests and making dumps of twigs which are never used—but I cannot believe that the working of willow twigs under water is anything but Pure thought based experience. "A neighbour of mine has even suggested that the laying of the other twigs on. the chimney-tops (which process he also. watches) is to get the benefit of the heat. This may be so, But T also notice that when dirt and mud have to be fetched From a distance for the ning It Is always Father who is sent to do the work—and Tam perfectly sure that ig not instinct, Walking on these frosty before the sun Is properly up it Is interesting. to note the reac-Hons of all animal Rife to the cold.
The Chinese human huddies up his shoulders, puts his hands up his Sleeves and slouches along as it he were half. paralyzed: the European throws out his" chest, swings his arn and (es (0 Toolt as it he liked don't pretend to know which is the bette: method, but the reactions of nearly all animals may be divided Into those two classes. Horses. and ponies (even though Chinese) seem to prefer the European method, dance on their toes and act generally: fas if they Just been told that their father was a Derby winner. Dogs, ike birds, differ very much In their actions according to. their kind; but notice that well-bred dogs, such a5 wire-haired terriers, act very much Ike the ponies—or' in some cages, mote like rocking-horses out for a canter. Pheasants roost on the ground (or warmth) during" very" cold weather and so fall an easy prey to the poacher's nets: many "small birds follow' their example and, the early hours, half-dazed Buntings, Pipite and Larks start up in alarming. fashion as you walk over rut and furrow. 'Magpies som to prefer the Chinese method...huddle up in the wees or woddie round on the ground when feeding....and even forget to play at building' their beloved nests Most "European" of all the birds are the Spoclacled Laughing Thrushes which go about in bands in winter: they obviously say to one another, "It's cold—Iet's play follow-my-leader to get warm'—and off they 0 across country, screaming squabbling and Taughing tafter their own fashion) like schoolboys returning for the holidays. You may hear them any morning now a mile away.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.