276 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



these great woods for me, for I am always sadly 

 conscious of it: miles on miles of wood, millions of 

 ancient noble trees, a haunt of little dicky-birds and 

 tame pheasants bred and fed for the autumn shoot. 

 Also the keeper laying his traps for little mousing 

 weasels, or patiently waiting in hiding among the 

 undergrowth to send a charge of shot through a rare 

 kestrel's nest when the mother-bird comes back to 

 feed and warm her young. 



