2 WILD NATURE'S WAYS. 



behaviour of nearly all wild creatures is one thing 

 when they know they are being watched, and 

 quite another when they are not aware of the 

 fact. Under the first condition, suspicion and 

 anxiety are written large in every action, whereas 

 under the second, confidence and peace of mind 

 illuminate each movement and expression. 



I have learnt some of the sweetest secrets of 

 the sod by transfiguring myself into a gramini- 

 vorous animal, rock, tree, or other equally in- 

 noxious object. 



As the Greeks of old entered Troy in a wooden 

 horse, it occurred to me one day that by the 

 employment of similar stealthy means I might 

 perhaps enter some of the secrets of the bird 

 world. I therefore went straightway to a butcher 



and requested him 

 to buy the largest 

 fat ox he could lay 

 his hands upon, skin 

 it carefully, and send 

 the hide to my old 

 friend, Mr. Rowland 

 Ward, of Piccadilly, 

 who stuffed it so 

 well that during its 

 palmy days before 

 it had been blown 

 over and otherwise 



■HI 



SHOULDERING THE 

 IMITATION OX. 



