70 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



I could relate many instances of its almost incre- 

 dible voracity wliich have come under my notice, 

 but let one suffice. It occurred in the summer of 

 1842, as I find by reference to my journal for that 

 year, from which the following details are literally 

 transcribed. I should premise that I was at that 

 time living in the weald, about six miles to the 

 north-east of Pet worth, and that I had taken con- 

 siderable pains to increase the number of pheasants 

 in the wild, picturesque hangers and woods with 

 wliich my residence v/as surrounded, and where, 

 when once established, they become really ferce 

 naturd, finding abundance of insect-food during 

 the summer and quantities of acorns in the autumn 

 and winter, and affording an attractive object of 

 pursuit to those who prefer wild sport and hard 

 fagging to assisting at the slaughter of the barley- 

 fed victims of a battue. I Vv^as endeavouring, as 

 I said, to encourage this species of game in my 

 neighbourhood, having due regard at the same 

 time to the welfare of my friends the kestrel and 

 the jay, much to the disgust of my keeper, who 

 made his appearance one morning in a state of 

 considerable excitement, his countenance pre- 

 senting an expression of horror and indignation, 



where the sparrowhawk is rare m the former season, 

 but where the males abound, as I have shown, during 

 the latter. 



