BIRDS IN A VILLAGE 23 



path; also a notice on a board that the wood was 

 strictly private and trespassers would be prose- 

 cuted. The villagers met in force at the institute 

 and the inn that evening, and after discussing the 

 matter over their ale, they armed themselves with 

 axes and went in a body and demolished the bar- 

 rier. 



The owner was disgusted, but took no action. 

 "This," he said, "is their gratitude"; and from 

 that day he ceased to subscribe to the local chari- 

 ties or take his walks in the village. He had 

 given the institute, and so could not pull it down 

 nor prevent them from using it. 



It was refreshing to hear that the Badgers had 

 shown a proper spirit in the matter, and I was 

 grateful to them for having kept the right-of-way, 

 as on most days I spent several hours in the beau- 

 tiful woods. 



To return to the jay. In spite of the keeper's 

 persecution, I knew that he was there; every 

 morning when I got up to look out of the window 

 between four and five o'clock, I heard from some 

 quarter of the village that curious subdued, but 

 far-reaching, scolding note he is accustomed to 

 utter when his suspicions have been aroused. 



