282 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



these great woods for me, for I am always sadly con- 

 scious 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. 



