A WOOD BY THE SEA 65 



with of a pheasant being kept as a household pet, 

 and was related to me by my old friend the late Dr. 

 Cunninghame Geikie, of Bournemouth, author of 

 religious books. The bird was a handsome cock, 

 owned by a lady of that place, who kept it for many 

 years — he said nineteen, but he may have been mistaken 

 about the time. The main thing was his disposition, 

 his affection for his people and the fine courage he dis- 

 played in protecting them. His zeal in looking after 

 them was at times inconvenient. He was particularly 

 attached to his mistress, and liked to attend her on her 

 walks, and made himself her guardian. But he was 

 distrustful of strangers, and when she was at home 

 he would keep watch, and if he saw a visitor approach- 

 ing the house — ^some person he did not know — he would 

 boldly sally forth to meet and order him off the 

 premises with suitable threatening gestures, which if 

 not quickly obeyed would be followed by a brisk 

 attack, the blows, with spurs, being aimed at the 

 intruder's legs. 



