CHAPTER II 



SOME WELL-KNOWN FEATHERED OUTLAWS 



Let any one visit a " gamekeeper's larder," and he 

 will see at once what the heading of this chapter 

 means. 



There he will see tier upon tier of his feathered 

 favourites — Hawks, Owls, Magpies, Crows, and Jays 

 in indiscriminate medley — trophies of " Velveteen's " 

 skill, some wholly mummified by the elements, 

 others again killed but a day or even perhaps an 

 hour. Here day by day some mangled victim is 

 added to the already lengthy list ; and, worst of all, 

 the keeper is proud of his display, telling you dog- 

 gedly that a " 'awk's a 'awk," and therefore any bird 

 of this family must be injurious to his charges — the 

 Pheasants and Partridges. 



But let us visit some of these outlaws in their 

 native fastness, and study some traits in their 

 respective characters. Facile princcps comes the 

 Sparrow-hawk. Large woods and plantations har- 

 bour this little firebrand among birds ; it is useless 

 to search for him in the detached spinneys and fields, 

 though certainly he pays them fleeting visits in quest 



