140 Among the Birds in Noi'thern Shires. 



others containing young Hawks and Magpies which 

 we have saved by a fictitious report to the expectant 

 keeper and his murdering band below. In any case 

 the slaughter at the close of the day was sad enough ; 

 and as the capacious game-bags were emptied, and 

 the Jays and Magpies and Hawks, with perhaps 

 an odd Nightjar or an Owl — beautiful creatures 

 each one of them, and some of the fairest avine 

 ornaments our woodlands can boast — were turned 

 out into a heap by the kennel door, we ceased to 

 wonder why such species in not a few localities exist 

 as names or traditions only. Apart from any utili- 

 tarian motive that should prompt their preservation 

 — and mind, some of these birds are perfectly harm- 

 less or of downright service to man — surely on 

 aesthetic grounds a universal plea should be raised 

 for their protection, and such brutal slaughter staid 

 once and for ever. 



As we previously remarked, the Jay is not so 

 universally distributed as the Magpie; it loves 

 cover, and delights in such woods where the under- 

 growth of hazel is dense and where clumps of holly- 

 trees abound. It is also fond of the large shrubberies 

 and copses, especially such as adjoin parks and well- 

 timbered farm lands. We had Jays nesting more 

 or less commonly close to our residence, in the 

 shrubbery attached to Meersbrook Park — a famous 

 spot for birds five-and-twenty years ago, before the 



