ii8 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



binocular. There was, I thought, a good chance 

 of its being able to rear its young, unless the damp 

 proved injurious, as there was no dog or cat at 

 the cottage, and there were no carrion crows or 

 sparrow-hawks at that spot. One morning about 

 five o'clock on going out I spied a fox-terrier, a 

 poaching dog from the neighbouring village, rush- 

 ing about in an excited state a hundred yards or 

 so below the cottage. He had scented the birds, 

 and presently up rose the hen from the tall grass 

 with a mighty noise, then flopping down she be- 

 gan beating her wings and struggling over the 

 grass, uttering the most agonizing screams, the 

 dog after her, frantically grabbing at her tail. I 

 feared that he would catch her, and seizing a 

 stick flew down to the rescue, yelling at the dog, 

 but he was too excited to obey or even hear me. 

 At length, thanks to the devious course taken 

 by the bird, I got near enough to get in a good 

 blow on the dog's back. He winced and weni 

 on as furiously as ever, and then I got in another 

 blow so well delivered that the rascal yelled, and 

 turning fled back to the village. Hot and panting 

 from my exertions, I stood still, but sooner still 

 the pheasant had pulled herself up and stood 



