230 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE. 



under my feet. I looked down ; there were two ; 

 and I thought a hawk had carried off the third, and 

 perhaps killed the mother. I saw the bird light, as 

 hawks very often do, especially in a close wood, 

 when they have just caught their prey, and are 

 impatient to satisfy their appetite. I sprang down 

 the bank, determined, if I could not save the little 

 victim, to spoil the hawk's breakfast. I flushed the 

 bird so suddenly, that, after a low flight of only 

 a few yards, it dropped what it was carrying, and 

 instantly lighted not half-a-dozen paces distant. I 

 ran to pick up the mangled prey, when to my 

 surprise I found a vigorous little Woodcock running 

 about as nimble and active as its madre could wish. 

 I looked for the hawk, but in his stead saw the old 

 Woodcock, in great consternation, trailing her wings 

 as if wounded, and busy to attract my notice. As 

 soon as I followed she led me away, hirpling and 

 halting like an ' old wife,' taking little flights, which 

 became longer as she drew me farther ; till at last, 

 thinking she had sufficiently succeeded, she took 

 a turn down the brae, rose over the trees, and 

 wheeling back dropped on the spot where she had 

 left her charge. I gave her a little time to find 



