HAWK NOTES 49 



deep. For half a century and more it has 

 been repaired every spring. Years ago I 

 took the three eggs and lay for a long time 

 in the nest, trembling with joy. The old 

 birds were frightened to come near. I still 

 have those eggs. 



The buzzards nested there this year, but 

 I could not climb up. The nest was at a 

 terrible height. Underneath were hundreds 

 of rabbits' skulls, rats' tails, beetle skins, 

 and the feathers of small birds. Perhaps 

 in the years to come when I go there I 

 shall be terrified to see an eager face looking 

 over the nest, and a shrill, triumphant voice 

 exclaiming, " I say, father, I've got three 

 eggs. What a bit of luck! " 



