A FEATHERED WASTER 147 



a chaffinch's nest of its fledgling young. 

 A weasel will do this, or a rat, and often a 

 crow. But an owl ! I was ashamed of my 

 own kin. 



I decided to advise the keeper to shoot 

 all Little Owls. 



Later in the day the little pirate seized 

 a thrush, nearly as big as himself, and 

 perching on it falcon-fashion, commenced 

 to tear at the breast. I love the thrushes, 

 for they do great good in the spring, 

 destroying snails and worms. Besides, they 

 voice with such ecstasy the joyful spirit of 

 spring returned to the cold earth ; in the 

 winter they fill the heart with hope for the 

 future. Most certainly the Little Owl 

 would be outlawed. 



During succeeding days I watched the 

 pair eating worms; hunting, stoat-wise, in 

 the ditch for baby rabbits; hovering over 

 the meadow, like kestrel hawks, for mice 

 and rats. Once I saw them catch a frog. 

 And I knew that later on the partridge 



