XL 



FEATHERED OUTCASTS. 



AMONG birds, as among men, there are certain pariahs 

 outcasts of society against whom every man's hand 

 seems to be turned, and every device is used by which 

 they may be lured to destruction. Sad indeed that it 

 should be so, and every lover of Nature deplores the 

 circumstance. We hold our brief in favour of these poor 

 feathered outcasts, and, in order to strengthen our case 

 for the defence, let us pay a visit to the criminals in 

 their haunts, and obtain from personal observation an 

 account of their crimes and the punishment their good 

 offices and the reward. 



The gamekeeper, that arch-slaughterer of so much 

 that is beautiful and useful among the feathered tribes, 

 is the principal witness for the prosecution. Let us 

 follow him unseen on his rounds this morning. He is 

 off betimes, his double-barrelled gun under his arm, his 

 pockets full of traps, and his dog trotting obediently 

 behind at his heels. He crosses the little paddock, and 



