248 Summer Studies of Birds and Books CHAP. 



from the brook, is a deep and wide ditch, which all 

 this spring and summer has been almost dry ; and 

 at one point this ditch is hedged on both sides for 

 some distance by tall overgrown thorn -trees. On 

 Sunday afternoon, 21st May, I was standing close to 

 this hedge, looking at a Yellowhammers nest, when 

 I saw Billy for the last time. He was getting old 

 and rheumatic, and even on a fine afternoon he often 

 preferred to stay at home and guard the premises, 

 lying on a favourite spot in the garden whence he 

 could see and be seen from the village street, and 

 relieving his feelings with a short bark when any 

 one passed by. But this afternoon when I started 

 for a walk he jumped up at once and followed me. 



I was soon hot and tired on the glaring road, and 

 turning into the meadow I strolled along the stream, 

 while Billy pursued his customary line of duty by 

 keeping an eye on the water-voles. When I found 

 the nest, he was at my heels, scenting about in the 

 tussocky grass ; and since then I have never seen 

 him, alive or dead. For a few minutes I did not 

 miss him ; then all my whistling failed to bring the 

 little white figure into view from behind some dis- 

 tant hedge. But he knew so well how to take care 

 of himself that I went homewards without misgiving ; 

 and it was only after an hour or two, when still no 

 Billy burst into the room with his familiar salutations, 

 that I roused myself to make inquiries. He was 



