CHAP. xiii. CROWS, HARES, AND RABBITS. 275 



the effect of stupifying the creature. Sometimes 

 they felled it to the ground. We eventually 

 lost sight of the crows, but doubtless they would at 

 last kill and devour the hare. I remember, while 

 out on the hills at Boyndie, witnessing another 

 though a less daring attack. Concealed amongst some 

 trees and bushes, waiting for a Cuckoo which I ex- 

 pected to pass, I observed a half-grown rabbit emerge 

 from some whins, and begin to frolic about close by. 

 Presently down pops a Hoodie, and approaches the 

 rabbit, whisking, prancing, and jumping. He seemed 

 to be most friendly, courteous, and humoursome to 

 the little rabbit. All of a sudden, however, as if he 

 meant to finish the joke with a ride, he mounts the 

 back of the rabbit. Up springs the latter, and away 

 he runs. But short was his race. A few sturdy blows 

 about the head, from the bill of the crow, laid him 

 dead in a few seconds." 



By the year 1858 Edward had accumulated 

 another splendid collection. It was his third, and pro- 

 bably his best. The preserved birds were in splendid 

 order. Most of them were in their natural condition 

 flying, or fluttering, pecking or feeding, with their 

 nests, their eggs, and sometimes their young. He had 

 also a large collection of insects including many 

 rare beetles, together with numerous Fishes, Crus- 

 taceans, Zoophytes, Molluscs, Fossils, and Plants. 



Although Edward still continued his midnight ex- 

 plorations, he felt that he must soon give them up. 



