BIOGRAPHY. 



61 



The poachers were completely deceived, and Waterton 

 used to enjoy the reports of their guns, knowing that they 

 were only wasting their shot upon the wooden images, 



WOODEN PHEASANT IN TREE. 



while the real birds were comfortably asleep under 

 his eye. 



If the reader will refer to the illustration on page 36, 

 he will see that on the right hand, and near the poplar, is 

 a rather curious circular object. This represents the 

 pheasant fortress in question, and, although the small size 

 prohibits any detail, the general shape and appearance are 

 sufficiently shown. It will also be seen how close to the 

 house is the fortress, so as to be under the master's eye. 



He made several more of these ingenious refuges, of 

 which other birds besides the pheasants took full ad- 

 vantage. 



There was not a tree in the park that Waterton did not 

 know, and, if the smallest damage were done, he would 

 be sure to find it out. One day I found the keeper much 

 disturbed, having discovered some shot in a tree trunk, 

 and being quite sure that he would be called to account 



