BIRDS OF PREY 171 



gone an' listed for a sodger, if she don't see me afore 

 that takes place.' 



' They've bin at that sand an' they've scuffled like 

 mad in it, an' made it fly all over the place ; so that 

 'un warn't fur out o' his reck'ning. Don't ye think 

 ye'd better let that hare have a look at 'em now ? ' 



' One o' them owls, nor two on 'em for that matter, 

 wun't kill him ; but here goes, 'twill soon be proved 

 one way or t'other.' 



Both were on the alert as the hare dashed from 

 one side to the other. The female pounced on him 

 from her perch and killed him, and the pair ate him 

 between them. 



Then their keeper chaffed the gamekeeper right 

 well. ' Are ye goin' to wait and see master ? ' he 

 finished up with. 



' No, I ain't time, for the pheasant coops wants 

 lookin' arter ; ye kin tell him all about that 'ere go 

 yourself.' 



Exit gamekeeper. 



That splendid bird, the snowy owl, only visits 

 England when driven by stress of weather. At one 

 time he was a native of the Orkney and Shetland 

 Islands. Adult birds, and young ones that had 

 barely left the nest, were frequently met with in past 

 times ; I am not prepared to say what may be the 



