of tbe 1Rofc, IRffle, ant> (Bun 



When they crow the only effect it has on the warrior 

 is, to make him turn his head a little on one side, to 

 look out at the corner of his eye, as if he would say with 

 the Frenchman, ' Est-il pour de rire^ oupour de bon ? ' A 

 pheasant, a partridge, or a hare occasionally joins the 

 various groups, and Baron, the deer-dog, will sometimes 

 walk through them all, without causing the slightest 

 terror or commotion, and, thumped at by the hinder-leg 

 of some of the rabbits, in the midst of them claim a 

 quiet corner in the sun. By my side, and watching my 

 pen as it moves, sit two goldfinches, trying to sing down 

 any slight scratching it may make on the paper ; and 

 at my foot a merry starling, who at times in a season 

 is slightly indisposed, but as invariably cured by the 

 administration of a spider. All these creatures know 

 me ; and to make amends for the war and chase that 

 I carry into other localities I try to make my lawn and 

 premises a scene of amity and peace. 



There is a general move among the living things from 

 Dingle down to the rabbits. The noise of the drawing- 

 room window opening from the ground is heard, and 

 a run is made by the tamer creatures to their mistress 

 for some food ; the wilder ones sit up and listen, and 

 some draw near to pick up such part of the fare as may 

 be carried by others to a little distance. To me all this 

 is very beautiful ; and I feel, and am happy in the idea, 

 that when the muscle and lithe o' limb have left me, 

 and age comes on, I can sit among Heaven's creatures 

 in passive admiration and pursue my favourite study, 

 which never palls the study of animate and inanimate 



