FIRST YEARS OF SUCCESS. 127 



see, away he goes in undulating flight with a 

 wild, unearthly chuckle, his green and gold 

 plumage glancing in the sun, like the parrots 

 of far-distant lands. He will alight in some 

 open space upon an ant-hill, and lick up the 

 red insects with his tongue. In the fir-tree, 

 there, what a chattering and fluttering of gaily - 

 painted wings three or four jays are quarrel- 

 ling noisily. These beautiful birds are slain 

 by scores because of their hawk-like capacities 

 for destruction of game, and because of the 

 delicate colours of their feathers, which are 

 used in fly-fishing. There darts across the 

 glade a scared rabbit, straining each little limb 

 for speed, almost rushing against us, a greater 

 terror overcoming the less. In a moment 

 there darts forth from the dried grass a fierce 

 red-furred hunter, a very tiger to the rabbit 

 tribe, with back slightly arched, bounding 

 along, and sniffing the scent. Another, and 

 another, still a fourth a whole pack of stoats 

 (elder brothers of the smaller weasels). In 

 vain will the rabbit trust to his speed, these 

 untiring w r olves will overtake him. In vain 

 will he turn and double, their unerring noses 



