84 KRIDER'S SPORTING ANECDOTES. 



shock! And who so sure of his own sympa- 

 thies, as to make mock of the instinct, which, 

 until the end is wrought, mysteriously binds the 

 wing that has flown so far, to this charmed atom 

 of ground. 



Now, call off your dog and go your way, 

 humbled like a child before the smallest mystery 

 of creation, yet devising, as you distinctively 

 glance at the trees, what should be done with 

 the market shooter, who, for the sake of the extra 

 shilling which game brings out of season, would 

 kill this bird on her nest. 



Whether the female solely performs the duties 

 of incubation, or is assisted by the male, is not 

 for you to determine. Come to the spot at any 

 hour of the day which you please sit there 

 from sunrise until dark, you will always find 

 the same bird on the nest, and while you are on 

 the watch she will not stir. It is true the mark- 

 ings of both sexes are the same, with a very tri- 

 fling difference, and both birds have the same 

 peculiar and somewhat bizarre look, imparted by 

 the long bill, the large and singularly shaped 

 skull, and the brilliant black eyes set high and 

 far back in the head. Nevertheless, you may 

 readily distinguish the sex by the greater size of 

 the bird before you, the superior length of the 



