1 62 Alexander Goodman More. 



Carrion Crows, Starlings, Coots, Waterhens, Mallards, 

 Pochards, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Ducks, and Canada Geese, 

 so unsuspicious of danger that you would fancy the place 

 belonged to them." He was to be prepared for " primitive 

 hours," and was promised " a well-aired bed and a hearty 

 welcome." " You see how free and easy your interesting 

 letter has made me. Pray, do come ; you will not repent 

 of your trouble." 



From Mr. Newbould's he wrote, suggesting going 

 thence to Walton Hall on the following Sunday (Decem- 

 ber 1 5th). Mr. Waterton replied : 



MY DEAR SIR, You ask for one line in answer to your favour 

 received this morning. I send you one word Come. Very truly yours, 



CHARLES WATERTON. 



He reached Walton Hall on Sunday evening at 6 

 o'clock. It was moonlight, and the features of " the large 

 square mansion " from without left an unfading picture on 

 his memory. But within, Waterton's " clear grey wrinkled 

 face," "kindly welcome," "courtesy," and "wonderful 

 vigour of mind," were, above all, impressions never to be 

 forgotten. That evening, as they sat by a roaring fire,, 

 they chatted of the " destruction of birds " a subject on 

 which " Hesperus" and the " Wanderer " were well quali- 

 fied to fraternise and of M. Du Chaillu's gorilla-stories, 

 and "the national calamity of yesterday, the death of 

 Prince Albert." Waterton went early to bed, but his 

 guest, before following the wholesome example, took a 

 moonlight walk by himself round the old Hall. 



The next two days were given up to a full enjoyment 

 of the charms of Walton Hall. Breakfasting in the grey 

 of the winter morning, they watched the Heron at his fish- 

 ing and the Coots taking their early splash, and, to con- 

 firm his disputed statement that " Carrion Crows roost in 

 companies of thirty to forty birds in one of the woods at 

 Walton Hall, Mr. W. pointed them out to me as they 

 were leaving their shelter in the morning." This, by the 

 way, was a circumstance to which he often afterwards 

 referred. As for the place, it was classic ground to him 



