FAMILY OF POACHERS. 71 



family we shall lose several of our tame birds. 

 He observed the direction in which the hawk flew 

 with its prey, and I have therefore recommended 

 him to search the woods carefully in that quarter 

 for the nest, and to keep a sharp look-out near 

 the coops in the early morning, at which time the 

 previous attacks appear to have been made. I 

 regret much that an engagement at a distance, 

 compelling me to be absent from home for two 

 days, will prevent me from taking a personal share 

 in these operations. 



"June 26. Returned home yesterday evening; 

 and the first object that met my eyes on driving 

 up to the hall door was a row of dead sparrow- 

 hawks, seven in number, which D. had impaled, 

 each upon its own peculiar stick, with its wings 

 spread and tail expanded, as if to make the most 

 of it : there were the Amazonian old female, and 

 the little cock, with his dark back and red breast, 

 and five immature birds, some of them larger than 

 the latter. 



" It was not long before Denyer made his ap- 

 pearance with a game-bag in his hand, and gave 

 the following account of his successful expedi- 

 tion : 



"Having, with the assistance of Puttock the 

 gardener and a bird-nesting lad, carefully examin- 

 ed the great wood of Dunhurst, in which direction 



