212 Wild Life in a Southern County 



blow on the head with the heavy end of the walking-stick, 

 and so spare him the prolonged sense of death. A hundred 

 yards further is a gate, and beyond that an arable field. On 

 coming near the gate a hawk glides swiftly downwards over 

 the hedge that there joins the forest. A cloud of sparrows 

 instantly rise from the stubble, and fly chirping in terror 

 to the hedge for shelter ; but one is too late, the hawk has 

 him in his talons. Yonder is a row of wheat ricks, the 

 fresh straw with which they have just been covered con- 

 trasting with the brown thatch of the farmhouse in the 

 hollow. There a refreshing glass of ale is forthcoming, 

 and the way is pointed out. 



