162 WILD NATURE'S WAYS. 



supply of food for her chicks, as May flies were 

 abundant, and greatly relished. 



Between industrious bouts of feeding she would 

 frequently creep into her little domed house, and 

 take a rest, but with a feeling akin to that of 

 being in " the valley of the shadow of death/' I 

 drove her forth again and again to a resumption 

 of her labours and the affording of photographic 

 opportunities. Several times she utterly refused 

 to go to her favourite hazel bush in search of 

 insects, and either flew straight back to her nest 

 or alighted for a brief moment on my twig. She 

 grew so bold that on one or two occasions, when 

 I moved my hand stealthily towards her to see 

 how near she would allow me to approach before 

 stirring, she actually pecked at my fingers, struck 

 with her wings, and hissed like a little fury. 



Up to this time the bull had neither put in 

 an appearance nor made himself heard, although 

 I knew he was in the small pasture ; but presently 

 his terrible voice began to make the little ghyll 

 rin^, and, fearing he would soon discover me, 

 either by sight or scent, I drew my revolver, 

 and made the last two or three exposures in the 

 best light I had had during the day, with the air- 

 ball of the camera in my left hand and the weapon 

 of death in my right. 



Jackdaws, although to the casual observer 

 birds of the church steeple and ruined tower, are 



