222 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



wings and flies away, so the young telagallus, when 

 it leaves the egg, is sufficiently perfect to be able to 

 act independently." 



During certain atmospheric conditions myriads of 

 insects are hatched which constitute the food of our 

 summer birds. The family of shrikes or butcher- 

 birds are insect feeders, and, knowing their supply 

 is liable to failure, they lay up a store when winged 

 life is abundant. A black- thorn constitutes their 

 shambles, and here are impaled various forms of 

 animal life to serve against impending cold or in- 

 constant insects. The blue-winged jay is thrifty 

 in somewhat the same fashion, as is the nuthatch, 

 magpie and raven. The woodcock, reasoning, 

 conveys its young out of harm's reach, a trait 

 practised by the grebe and some few other birds. 

 Mention of the raven brings to mind a little act of 

 intelligence witnessed in a semi- wild bird. Ralph 

 was one day wandering along the garden path, 

 when a chain which trailed behind caught fast 

 among the stones; he retraced his steps to the length 

 of his tether, turned his knowing head from side to 

 side, and then deliberately undid the fastening 

 with his bill. Small birds fly to the protection of 

 human beings when pursued by hawks, as do 

 hares when hard pressed by hounds. An anecdote 

 is related of a fox which was seen carrying a heavy 

 duck across a field, but it failed to leap the stone 



