150 NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



gloved hand, though it brought welcome food. 

 For her, safe within the dusky mantle of an ivied 

 tree, the mystery of night will have no terror ; and 

 at dawn her clear sight, unchecked by the limits 

 of a window, can comprehend the landscape, what 

 time the drowsy owls retire and waking songbirds 

 hail the day. 



From a tree-top will this freed slave watch the 

 sunrise and mark the waking of life around, while 

 shadows are fading up the valley to the east ; and 

 when she spreads her wings on the cradling air, 

 range beyond range of hills will reveal their bold 

 outlines. 



From a sunny pasture below sounds the tinkle 

 of the sheep-bell, where the leader of a flock passes 

 from clump to clump of tufty grass. There also the 

 little meadow-vole is nibbling, and deems himself 

 concealed by the trellis of dead stems that shade 

 the glare of the sunshine. But from the sky an 

 eye of clearest brown has looked through the 

 screen. There is a momentary poise of the 

 pointed wings while an eager bird steadies herself 

 for one more searching glance. The wings are 

 closed, and down drops the bird to fulfil her 



