166 



COLLECTOR'S RAMBLES 



The next bird was larger than the others, and it 

 took me so long that my talkative friend below must 

 have fancied I had finished; or, perhaps, he had for- 

 gotten all about it. He was still washing harness, his 

 back turned toward me, when, at last, the body landed 

 with a thump, in the yard. He jumped as if electrified, 

 looked at the bundle of flesh and paper, and groaned, 



BIRD BODY. 



" O Lord, that's a disgustin' sight ! Look a 'ere, 

 I ain't paid to 'eave bloody corpses all my time. I 

 wouldn't take the job if you'd give it to me, and I'll 

 be 'anged if I'll touch that till you get through; so, 

 put um all down in a pile, and let me know when 

 you've got 'im all cut hup." 



Soon after this an older man came out of the stable, 

 pushing a cab ahead of him, upon which the two set to 

 work with water and sponges. By this time I had 

 finished my last bird, and watching my chance, when 



