CHAPTER II 



SOME WELL-KNOWN FEATHERED OUTLAWS 



LET any one visit a "gamekeeper's larder," and he 

 will see at once what the heading of this chapter 

 means. 



There he will see tier upon tier of his feathered 

 favourites Hawks, Owls, Magpies, Crows, and Jays 

 in indiscriminate medley trophies of " Velveteen's " 

 skill, some wholly mummified by the elements, 

 others again killed but a day or even perhaps an 

 hour. Here day by day some mangled victim is 

 added to the already lengthy list ; and, worst of all, 

 the keeper is proud of his display, telling you dog- 

 gedly that a " 'awk's a 'awk," and therefore any bird 

 of this family must be injurious to his charges the 

 Pheasants and Partridges. 



But let us visit some of these outlaws in their 

 native fastness, and study some traits in their 

 respective characters. Facile princeps comes the 

 Sparrow-hawk. Large woods and plantations har- 

 bour this little firebrand among birds ; it is useless 

 to search for him in the detached spinneys and fields, 

 though certainly he pays them fleeting visits in quest 



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