CHAPTER XIV 



SOMETHING PRETTY IN A GLASS CASE 



IT was said by a Norfolk naturalist more than three- 

 quarters of a century ago, that the desire to possess 

 " something pretty in a glass case " caused the 

 killing of very many birds, especially of such as were 

 rare and beautiful, which if allowed to exist in our 

 country would maintain the species and be a constant 

 source of pleasure to all who beheld them. For who, 

 walking by a riverside, does not experience a thrill of 

 delight at the sudden appearance in the field of vision 

 of that living jewel, the shining blue kingfisher ! 

 This is one of the favourites of all who desire to have 

 something pretty in a glass case in the cottage 

 parlour in room of the long-vanished pyramid of 

 wax flowers and fruit. It is, however, not only 

 the common people, the cottager and the village 

 publican who desire to possess such ornaments. You 

 see them also in baronial halls. Many a time on 

 visiting a great house the first thing the owner has 

 drawn my attention to has been his stuffed birds in 

 a glass case : but in the great houses the peregrine, 



