THE AGE OF INNOCENCE; FOX CUBS AT PLAY. 



WOODLAND STORIES 



A Dialogue between a Cuckoo, a Fox, and a Rabbit 



By S. L. BENSUSAN 



"With Photographs by C. Reid. Wishaw 



HAD you been in the Heron Wood just 

 then you might have seen a bird 

 no bigger than a fieldfare winging 

 a curious hawk-like flight from the lone 

 elm in the lane. He passed high over 

 the beech trees that edged the cover, 

 swe])t down over the riot of alder and 

 briar, and hghted at last on the pink thorn 

 by the side of a patch of clear green 

 sward. There he swayed on the branch 

 he had chosen and listened for a moment. 

 High above him the lark's song fell in a 

 shower of golden notes, in the heart of 

 the greenery a thrush sang to his mate. 

 The bees contributed their quiet under- 

 song to the harmonies above and around 

 them, the spirit of April was brooding 



over the land. " Cuckoo ! " cried the 

 stranger gladly, " cuckoo ! " 



From a hole in the sandy patch of 

 ground that passed between the green 

 sward and the bushes a sharp httle face 

 peeped out, as though in answer to the 

 call, and a small fox cub, owner of staring 

 eyes that had not been open very long, 

 came into the open and sat down on his 

 haunches. He was followed slowly by 

 three sisters, his equals in size but not in 

 confidence. They remained close to their 

 earth, standing on all fours with heads 

 down, and looked for all the world like 

 balls of yellow-red fluff. 



" Now I have an audience," said the 

 Cuckoo, who was well pleased with 



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