168 TEE OPEN ATE. 



matters, when it occurred to ine, before I could finish 

 the step I had taken, so quick is thought, that the 

 eye was not large enough to be that of a rabbit. 

 I stopped; the black glittering eye had gone the 

 creature had lowered its neck, but immediately 

 noticing that I was looking in that direction, it 

 cautiously raised itself a little, and I saw at once 

 that the eye was the eye of a bird. This I knew 

 first by its size, and next by its position in relation 

 to the head, which was invisible for had it been 

 a rabbit or hare, its ears would have projected. 

 The moment after, the eye itself confirmed this 

 the nictitating membrane was rapidly drawn over 

 it, and as rapidly removed. This membrane is the 

 distinguishing mark of a bird's eye. But what bird ? 

 Although I was within two yards, I could not even 

 see its head, nothing but the glittering eyeball, on 

 which the light of the sun glinted. The sunbeams 

 came over my shoulder straight into the bird's face. 



Without moving which I did not wish to do, as it 

 would disturb the bird I could not see its plumage ; 

 the bramble spray in front, the spurge behind, and 

 the bleached grasses at the side, perfectly concealed 

 it. Only two birds I considered would be likely to 

 squat and remain quiescent like this partridge or 

 pheasant ; but I could not contrive to view the least 

 portion of the neck. A moment afterwards the eye 

 came up again, and the bird slightly moved its head, 

 when I saw its beak, and knew it was a pheasant 

 immediately. I then stepped forward almost on 

 the bird and a young pheasant rose, and flew 

 between the tree-trunks to a deep dry watercourse, 



