ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 117 



valley ; again, flying steadily up hill, hunting every 

 yard of ground and sailing parallel to the ascent, he 

 repeated his cry more plaintively at shorter intervals, 

 and was evidently perplexed and dismayed at receiving 

 no acknowledgment or reply from his now defunct 

 spouse. I at once felt quite decided that their nest 

 must exist somewhere upon the border of the brae. 

 Revolving in my brain the proceedings of the last few 

 minutes, I determined to reconnoitre the ground where 

 I last observed the female bird had chosen to alight. 

 While in the act of making to the spot a snake-like 

 hissing sound arrested my further progress, and, 

 looking down in tremulous uncertainty, a perfect 

 picture, so to speak, transfixed me with delight. 



Elegantly grouped, with wings extended and eyelets 

 flashing with the fire of frightened scorn, like infantine 

 avenging satyrs guarding the person of the young 

 Endymion, four young birds, almost able to fly, of 

 various ages and consequent stages of imperfect 

 plumage, with one addled egg, rested upon the level 

 platform of their rush-built nest. After the excitement 

 of the preceding moments, and absorbed with the 

 effective picturesqueness of the sight, I gazed with 

 something of that trance of pleasure which would 

 undoubtedly have swayed a painter's breast. 



The male bird, unable any longer to control his 

 emotions, now approached within range, and feeling that 

 I had already commenced a work of destruction that 



