44 BIRDS' NESTS. 



" I hope," said Henry, " the old bird will 

 rear these safely. Do you recollect, papa, 

 what happened to the young pheasant in the 

 hay-field last year ?" 



Mr. Miller recollected it well : one of the 

 mowers, while cutting the hay with his scythe, 

 accidentally killed a young pheasant, which 

 with its brothers and sisters was hiding 

 among the thick grass. The man was very 

 sorry to have done this mischief, but took 

 care that the rest of the brood should get off 

 safely. As the mowers went on with their 

 work, the terrified little creatures advanced 

 further and further into the long grass, and 

 were at last driven into the wood, where no 

 doubt they were soon found by their mother. 



There were several other nests in the wood, 

 but none of these were visited, except a thrush's 

 nest, which was built against a dry hedge, and 

 sheltered by the roots of some trees which 

 grew above. The bird cared so little for visi- 

 tors, that Mr. Miller and Henry went within 



