BIRDS' NESTS. 117 



other without climbing up to them. In my 

 younger days, I once climbed a tall tree after 

 what I thought was a hawk's or crow's nest. 

 Just as I was on the point of putting my 

 hand in, out bounced, not an old bird, but an 

 old squirrel, who, whatever his age w T as, was 

 nimble enough, and startled me so much that 

 I nearly let go rny hold." 



" And what was there in the nest ? " 



" Nothing ; the pretty little fellow was 

 finishing off the inside of his nest, in doing 

 which he had been so busily occupied that he 

 did not hear me until I was close upon him. 

 It was well for me that he heard me then, for 

 if I had put my hand into the nest while he 

 was there, he would, I dare say, have bitten 

 me very severely." 



" Should you have caught him if you could, 

 or have taken the young ones if there were 

 any in it ? " 



" Certainly not ! I have no fault to find 

 with keepers for killing the animals which 

 injure their masters' woods and destroy their 



