218 BIRDS' NESTS. 



" Why, your worship, about six o'clock last 

 Wednesday morning, William Johnson, the 

 boy standing at the bar, came into my shop, 

 as I was at work about a corn-chest, and asked 

 me if I wanted to buy a pheasant. I said, 

 Certainly not, as it was unlawful to kill or have 

 a pheasant at this season. ' I wish you would 

 buy it,' said he ; 'it is a very fine one, and 

 you shall have it for a shilling, and you will 

 be able to make a great deal more than that 

 by it.' ' 



" Pray," interrupted the magistrate, " are 

 you licensed to deal in game, that people bring 

 you pheasants for sale ? " 



" No ! your worship." 



" How came it then, that the prisoner 

 thought of bringing the pheasant to you rather 

 than to any one else ? " 



" Why, Sir, in my leisure hours in the even- 

 ings, and when work is slack, I amuse myself 

 with stuffing birds, and when anything uncom- 

 mon is shot in the neighbourhood, it is gene- 



