BIRDS' NESTS. 229 



only doubt was what the sentence would be, 

 and opinions passed from one to another, so 

 that the breathless stillness which had before 

 been so remarkable was now exchanged for a 

 general whispering. This, however, was soon 

 over. At a sign from one of the magistrates, 

 an officer of the court proclaimed " Silence ! " 

 and every voice was hushed, while all eyes 

 were turned towards the chairman, who, ad- 

 dressing Johnson, spoke as follows : 



" Prisoner, we are of opinion that on the 

 morning of Wednesday last, whether alone or 

 in company with some other person we cannot 

 say, you went to Mr. Long's wood, and sur- 

 prised a hen-pheasant while sitting on her 

 nest. What became of the eggs there has 

 been no evidence to prove ; but there is not a 

 shadow of doubt that you cruelly killed the 

 old bird, wrapped it in a newspaper, and 

 offered it for sale to Thomas Morris. Now, 

 the mere act of taking the eggs would make 

 you liable to a severe penalty ; but we have 



