BIRDS IN A VILLAGE 'ib 



and so it went on for a couple of hours, we con- 

 versing amicably during the waiting intervals* For 

 now he regarded me as a friend of the bird-cat cher* 

 Linnets only were caught, most of them young 

 birds, which pleased him ; for the young linnet 

 after a month or two of cage life will sing ; but the 

 adult males would be silent until the next spring, 

 consequently they were not worth so much, although 

 the carmine stain in their breast made them for the 

 time so much more beautiful. 



I remarked incidentally that there were some who 

 looked with unfriendly eyes on his occupation, and 

 that, sooner or later, these people would try to get 

 an Act of Parliament to make bird-catching in lanes, 

 on commons and waste lands illegal* " They can't 

 do it ! " he exclaimed excitedly* " And if they can 

 do it, and if they do do it, it will be the ruination 

 of England* For what would there be then to stop 

 the birds increasing 1 It stands to reason that the 

 whole country would be eaten up." 



Doubtless the man really believed that but for 

 the laborious days that bird-catchers spend lying on 

 the grass, the human race would be very badly off. 



Just after he had finished his protest three or four 

 linnets flew down and were caught. Taking them 

 from the nets, he showed them to me, remarking, 

 with a short laugh, that they were all young males. 

 Then he thrust them down the stocking-leg which 



