160 FOREST CREATUEES. 



must be stated that nowhere else were the attendant 

 circumstances the same, in one essential particular at 

 least. Here alone did the birds remain unscared by 

 a shot, absolutely taking no notice of it whatever. 

 Grenerally they rise from the ground and fly to their 

 usual haunts, to return again after a certain interval 

 only, or maybe not to return at all that morning ; for 

 if some birds do appear afterwards, it is probable they 

 are new-comers, w^ho were not present when the first 

 were frightened away. 



It was the unusualness of the circumstances narrated 

 above which induced me to travel to the spot, to witness 

 with my own eyes what I had already often heard re- 

 lated by different friends. 



