MORE ABOUT GAME-BIRDS. 91 



does at times. No other birds 'bout here has got 

 curly tails but they. No, I don't think as they're 

 much meddled with. Toby an' old thirsty Chubb 

 has a flick at 'em now an' again with that 'ere old 

 crossbow ; but, bless ye, that ain't nothing ! That 

 don't hurt 'em. There's lots on 'em about these 

 parts, if you knows where to look for 'em. Toby, 

 he give me a brace on 'em, but I reckons as they're 

 a lot better to look at than what they be to eat. 

 I don't keer for 'em. There're lots o' things about 

 better eating 'an they be. That's my 'pinion on 

 'em. Some o' these nights, when you cums home, 

 you'll find summat worth eating and no mistake. 

 Mushrooms is jest cummin' up like. You shell 

 hev some young rabbits cut up and fried with a 

 lot o' mushrooms, with the best part of a cup o' 

 cream put in the gravery, afore the missus dishes 

 it up." 



"Ah! that's something like eating!" 



" Now look here, did ye ever in all yer martil 

 life have a pheasant-pudding ? " 



I tell him that I have not, but I have had them 

 roasted. 



"O' course ye have, but ye don't get the real 



