DESERTED HOMES. 149 



grew. Fleece-catchers these were. Go where you 

 might, you would be sure to see plenty of tufts of 

 wool hanging. Fine healthy trees grow vigorously, 

 and completely cover land which once only afforded 

 a scanty pasture for sheep. The moorland, again, 

 when brought under cultivation, produces a fresh 

 herbage, as. if by magic. 



There have been changes such as affect a bird 

 like the magpie terribly : his home and his occupa- 

 tion, so to speak, have gone from him. In past 

 times I knew his haunts and the creatures that 

 formed the principal portion of his food -supply. 

 These having disappeared, you may look for him in 

 vain in the spots where he ought to be. If I wish 

 to see him without going a long and rough journey, 

 I should visit the London parks or Kensington gar- 

 dens. There, close to the roar and bustle of a great 

 city, the birds are safe, whereas they know that 

 death awaits them in the wilds. Indeed it is a long 

 time since I have seen a single magpie in the dis- 

 trict about which I write — about thirteen years, 

 in fact. I have not seen a black grouse or a grey 

 hen for twenty-two years ; nor the hen-harrier, and 

 his mate [the ring-tail, for an equally long time. 



