20 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



done ; when they expressed their gratitude to him 

 he would wave his hand and answer, " Oh, I'm 

 going to do a great deal more than that for you." 



A few months went by, then he caused a notice to 

 be put up about the neighbourhood that the path 

 through the wood was going to be closed " by order." 

 No one took any notice, and a few weeks later his 

 workmen appeared on the scene and erected a huge 

 oakwood barrier across the path ; also a notice on a 

 board that the wood was strictly private and tres- 

 passers would be prosecuted. The villagers met in 

 force at the institute and the inn that evening and 

 after discussing the matter over their ale they armed 

 themselves with axes and went in a body and de- 

 molished the barrier. 



The owner was disgusted but took no action. 

 " This," he said, " is their gratitude," and from that 

 day he ceased to subscribe to the local charities or 

 take his walks in the village. He had given the 

 institute and so could not pull it down nor prevent 

 them from using it. 



It was refreshing to hear that the Badgers had 

 shown a proper spirit in the matter, and I was 

 grateful to them for having kept the right of way, 

 as on most days I spent several hours in the beau- 

 tiful woods. 



To return to the jay. In spite of the keeper's 

 persecution I knew that he was there ; every morning 



