220 CURSORES. 



ling up, seemed swelled to twice her usual size. The 

 young crowded together behind her, apparently sen- 

 sible of their perilous situation, moving backward 

 and forward as she advanced or retreated. This in- 

 teresting scene lasted for at least ten minutes; the 

 strength of the poor parent began evidently to flag, 

 and the attacks of the squirrel became more daring 

 and frequent, when my good friend stepped forward 

 from his retreat, drove the assailant back to his hole, 

 and rescued the innocent from destruction." 



Two of the commonest and best - known birds 

 among the Grallatores are probably the Snipe and 

 the Woodcock. Renowned among the gunners as 

 aflFording the rarest and most exciting sport, and no 



Snipe. 



less renowned among the gastronomes of our cities , 

 who love better to indulge their appetites over a well- 

 cooked brace of either, than to apply their energies 

 to the doubtful and difficult task of obtaining them. 



