22 
THE SEASON OF DEATH. 
But far better for him had he remained hidden in the leafy 
covert, for 
Short is his joy ; he feels the fiery wound, 
Flutters in blood, and panting beats the ground. 
Ah, what avails his glossy varying dyes, 
His purple crest, and scarlet-circled eyes, 
His vivid green, his shining plumes unfold, 
His painted wings, and breast that flames with gold ? 
In vain will the frightened bird now attempt to escape ; 
enemies are on every side of him; and, crouch as close as 
he may, they will discover his hiding place ; the keen- 
scented pointer wiU indicate his whereabouts. Now he 
lurks deep in the tangled underwood, and deems himself 
secure from all his foes, while far and wide through the 
woodlands on every side of them the frequent hang — ^^Vf^- 
gives fearful note of the work of destruction. Faint ai^ 
more faint these sounds of danger now become, until at 
length they cease altogether, or are only heard in the far 
distance ; while close around all is silence, broken only by . 
the caw of the field ward-flying rook, the croak of the raven 
upon the naked branch of the lightning- stricken tree, or 
the soft coo-coo of the dove. The squirrel descends the 
rugged bole to gambol awhile in the ferny knolls, amid the 
twisted roots of the giant oaks ; and up from its home in 
the warren comes the grey rabbit, and sits cleaning its 
furry face in the sunshine, which finds its way through the 
leafy canopy above. All at once, however, it ulcers a sharp 
cry, and darts off, for from the thicket creeps forth a red- 
eyed weasel, and the bark of a skulking fox breaks unplea- 
santly upon the ear. Up from his ground covert springs 
the Pheasant, and seeks safety amid the branches of the 
elm, where he crouches close, sending out wary glances on 
every side from the loopholes of his retreat. Again is 
heard a shot ; and then, closer still, a cheer, and a shrill 
whistle — a fluttering of wings, a dashing, rustling sound; 
a wounded bird, as swiftly as its drooping wing will allow, 
runs across the glade, followed closely by a spotted re- 
triever, which seizes and bears it away in its mouth. 
Footsteps approach ; a pause, a cold sharp click ; the eager 
