108 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
inspect it, when who should I see but my wife 
just on the point of pecking the apple. She 
had come to it in the path, and suspected 
nothing wrong. Before I could cry out to 
her, or stop her, she had touched the apple^ 
when, with a sudden spring, like a snake 
encircling a young bird in its deadly folds, 
the snare sprung, and poor Mrs. Grouse was 
fluttering in the air, hanging in the deadly 
noose. I could not release her : she was 
soon dead. Half frantic with sorrow, I turned 
to the apple, when the whole secret of the 
snare flashed upon me. I could see how by 
touching the apple, the button was released 
from the crotch, and, as she had to put her 
head through the noose, why ! she could not 
possibly escape. 
I hastened to what there was left of my chil- 
dren, or rather my wife’s children, for she had 
all the responsibility of rearing them, and ex- 
plained to them the whole plan of this snare ; 
but, alas ! we could not foresee that there were 
other kinds of traps, and it was not until one 
of my best sons was caught, that I knew any 
thing about them.” 
