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 Grrallatores are probably the Snipe and 
the. Woodcock. Renowned among the gunners as 
affording 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. 
