In fact I nearly stepped on it. It went out from under 
a bunch of leaves. At first I supposed it was an old bird 
with a nest on the ground but on approaching it within a 
few yards, as it sat perched on a low branch of an old oak 
looking at me with calm curiosity, I saw distinctly that 
it was a young bird barely able to fly well. The light 
edging of the feathers of the body and wings gave the 
plumage a pretty scaled or squamate appearance. 
