
          398.

five o'clock in the morning, they had shot 34 reed birds.  This road
follows the river and is in some places quite close to it.  So
close that I could hear the reports of the guns which was kept
up almost incessantly.  Poor birds thus to be hunted! Fired
at from this quarter, then from that, never allowed to rest.
How the poor little things seemed to keep together for mutual
help yet doing that which was almost sure to <s>brg</s> bring
calamity to some of their number.  How often too, are the
poor little creatures left wounded where they had fallen.  At
Pumphrey's and a short distance along the S.L.R.R. I came very close
to the marshes.  Here two of the miscreants were seen hiding in the
tall rushes, imitating the little birds as nearly as possible enticing
them to their doom.  How tremendous!  Just as I passed a flock
of four or five passed near, bang! went the guns, how delighted was
I when I saw that not one had been harmed.  I almost wished
in my heart that he had killed himself.  Now a much larger bird
flies up, bang! again goes the gun, alas! poor bird, so happy 
a moment ago in the enjoyment of life, is brought to the ground
and there he's struggling in death's agony.  Blood was oozing out
of its mouth.  The bird was a done.  I cared not to linger longer
        