These crows had long
been dead; the keeper when he shot a crow did not trouble to have it
carried home, unless a nail was conspicuously vacant. The ignoble bird
was left where he fell.
On the next row the black and white of magpies and the blue of jays
alternated. Many of the magpies had been despoiled of their tails, and
some of their wings, the feathers being saleable. The jays were more
numerous, and untouched; they were slain in such numbers that the market
for their plumage was glutted. Though the bodies were shrunken, the
feathers were in fair condition. Magpies' nests are so large that in
winter, when the leaves are off the trees, they cannot but be seen, and,
the spot being marked, in the summer old and young are easily destroyed.
Hawks filled the third row. The kestrels were the most numerous, but
there were many sparrow-hawks. These made a great show, and were stuck
so closely that a feather could hardly be thrust between them. In the
midst, quite smothered under their larger wings, were the remains of a
smaller bird--probably a merlin. But the last and lowest row, that was
also nearest, or on a level with the face of a person looking at the
gallows, was the most striking.
This grand tier was crowded with owls--not arranged in any order, but
haphazard, causing a fine mixture of colour. Clearly this gallery was
constantly renewed. The white owl gave the prevalent tint, side by side
with the brown wood owls, and scattered among the rest, a few long
horned owls--a mingling of white, yellowish brown, and tawny feathers.
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