File:Mutton birds and other birds (1914) (14746338854).jpg

Identifier: muttonbirdsother00guth (find matches)
Title: Black-backed Gull on Eggs, in Mutton birds and other birds
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors: Guthrie-Smith, H. (Herbert), 1861-1940
Subjects: Birds -- New Zealand
Publisher: Christchurch, N.Z. : Whitcombe and Tombs
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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carelessly broken his neck within view of the nest. These are the troubles that are aging me pre-maturely. The public has resolutely forborneto read my verse; my stock has perished whole-sale; my banker has on occasion written meletters such as no gentlem.an should address toanother. But these miseries are as nothing tothose borne with the knowledge that repentancecomes too late, that atonement is impossible,that punishment must follow instantly. This feeling, however, that my actions in thefield, must, so to speak, be paid for cash down,is having the hap))iest effect on my generalcharacter. It is making a good man of me atlast. But, if the pains are severe so are thepleasures of this pastime coriespondingly sweet.The woodlands become full of a new mystery.The knowledge grows that utterly wild creaturesare peering and inspecting with craned necksand cautious tread, thrusting the fronds apartthat screen their tracks, pushing through cur-tains of greenery that, as the birds pass, brush
Plate XX
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Black-backed Gull on Eggs
AND OTHER BIRDS 49 over plumage of neck and back, and delicately close. The heart thrills as ap))roacli becomes morenear, and twittering talk and reviving song tellof confidence restored. An eclipse of lightdarkens the conning hole; the arriving bird haspassed athwart the sun. Leaf shadows dancein the quiet of noon-day calm. It is wherefor an instant the bird has perched and theweighted twigs leap to readjust themselves.Grasses bend, sere rushes rustle; and in the wetforest grey with stretching drops, a suddenpatter in one ))\dGe alone, betrays. In calmweather, fine, or with gently falling rain, thefaintest stir is filled with high imaginings. Atlast the shy inhabitant of the wilds stands almostwithin grasp, unconscious of espial, as Dryadnaked for the bath, perfect in pose as poethas imagined nymph. 50 MUTTON BIRDS

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