Section 202 The Two Schoolboys, or Eyes and No Eyes. — II
William.—A little further on I saw a green woodpecker1 fly to a tree, and run up the trunk like a cat.
Tutor.—That was2 to seek for insects which live in the bark of trees. For that purpose the woodpeckers bore holes into the bark with their strong bills, whereby they do3 a great deal of damage to the trees.
William.—What beautiful birds they are4!
Tutor.—Yes; the woodpecker has, from its colour and size, been called the English parrot (S. 4, N. 4, man).
William.—When I got upon the heath, how charming it was5! The air was so fresh, and the prospect on every side6 so free and unbounded! The heath was all covered with gay flowers, many of which I had never observed before. There were7 at least three different kinds (S. 36, N. 7, A) of heath (I have them in my handkerchief here) and gorse, and broom, and bell-flowers; and many others of all colours, of which I will beg you presently to tell me the names8.
Tutor.—That I will do readily.
William.—I saw, too, several birds that were new to me. There was a pretty grayish one, of the size of a lark, that was hopping about some great stones; and when he flew he showed a great deal of white above his tail9.
Tutor.—That was a wheat-ear10. They are reckoned very delicious birds to eat11, and frequent the open downs in12 Sussex, and some other counties, in great number.
William.—There was a flock of lapwings upon a marshy part of the heath13 that amused me much. As I came near them, some of them kept flying round and round14, just over my head, and crying, “Pewit,” “Pewit,” so distinctly, one might almost fancy they spoke15. I thought I should have caught16 one of them, for he flew as if one of his wings was broken (App. § 33), and often tumbled close to the ground; but as I came near, he always contrived17 to get away.
Tutor.—Ha, ha! you were finely taken in, then18! This was all an artifice of the bird’s, to entice you away from its nest, for the lapwings build upon the bare ground, and their nests would easily be observed, did they not draw off19 the attention of intruders, by their loud cries and counterfeit lameness.
William.—I wish I had known that20, for the bird led me a long chase21, often over shoes in water. However, this was the cause [davon, S. 161, N. 21] of my falling in with22 an old man and a boy, who were cutting23 and piling up turf for fuel. I had a great deal of talk with them about the manner of preparing the turf, and the price it sells at24. They gave me, too, a creature I never saw before—a young viper, which they had just killed. I have seen several common snakes, but this is thicker in proportion, and of a darker colour than they are.
Notes
1 Grünspecht, m.; to, auf.
2 = That he did.
3 zu´fügen.
4 = They (Es) are really charming birds!
5 = But upon the heath it was charming!
6 nach allen Seiten hin; all = quite.
7 Es waren dort.
8 deren Namen ich mir noch von Ihnen erbitten will.
9 and — tail, und beim Fliegen über dem Schwanze weiß befiedert war.
10 Steinpacker, m.; or Weißkelchen, n.
11 They — eat = These birds are very much valued (schätzen) on account of their flesh.
12 = and live in the downs of.
13 = In the marshy part of the heath I saw a flock (Schar) of lapwings.
14 round and round, immer im Kreise herum.
15 one — spoke, daß ich fast wähnte, sie sprechen zu hören.
16 = I should be able to catch.
17 gelang es ihm immer.
18 dann bist du schön angeführt worden!
19 did — off, suchten sie nicht... davon abzulenken, intruders = unbidden guests.
20 Das hätte ich vorher wissen sollen.
21 = for the bird caused (veranlassen) me to run a long time after it (hinter einem herjagen).
22 of — with = that I met.
23 stechen, str. v.
24 about — at, über die Zubereitungsweise und die Verkaufspreise des Torfes.