In its full development the burdock is almost a shrub rather than a plant, with a woody stem an inch or more in diameter.
Up in the fir trees the nests of the pigeons are sometimes so big that it appears as if they must use the same year after year, adding fresh twigs, else they could hardly attain such bulk.

Those in the ash-poles are not nearly so large.

In the open drives blue cartridge-cases lie among the grass, the brass part tarnished by the rain, thrown hurriedly aside from the smoking breech last autumn.

But the guns are silent in the racks, though the keeper still carries his gun to shoot the vermin, which are extremely busy at this season.

Vermin, however, do not quite agree among themselves: weasels and stoats are deadly enemies of mice and rats.