At the same instant something bright shimmered in the sunlight, and with it a horrid burst of noise and a puff of smoke.

We did not all get away, for some of the beautiful larks fell to the ground pierced by the sportsman's deadly hail.
Again and again, all through that long, sad day we heard the ominous booming crash, and knew the savage work of killing was going on.
Among our acquaintances was a lame redbird who at one time had been trapped and made a prisoner, confined behind the bars of a wire cell for many weeks and months.

Luckily he made his escape one day when his grated door was accidentally opened, and he speedily made his way back to his dearly loved forest.
During the period of his imprisonment in the city he had picked up a great deal of information regarding the bird trade, and some of the facts recited by him of the terrible cruelties perpetrated and the carnage which had been going on for years, almost caused our feathers to stand upright in horror as we listened..