A creeper of bramble
fenced round one side of the spurge and white grass bunch, and brown
leaves were visible on the surface of the ground through the interstices
of the spray. It was in the midst of this little thicket that a small,
dark, and glittering object caught my attention. I knew it was the eye of
some creature at once, but, supposing it nothing more than a young
rabbit, was passing on, thinking of other matters, when it occurred to
me, before I could finish the step I had taken, so quick is thought, that
the eye was not large enough to be that of a rabbit. I stopped; the black
glittering eye had gone--the creature had lowered its neck, but
immediately noticing that I was looking in that direction, it cautiously
raised itself a little, and I saw at once that the eye was the eye of a
bird. This I knew first by its size, and next by its position in relation
to the head, which was invisible--for had it been a rabbit or hare, its
ears would have projected. The moment after, the eye itself confirmed
this--the nictitating membrane was rapidly drawn over it, and as rapidly
removed. This membrane is the distinguishing mark of a bird's eye. But
what bird? Although I was within two yards, I could not even see its
head, nothing but the glittering eyeball, on which the light of the sun
glinted.
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