27 SEPTEMBER 1968, Page 11

A bird with a gun

CHRISTOPHER HOLLIS

'I don't know anything on earth that gives me personally more excitement than waiting for a bird to come over my gun. It's the nearest thing to heaven in human terms that I know.' (The Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.) The excitement doesn't frighten The Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.

Such fun To pop off with a gun, And he finds the noise One of the celestial joys.

One mustn't be narrow About a sparrow.

Though it's commonly found That not one falls to the ground Which is forgotten by God, Yet it would be thought exceedingly odd

If it were found wrong to-wing it there

So as to bring it there.