8 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



Hospital. It flew in through one of the open windows and at once 

 became friendly with the patients, perching on their fingers and 

 being fed by them to their great delight. Then, having cheered 

 them for a day and night, it flew away and has not been seen 

 since. The men long for its return, for nothing has pleased and 

 refreshed and brightened them so much in their wearisome 

 hours as its companionship. 



Miss Rosalind Paget is so well known for her work 

 in the military hospitals that I hope she will forgive 

 me for giving her name without her permission when 

 relating this incident. 



But the effect of the bird is due as much to the 

 voice as to the dainty winged shape, the harmonious 

 colouring, and the graceful easy motions in the air. 

 That peculiar aerial vibrant penetrative character of 

 bird-notes moves us as other sounds do not, and 

 there are certain notes in which these qualities are 

 intensified and sometimes suggest an emotion common 

 to all mankind, which pierce to the listener's heart, 

 whatever his race or country may be or his character 

 or pursuits in life. 



I here recall an incident of my young days in a 

 far land, less civilised than ours. I had a neighbour 

 in my home for whom I had little love. He was a 

 greedy rascal, a petty rural magistrate with an itching 

 palm, and if justice was required at his hands it had 

 to be bought with money like any other commodity. 

 One summer afternoon he rode over to my home and 

 asked me to go for a walk with him by the river. 

 It was a warm brilliant day in early autumn, and 

 when we had walked about a couple of miles along 

 the bank to a spot where the stream was about fifty 



