THE LONDON DAW 59 



as guests, since their birds are always fre(^ 

 to fly about t*ke house and go and come at 

 pleasure. But their special fav^ourite is the 

 daw, which they regard as far more intelligent, 

 interesting, and companionable than any other 

 animal, not excepting the dog. On one occasion 

 ]\Ir. Melford saw an advertisement of a hundred 

 daws to be sold for trap-shooting, and to save 

 them from so miserable a fate he at once pur- 

 chased the lot and took them home. They were 

 in a miserable half-starved condition, and to 

 give them a better chance of survival, before 

 freeing them he placed them in an outhouse in 

 his garden with a wire-netting across the door- 

 way, and there he fed and tended them until 

 they were well and strong, and then gave them 

 their liberty. But they did not at once take 

 advantage of it ; grown used to the place and 

 the kindly faces of their protectors, they re- 

 mained and were like tame birds about the 

 house ; but later, a few at a time, at long 

 intervals, they went away and back to their 

 wild independent life. 



Of the many stories of their pet daws which 

 they have told me, I will give one of a bird which 

 was a particular favourite of Mrs. Melford's. 



