lO 



A HUMMING BIRD IN LONDON. 



Some few years ago, in the autumn, I was hard up for 

 mealworms. I had several rather valuai)le insectivorous 

 birds, some of which were moulting, and I knew that un- 

 less I could tempt their appetites with those slitnulating 

 dainties I ran a serious risk of losing them. But meal- 

 worms were just the very things I could not get for love 

 or money. I was living then in London, so I journeyed 

 down to the East end to see the late Mr. Abrahams and 

 find out if he could supply my wants. I think Mr. 

 Abrahams was able to let me have a hundred or two, but 

 I know he could not spare :ne many as he was short of 

 mealworms himself. One hundred mealworms do not 

 go ver}' far, so after leaving Mr. Abrahams' shop I 

 wandered about the neighbourhood in the hope of 

 lighting upon a bird shop where I could obtain an 

 adequate supply of the juicy worm. I found at last a 

 very small shop in a very poor street (the shop was dirty 

 and dingy even beyond the wont of East-end bird shops) 

 where my wants could be supplied. I was served b}- a 

 shrivelled-up little old man, bent nearly double with 

 rheumatism, who gave me the impression of being — well, 

 more than eccentric. I asked him politely if he had 

 any mealworms for sale. '"Mealworms!" he replied, 

 "Mealworms! What do you want with mealworms.^"' 

 I humbly explained that I had at home a few dozen 

 birds which ate them readily, >)nt that I did not require 

 them for my own consumption. He looked at me 

 sirspiciously and grumbled to himself, but proceeded to 

 «j;et down a large tin of worms and measure out a quart 

 for me. There was not much in the shop, but I noticed 

 a cage of Tanagers, among which were one or two rare 

 ones, and I began talking to the old man about tliem. 

 When he found that I really knew something alx)ut birds 

 he thawed, and I soon managed to draw him out, and 

 discovered he had a rare knowledge of birds, and, 

 according to his account, had been marvellously success- 

 ful in keeping some delicate kinds. Some of his ideas 



