28o 



manners, unconsciously testifying to the simple 

 bucolic attributes which I have ever thought — rightly 

 it would seem — to be my heritage from the countr\' 

 parsonage ! And so not a word did I say which could 

 give him any wrong impression of his new customer. 

 I made no unkind insinuations to the effect that 

 "West Africa" was merely current Dealeresefor South 

 America, or that birds with ruthlessly and freshh^ cut 

 wings could hardly be expected to flutter madly round 

 a box cage, and certainly were not likely to have been 

 in his dingy den the time he averred. No, I just 

 asked the price, and then, as tliongh I had not heard 

 his answer, softly made one bid of half a sovereign 

 for the pair. "No? well half-a-guinea then — I'm in 

 a hurry." With a look of pained surprise gently 

 stealing over his face, and after a just perceptible 

 pause, came the reply, " They're yours, Guv'nor." And 

 so I brought awa^^ my first Conures, the Golden- 

 Crowned, parting I hope from my new friend with 

 mutual admiration and respect. 



After keeping them in quarantine abotit a month 

 on the table in my waiting room, where I am bound 

 to confess thej^ did not bear out my dealer friend's 

 assiu'ances as to their tameness, I brought them into 

 the house to join company with the specially domes- 

 ticated members of my Psittacid community. Here 

 they developed fresh characters, or rather allowed full 

 play to previously unshewn ones. Noisy they certainly 

 were, but the noises were too interesting in their 

 variety to be regarded as altogether unpleasant. In 

 even the short time, as will be seen, that I kept them 

 in close proximity to one set of human beings they 

 became sufficiently tame and confiding to exhibit a 

 good deal of what one may call their inner life. " Love 

 birds" they unquestionably are — of the true lyove 

 in a Cottage type. For a long time at a stretch the}' 

 wottld sit close together, alternately kissing and preen- 

 ing each other, uttering the while the most endearing 



