286 Bakloh Aviary Notes, 1916. 



July 1 5th.— Chats practically feeding thelnselves 

 though I can't be certain that parents have entirely given 

 up feeding them. Of course the Demon Child won't feed 

 itself, though its parents are trying to get it on to cake. I'm 

 sure it can feed itself. 



July 16th. — The infant which is now exactly like its 

 parents, except for a shorter tail was discovered wolfing 

 cake, but parents still feed it, though it seems unnecessary? 

 The Chats are well grown up. Can't you get gold medals? 

 I'd love you to get gold medals; and I've done such a lot, 

 caugh'. moths and insects at windows and in nets and in water, 

 lighted lamps all night, cut off mealworms in their tender 

 youth and induced Dila Ram to earn his pay almost. Won't 

 I do as a witness as it were? Those youngsters were always 

 on my mind (or rather my probable sins of omission were) 

 and you should have seen the fever stricken woman stag'- 

 gering round watching the pink snakes go by, trying at the 

 same "time to count young' birds and tempt them with hardly- 

 gained live food and shooing off giant robber birds. I'm 

 sending a rough diary. (Note: Observe the greed of the 

 female mind, gold medals indeed. Still I do think she",s 

 deserved them, and if any medal is awarded it should go to 

 her and not to me. What advice I gave would have been 

 useless without her energy and care. I've asked her to leave 

 the birds to Dila Ram., as she's apt to do too much; one 

 human Demon-Angel child gives her ample to do at the 

 present. No bird news for a week as my wife was ill in 

 bed, Dila Ram reporting that birds were all right. — G.A.P.) 



■ July 23rd. — Nervous break-down is imminent. The 

 fever stricken woman staggered from her bed to the draw- 

 ing room window and there — did, she see three Tailor Birds 

 nests before Iher? — She did. Is not every law of Nature out- 

 raged by this? It's a beautiful little nest c|uite close to the 

 other two, almost finished, exquisitely sewn and stuffed. 

 Parents very busy and child is not fed when it asks — so it 

 just goes over and takes what ii wants out of Pa's mouth; 

 saw it take a mealworm. I saw it eating very heartily, so put 



