From All Sources. 19 



with a quick flurry, the waters closed over him before he had even time to 

 utter a cry. The murder was so deftly and swiftly acoomplished that it was 

 noticed only by the quii k eye of the old black duck, who had a nest of fluffy 

 little ones hidden away in a tangle of undergrowth on one of the islands, 

 and who had had so many fledglings disappear mysteriously under the 

 water that she had become chronically watchful and suspicious. A week later, 

 when the widowed kingfisher was still given to sitting on a dry branch and 

 uttering her mourning note a veteran Pelican came out of spac^j and> 

 flopped into the water with a swirl which sent the water flying in every di- 

 rection. He was a huge gaunt bird, travel-worn, and obviously just from a 

 long and weary journey across the hungry desert places where such large 

 voraciouj birds are apt to be famished. His great bill was two ^eet 

 long, the blades being hard and wicked looking, and when he opened his 

 horrible red cavern of a mouth the other waterfowl fled, screaming in 

 fear. As soon as he ha 1 bathed himself, and got the dust of travel 

 out of his feathers, the hungry pelican started to skirmish around the 

 lagoon in quest of food, sailing along majestically, for all the world like 

 a v/hile-winged ship scudding gracefully before a half-gale, he would 

 plunge his lop-he.ivy head into the water, s:oop up five or six pounds of 

 mul at a time, and as quick as thought strain it off, retaining only the 

 animal life it might contain. Round and round he sailed, devouring, 

 whatever he brought up with the avidity of a creature that had been 

 fasting for a long time. Presently he paused as if listening ; then his 

 muscular frame stiffened, and, partly rising, he made a mighty rush, and 

 dived into the corner of the lagoon. When he reappeared his great wings 

 wert flfapj-.ing fuvicusl) and bca \\\g the waters into such a flurry of foain 

 that nothing coald be distinctly made out for a time. In about five mm- 

 ute.~ the struggle was over, the bird righted himself, and there was an 

 unmistakable gint of triumph and satisfaction in his eye as he closed his 

 powerful jaws over the m'dd.le of a ten-pound cod. At Inst th? pirate of 

 the lagooi ha.l met his master and his fate. 



Early Experiences. 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., Etc. 



I have been strongly urged to write or supply a paper 

 for young beginners, and also, that it may be adaptable to 

 all beginners, especially for those whose space accommodation 

 is only that of the ordinary semi-detached suburban villa. 

 This would have come better from a beginner to a beginner, 

 and several " first experiences " appeared in last volume of 

 " Bird Notes." but, as something more than this is asked for. 



