150 



THE OSPREY. 



his example there would be much more happi- 

 ness within many a home. 



Another pair of our birds has led its younf;- 

 ones out into the world — the Song- Sparrows. 

 They are vei-y secretive, and it is only when we 

 are real quiet, and have stretched out in the 

 grass on the hilside, that we may see them lead 

 their family out from the briers along the sandy 

 course of the little rivulet in quest of food and 

 pleasure. The male even now, is full of spirit, be 

 the day rain or shine he devotes a portion of it to 

 his song. There are a number of other birds 

 which we know are nesting within our bounds, 

 but whose homes we have not viewed as yet, 

 among these are the Chimney Swift which was 

 busily engaged breaking off dead twigs from 

 the cherry trees some two weeks ago, and of 

 whose chattering young we hope to hear in the 

 chimney before long. The Yellow-throated 

 and Red-eyed Vireo both are present, but so far 

 both have failed to betray the whereabouts of 

 their nest, so have the Orchard Oriole and the 

 Woodpewee. The latter, we have watched for 

 hours at a time, but all in vain. Yet there will 

 come a time when the hungry young will require 

 his closest attention, and with it the hour when 

 he will unawares disclose the secret location of 

 his neat lichen covered nest. 



His cousins the Kingbird and the Great 

 Crested Flycatcher are both frequently present. 



and the former keeps close guard, driving away 

 any Black Crow which may chance to fly over 

 the place too low to suit his fancy. However, I 

 believe that the home of both of these birds is 

 with some of our neighbors. 



I would once again plead with our readers to 

 protect our birds, and to aid them in these try- 

 ing times b)' removing prowling cats and other 

 vermin which act most destructiveU' among 

 young birds. But most of all, I would warn 

 them against the boys. Here is your chance to 

 do true missionary work, and that at home. 

 Aquaint the children with our birds, point out 

 to the would be bird nest robber, the bird's love 

 for his home, and the many dangers which beset 

 these little wing'ed brethren in the form of 

 natural foes, and surely you will be pleased, for 

 you will reap a double reward. 



Place shallow pans of water for them beneath 

 some shady shrub or tree, where a natural supply 

 in the immediate neighborhood is wanting, and 

 you will be delighted to see ever so many 

 species come to partake of the cooling draught 

 or even stop to take a bath. It is ever delight- 

 ful to watch them in this operation, to see them 

 nimbly step into the pan and send the contents 

 flying in tine spray in all directions, then watch 

 them preen and primp, you will almost wish you 

 were a bird that you might join them in their 

 happy life. 



BIRD NOTES.* 



By Lady Broome. f 



A great reaction of feeling in favour of the 

 Mongoose has set in since Mr. Rudyard Kip- 

 ling's delightful story of 'Rikki-tikki.' in the 

 'First Ju'ngle Book,' presenting that small 

 rodent in a heroic and loveable aspect. But to 

 the true bird-lover the Mongoose still appears a 

 dangerous foe. It is well known that its intro- 

 duction into Jamaica has resulted in nearly the 

 extermination of bird life in that island, and the 

 consequent increase of insects, notably the 

 diminutive tick, that mere speck of a vicious 

 little torment. 



There are, I believe, only a very few Mon- 

 gooses in Barbados, and strong measures will 

 doubtless be adopted to still further reduce their 

 number; for no possible advantage in destroj^- 

 ing the large brown rat which gnaws the sugar- 

 cane can make up for the havoc the Mongoose 

 creates in the poultry yard, and indeed, among 

 all feathered creatures. It has also been found 

 by experience that the Mongoose prefers eggs 

 to rats, and will neglect his proper prey for any 

 sort or size of egg. He was brought into 

 Jamaica to eat up the large rat introduced a 

 century ago by a certain Sir Charles Price 



(after whom those same brown rats are still 

 called), instead of which the Mongoose has 

 taken to egg" and bird eating, and has thriven 

 on this diet laeyond all calculation. Sir Charles 

 Prince introduced his rat to eat up the snakes 

 with which Jamiaca was then infested, and now 

 that the Mongoose has failed to clear out the 

 rats, some other creature will have to be intro- 

 duced to cope with the swarming and ravenous 

 Mongoose. 



It was therefore with the greatest satisfaction 

 I once beheld in the g-raden at Government 

 House, Barbados, the clever manner the birds 

 circumvented the wiles of a half-tame Mongoose 

 which haunted the grounds. 



Short as is the twilight in those Lesser An- 

 tilles, there was still, at midsummer, light 

 enough left in the western sky to make it de- 

 lightful to linger in the g^arden after our evening 

 drive. The wonder and beautj' of the hue of 

 the sunset sky seemed ever fresh, and every 

 evening one gazed with admiration, which was 

 almost awe, at the marvellous undreamed of 

 colours glowing on that gorgeous palette. 

 Crimsons, yellows, mauves, palest blues, chry- 



*Reprinted from the Cornhill Magazine for March, igoo. 



fLady Man- Ann Broome (formerly Lady Barker) is quite a vohiniinous author: the widow of Sir G. R. Barker, in 1865 

 she married Sir Frederick Napier Broome, then Mr. Broome of Canterhury, New Zealand. In 1S-5, Mr. Broome entered the colo- 

 nial service, and was appointed colonial secretary of Natal; from 18S2 to 1S90 he was governor of Vester!! .Australia; subse- 

 quently he served at the places mentioned in Lady Broome's article. 



