THK KASTURA 203 



lunch bis protector (on the journey) sat 

 down on a sofa and placed a piece of 

 cheese on his knee. Tommy, from the floor, 

 stretched himself up on tip-toe, peered 

 about, and without more to-do hopped on 

 to the sofa by his side and thence on to his 

 arm where he very quickly seized the piece 

 of cheese. After a fortnight I hardly 

 dared let him out, because he had become 

 so arrogant and autocratic that he flew at 

 me like a furious game-cock, settling on my 

 hand and pecking till he drew blood. In 

 three days' time after arrival he began to 

 sing sotto voce ; to record, as they say, 

 and a very pretty warble it was, some- 

 times like a Black-bird's, but intermingled 

 with curious bubbling and guttural notes 

 which remind me of the manner in which 

 a Blue Rock-Thrush sings. By the 10th 

 November his new tail was full-grown, 

 and his whole plumage, from daily baths, 

 wholesome food and fresh air by day and 

 nio^ht, in beautiful condition. 



"A more charming pet I have never 



