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Notes of a Bird-Keeper in Liguria.



other man’s voice starts him off on a loud and very musical war-

chant, kept up whilst the intrusion lasts. As soon as the intruder

is within reach, he flies headlong upon him and belabours him;

but he never molests women and, if several are present, he even

refrains from fleshing his bill until they have left. He evidently

thinks it bad taste to brawl before ladies, but he makes up time

when they are gone. He takes pride in making hay on my

writing-table, scattering pens and small things wide around ;

and makes a point of breaking up cigarettes, in this respects

emulating an African Grey Parrot, which has borne with me

for twenty-three years. The smell of tobacco seems to attract

both. Solitary Thrush is a fitting name, and it is not hard to

believe that any other bird trespassing on this one’s sphere of

action would have a poor time. I have never seen this species

bathe. It is more insectivorous than most of the thrushes, and

rarely eats fruit or olives.


Meadow and Tree Pipits I am never without ; pleasant

fellows both, with their soft song, enquiring expression and

contented, busy ways. They are great ventriloquists, especially

the former, and combine the run of a Wagtail with the waddle

of a Lark. Grey Wagtails are common in winter. A Pied Wag¬

tail with a shot-broken wing, was being led about on a string by

some children and brought to me, and on the fourth day took

mealworms from the hand. It lived some years in an outdoor

aviary until killed by rats. Larks, too, I cannot withstand—Sky,

Wood, Short-toed and Calandra. The former are errant here in

winter. The Calandra, a loud singer, is less robust than its size

suggests, and likes soft foods, despite his heavy bill. They are

all somewhat shy and with other birds generally peaceable, but

an old Skylark killed a Button Quail. A tame Skylark, big-

eyed and puffy-cheeked, is as great an acquisition as a good

steady Linnet. If only the hand-reared birds were good singers,

or the good singers more steady. Serin Finches (F. serimis')

are common in Central Europe, and migrate here in autumn;

stupid little birds in captivity—their high-pitched song suggests

a convivial bat. Redpolls we never see here, and none of those

I have brought have survived a summer* No one knows the


•Since writing this note have recently bought some which were taken in November in the

mountains close by, both the Mealy Redpoll and the Alpine variety of the Lesser Redpoll.



