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A first Flight.



the Zoo, that is to say if I see any of my friends there. I have

been away some times for four or five months at a time, and

during that time my pets are not so well looked after, so they

almost stop coming, but I am not home more than two days

before the circular has been sent round the tree tops, and my

little friends wing their w 7 ay from all sides and swarm on me,

some times twenty or thirty hanging on me and squabbling

for the post of honour on my shoulder.


During the fine weather they do not trouble us beyond

coming for food, but in weather such as we are having now (rain

daily) they scarcely leave the verandah. As I write I counted

over seventy on the wire round the verandah. I had to stop

writing to give them food as they gave me no peace, over my

shoulders, drinking the ink, tearing the paper, etc.


If you should visit Australia again my birds will join me

in extending a welcome to our bush home. I am sorry that

the photographer spoilt one of the best negatives by taking the

shadow of my face ; it has made it ghoulish, but it is best of

the birds I am sending. Ella M. Innes.



A FIRST FLIGHT.


By Evelyn Trenow, F.Z.S.


The advent of our Summer visitor the Swallow, reminds

one that the first flight of the young birds is not often seen in its

initial stage, though most of us have seen them wheeling in the

air with nearly as much power as the old birds, but a few hours

after they have first stretched their wings.


I11 the ordinary way the youngsters make their first efforts

towards flying soon after daybreak ; this, in the breeding season,

means about three in the morning—an hour when most people are

in bed—and for that reason their essays are not often witnessed.


Most of us, however, on thinking over our experiences,

will recollect that the nest seen full of young birds overnight has

been empty the next morning, and the late occupants have been

found already following their parents in their skimming flight.


The opportunity I had of observing the first efforts of a

brood of four was due to an accident. One night, about mid-



