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An Old Australian Birdlover,



My brother is very fond of birds, and we have many interesting

kinds in the garden, for he always encourages them. Only a few

days ago (in January) a Great-spotted Woodpecker was in a tree close

to the house, and we have had at different times the Green Wood¬

pecker, the Tree Creeper, Nut-hatch, Golden-crested Wren, Kestrel,

Pheasants, and Partridges, besides numbers of the more ordinary

garden birds. I once counted a flock of seventy Green Finches all

feeding together on summer rape-seed scattered on the lawn. Rape

is a very good seed to give (the summer variety) as the Sparrows do

not care for it.


On New Year’s Day the Rooks were very busy in the wood,

coming and repairing their nests, making one feel the winter was

passing and that each day was bringing the welcome spring-time a

little nearer.


'[ Note, March 19f/u—Since writing the above one of the Great Tits has become very

fearless and tame, following us all over the garden, and coming readily on

our hands for food.]



MY MOREPORKS.


By An Old Australian Birdlover.


The article by Dr. Renshaw on the Podargus in the October

number of the ‘ Avicultural Magazine ’ has been very pleasant

reading to me. These birds, known in Australia as Moreporks or

Frogmouths, have been among my favourite pets for many years.

At the present moment four of them are enjoying my enforced

hospitality, greeting me each time I pass their cage. To see them

behind their wooden gratings stretching their necks and opening

their hugh mouths is a funny sight indeed. I feed them in the

morning just when I feed my other meat-eating birds, though being

nocturnal they ought to be fed at night I suppose. They know the

time and the plate, indicating their desire to be fed by low grunts.

There is no trouble in keeping these quaint birds in captivity.

When I open the door of the cage in which my birds are housed*

they open their huge mouths immediately, anxious to receive the

lump of meat which constitutes their daily meal. It is grabbed most

willingly and gulped down in jerks. Once in a way they are treated



