226



Mr. G. E. Rattigan



It is not only dishonest, it is misleading, and only leads to utter

disappointment and is more likely to make a keen beginner give up

birds, or at any rate softbills, than anything else. It is with a

view to helping and encouraging others to keep the most fascinating

birds in the world, viz., British softbills, that I have allowed my pen

to run away with I don’t know how many pages of foolscap. Fore¬

warned is forearmed, and forearmed generally means success.


I must not extend this article any more, although there is

much I should like to write about my avian friends. I only hope

they have forgiven me for selling them (in some cases at any rate)

into bondage merely to deck the show bench and be gazed at by

open-mouthed humans. Even worse things may have happened to

them. They may have been colour-fed for instance, or alas ! it may

be a case of Mors et prceterea nihil. “Absit omen ” is the only

possible reply.



STRAY NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE

COUNTRY-SIDE (MONTGOMERYSHIRE.)


By G. E. Rattigan.


The following are some very rough notes on the different

species of birds I have so far been able to identify since my arrival

here some three months ago. They were never really intended to

see the light of day and were merely jotted down for my own

amusement, and it is only the urgent call for copy from our ener¬

getic Editor that brings them forth.


I hope that, having given this explanation, my readers, if

there are any, will deal leniently with me and my numerous short¬

comings, for I am only too fully aware that my knowledge of the

subject in hand is woefully meagre and certainly not sufficient to

justify my writing upon it. They must always bear in mind that

whatever the result, my intentions at all counts are excellent. I

am, moreover, giving our Editor absolute carte blanche to “strafe” it

all or any part of it he thinks fit, so perhaps after all you will be

spared, but if not, you must blame him and not me.


To begin with, I must admit that, thanks to an indifferent

eyesight, I find considerable difficulty in identifying the different



