A visit to Brinsop Court.



317



were off and I never saw them again, to know them. For many

days I heard their cry—a singularly elusive note, amongst the cedars

by the brook, and sometimes saw large flocks of waxwings, which

my birds had doubtless joined. Dear little Comrades ! I shall never

see or hear a waxwing without tender thoughts of the little creatures

who gave me a month of such genuine pleasure.



A VISIT TO BRINSOP COURT.


By A Guest.


Readers of this Magazine have already gamed from the

Editor’s pen glimpses of the home that is his, and seem to know

all his birds quite well. Mr. Astley has given us many interesting

facts in the old history of Brinsqp Court, but the charm of the

place it is beyond his power to convey—or anyone’s. For it lies

in the dream of its sleepy hollow, wrapped in the memories of its

ancient past, yet kind and gracious to those who treat it lovingly

in a century of clamour and of stress. The grey stone walls,

lichened stone slabs of its roof, quaint brick chimneys and mullioned

windows are reflected in the water of a moat. The heart of the

buildings is in a courtyard enclosed on every side by walls (some of

them half timbered) and therefore quite unsuspected until one

glances down from a gallery upon its repose. The moat is, with

an adjoining pond, the chief home of the waterfowl; but there is

another and more distant moat enclosing a meadow beyond.


Practically all the ducks usually seen in collections are there at

Brinsop, besides Japanese, Ringed and Cinnamon Teal (the last

really a Shoveller) and best of all Falcated and Cotton Teal; the

Falcated drake " on the occasion of this visit w r as in most perfect

plumage. The swans include Black-necked and Coscoroba, and the

geese Ruddy-headed, Bar-headed, Lesser White-fronted and others,

including the dear little “ mewing” geese (Maned geese) which Mr.

Astley has described to us before now.


The aviaries and their inhabitants are already well-known to

us, but it is delightful to go through them, and also to see in a



Is the Falcated duck a true teal ?—ED.



