garden) looking back at me, and telling me as plainly as possible

to bring the remaining worms, and look cpiick about it.


It is now some years ago since I went to my first bird

show. It was held at the Royal Aquarium, and who can describe

the delights, to the novice in bird keeping, of a first show. Here

I saw for the first time in my life a pair of Cordon Bleus. There

seemed only one pair exhibited, from which fact, in our ignorance,

we concluded they were very rare as well as lovely, and it ended

in our buying them for a very high figure.


Next day we were disillusioned.


In a dealer’s shop were some of these very birds, at a few

shillings a pair, and in talking of the show to the shopman he

remarked, ‘ he had heard of a party there, who had given over

£2 os. od. for a pair of Cordons.’ It was the last straw to our

discomfiture.


All the same these little birds gave us much pleasure. I

think they would have bred in an aviary, for the lieu laid several

eggs in the large cage which they tenanted together with

numerous small Waxbills.


Poor “ Phyllis” died after a time, and Corydon,” who had

never shown her much affection, became devoted to a second

wife; she also died, and a third hen was provided. At first the

newcomer was terribly persecuted by the cock, but she was a

very wise little bird, and evidently took for her own the motto

of Prosper le Gai, “ I bide my time,” and in the end succeeded

in entirely winning the affection of her lord and master.


The Cordons’ cage stood in a large bay window, and as

“ Corydou” grew old it was found too cold for him, so he was

placed in a separate cage by the fire, but at night he cried so

plaintively, that we put him back, when the birds were moved for

the night into a warmer room. The little fellow knew quite well

it was for his good, and would hop quite readilj^ of his own accord

into his private cage, and as readily return to the hen at roosting

time, always letting us know when he considered it was the

proper hour by chirping loudly.


All these pets are dead and gone, but one which is a great

favourite is still living. I have had my little Senegal Parrot for

nearly a year.


He had already been four years in England when I bought

him, and was sold to me under a wrong name, the modest price

asked being only 7/-. His colouring is very pretty. He has a

grey head, bright orange yellow breast, and the rest of his body



