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instalments, can hardly be expected to flourish when fed heavily

at long intervals and only then able to take exercise.


During the night of August 14th my wife woke up and

took it into her head to go downstairs and have a look at the

Swift: it had been especially active the night before, but she

found it in a very feeble condition, cold, and unable to attempt

to feed. She warmed it in her hands, gave it a little water to

drink, and when it began to utter its little monotonous note she

gave it a morsel of food. It is still alive as I write, though un¬

doubtedly not likely to live over the day (V).


To keep a Swift in captivity for a month is, I think, a

triumph ; but I do not recommend any bird-lover, unless he act

from feelings of humanity (as my wife has done) to attempt to

rear from the nest either Swifts or Swallows ; they are affectionate

and lovable birds, but their life in captivity must, of necessity, be

short. I believe, under favourable conditions, with a properly

constructed cage and plenty of insect-food all these birds, might

be kept, but they are far better at liberty.



A SUPPOSED NEW WHISTLING-BIRD.


fMyiophoneus . ?)


By Reginald Phillipps.


fContinued from page iqi).


For a time, as I have already said, I left him loose in my

mixed aviary, for he seemed amiable and peaceable ; in truth,

he never quarrelled with the birds, but—when he wanted fresh

meat for dinner, he helped himself. A man does not quarrel

with his flocks and herds, but he eats them nevertheless when he

finds it convenient to do so. He was so terribly shy and anxious

to hide that his real nature did not immediately betray itself.

One by one a few small birds disappeared, and my suspicions

were aroused. O11 hearing any sound of alarm, I would rush

into the aviary, in time to pick up a warm corpse more or less

mangled but not to see the murderer. Each body had been

ripped open from the vent, and the soft parts attacked. I felt

that Bob must be the culprit, so, with the keenest regret, cut his

wings. But the murders continued ; so I again cut the wings,

this time so short that he ought to have been helpless ; and I

supposed that I should be able to drive him into one of the large

cages and shut him up at night or whenever I might desire.



(c). It died that evening.—A. G. B.



