186 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



ticular as to the condition of the feeder's 

 hands. On one occasion I had been gar- 

 dening in muddy weather, and the birds, 

 though hungry, evinced every sign of disgust 

 and nervousness at the soiled appearance 

 of my hands, and, indeed, I had to wash 

 to appease their susceptibilities. Gloves, 

 too, cause them uneasiness, and on another 

 occasion, when a Maori woman, one of my 

 innumerable "landlords," wished herself to 

 feed the birds, her brown skin was so 

 evidently an offence that we feared the stout 

 old lady would notice it, and had to invent 

 many excuses for the birds' unusual conduct! 

 They are now beginning undoubtedly to feed 

 themselves on poplar buds, the undeveloped 

 male seeds of the insignis, and probably 

 other dainties of that kind. 



Often I hear the Pigeon termed a stupid 

 bird, and just as an honest man among 

 rogues is called a fool, so perhaps the Pigeon's 

 trust and guilelessness does deserve that 

 name amongst those who shoot him sitting 

 at close quarters. Otherwise he is by no 

 means a fool. Far from being stupid, the 



