194 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



regular member of our little flock. **Ku- 

 ku," '^Pidg>%" and ''Uncle Harry" are 

 tam.e, and will allow their friends to 

 caress them. But this newcomer is still 

 more confident and trustful. The young 

 birds, especially ''Pidg}^" are liable to 

 sudden panics, on which occasions they 

 seem to be listening intently, and then dash 

 off in all directions. ''No. 4" is the last to 

 join in these stampedes, and sometimes 

 does not budge at all. Nor does he seem 

 to have any objection to numbers, for 

 during his first few meals, we were all 

 eager to view him closely and admire his 

 magnificent attire. He is a heavier bird 

 than any of the others, and his matured 

 plumage quite outshines that of the younger 

 Pigeons. 



On June 26th another bird, "No. 5" as 

 he is called, flew down on to the lawn, and 

 as "No. 4" had at first behaved, began to 

 pluck and eat mouthfuls of grass. That 

 day he was in company with the other 

 pigeons, and with them came up close to 

 us and appeared perfectly tame. Fovir 

 days later he arrived by himself, settling 

 on the verandah roof, and his mates ap- 



