THE CRIMSON-EARED WAX BILL. 51 



open wire-covered court or playground. The nests 

 and food pans were in the former and there the birds 

 passed the night and such hours of daylight as were 

 rainy or during which a cold wind blew. 



The doorway of communication between the inner and 

 outer portions had a little sliding door in it, such as 

 one often sees affixed to a dovecot, and on either side 

 of this was a ledge for the inmates to rest on before 

 passnig in or out. This little door I used to close 

 every evening and so keep the birds snug and warm 

 until they were released in the morning when the sun 

 was shining, whether visibly or not. 



One day, by mischance, either I shut out a number 

 of birds, or they got through a minute opening at the 

 side of the ledge, I cannot say which, and next morning 

 I found many of them dead on the grass. It is un- 

 necessary to say that I was deeply grieved; however, 

 there it was, and the only survivor was a fine cock 

 Cordon Bleu, which is another name for the subject 

 of the present notice. 



He did not seem any the worse for his exposu r 

 to the cold night air and to the drizzling rain that 

 had proved so disastrous to his companions. It was 

 buying my knowledge rather dear, it is true, but I 

 left him out for the rest of the season, and not only 

 did he take no hurt, but when I turned some others 

 out in the spring he was the finest and handsomest 

 bird of the lot. 



