148 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



quite easy to acclimatize them in this country ; whether 

 it would be desirable to do so, is another question, 

 for they are very destructive among timber, and par- 

 ticularly so in orchards and cornfields. 



In a wood bordering on Peckham Rye Common 

 some of these birds, escaped from cages, no doubt, 

 took up their abode every year almost, and surprised 

 the residents of the neighbourhood by making incursions 

 into the adjoining gardens. What they lived on is not 

 so clear, but probably on the buds of the trees, and 

 the young shoots, and seeds they could find about; 

 but they appeared to thrive, for several that were caught 

 by the keeper at different times were in splendid 

 condition. 



It would seem, however, that these truants were 

 not fond of providing for themselves, for they used to 

 come down and feed with the poultry, and it was 

 while so doing that they were secured and lost their 

 liberty for the second time, at least, in their lives. 

 However, when the days were growing shorter, and 

 the nights longer, was the time when they were usually 

 caught, so it may be that the remembrance of former 

 comfortable quarters and plenty of good food without 

 the trouble of seeking it, may have influenced them in 

 their decision to return to civilised life. 

 The scientific name is Palceornis torquatus. 



