IN IDLE MOMENT 35 



interwoven leafage noiselessly as a butterfly; but scrub 

 fowls, scared by the apparition in white, scamper off 

 with a clatter, scattering the dead leaves. In such 

 narrow quarters, birds are under restraint, and show 

 anxiety and apprehension. There is no sport or play. 

 They drink quickly and with faculties strained, and 

 flutter off excitedly on the least alarm. Well may they 

 be suspicious, for is not the cool spot attractive to the 

 sly enemy, the green snake, which conceals its presence 

 by faithful resemblance to the creepers among which it 

 glides ? Here, too, come millions of industrious bees, 

 and in the dusk the big pencilled-tailed water-rat, 

 which the masterful dog kills with as little ceremony as 

 he does the bird-scaring snakes. 



It was late for cockatoos to start on their daily 

 flight to the mainland from the big tree close to the 

 twin palms half-way up the hill, and as they flew hastily 

 and in close compan}' they scolded each other in un- 

 mannerly terms. The language must have been vexing, 

 for as they sped along far above the passionless sea one 

 jostled the other. It was just the sort of action to 

 provoke hungry, peevish birds to vindictiveness. That 

 which had been jostled turned on the offender with 

 angry shrieking, and instantly a clamorous fight was in 

 progress. Claws became interlocked, and the}' fell each 

 with distended crest, like a gilt-edged cloudlet following 

 the setting sun. Shadow and substance met with a 

 splash . The sea momentarily swallowed the combatants . 

 Then a yellow note of exclamation appeared, and with 

 laboured flutterings, using his enemy as a base, one rose 

 and struggled to the beach oaks. Frantic wing-beating 

 showed that the other bird was in serious difficulties. 

 It was a hundred yards out, but the enjoyment of a sun- 

 bath after a sea frolic enabled one to proceed to the rescue 

 without preliminaries. Half drowned and completely 



