YOUTH AND EDUCATION 7 



many of the years of my boyhood by a long- 

 continued residence in the metropolis." Never- 

 theless, even under the disadvantages of a 

 London life, he followed, he says, his favourite 

 science " with zeal and devotion." 



As a boy in the metropolis, Tegetmeier's 

 earliest observations were necessarily confined 

 to captive and domestic animals. In order to 

 pursue his favourite hobby he obtained leave 

 from his father, who was evidently a kind-hearted 

 and gentle man, to construct an aviary. To 

 make this aviary in the front area of his father's 

 house, the boy had to learn the art of netting, 

 for modern wire-work was then unknown. The 

 keeping of birds in small cages did not give him 

 any opportunity for the investigation of their 

 actions and instincts — " which even as a boy I 

 loved to pursue." Hence his creation of an 

 aviary which he at once stocked with a choice 

 selection of thrushes and other hardy British 

 birds that " gladdened the neighbourhood with 

 their song." Blackcaps, and other migratory 

 species, including even nightingales, he bought 

 to stock his aviary, from the bird-fanciers of the 

 neighbourhood. Already, in these early days, 

 Tegetmeier's fancy turned strongly to pigeons, 

 and this is how he describes his first practical 

 acquaintance with the birds through which he 

 was destined first to become famous : " The 

 possession of pigeons — the objects of my most 



