CHOWS. 71 



of jays coming at a very slow rate across the tops of the 

 forest trees towards us. 



" ' Now the fan will begin,' whispered the garde in my ear, 

 and his eyes twinkled merrily. Saying this, he placed and 

 held the little cage in front of his knees, and began poking 

 his fingers through the bars. 



" Screech ! screech ! screech ! " at once shouted the captive 

 jay, at the same time attacking vigorously the keeper's hand, 

 and all the while keeping up incessantly its extraordinary 

 clatter. 



" ' Screech ! screech ! screech ! " replied immediately the 

 astonished wild jays, pausing at first in their surprise, and 

 settling on the branches nearest to them to listen. 



" ' Screech ! screech ! ' pursued the tame bird, and the 

 others, wondering no doubt what on earth was being done 

 to their confrere, set sail without further parley, and drew 

 nearer to try to find, doubtless, where the aggravating assault 

 was being committed. In a few moments, the trees around 

 us were covered with them, turning their big heads this way 

 and that way, making their eyes sparkle and shine like beads, 

 and showing themselves off, oh, so beautifully ! with their 

 wonderfully bright plumage, amidst the ripe cherries and the 

 green leaves which surrounded them. It was almost a pity 

 to disturb and catch them, but the keeper did not see it ' in 

 the same light.' ' Screech ! screech ! screech ! ' exploded 

 Karl's bird under his manipulations ; and, lo ! whilst I Was 

 watching one of the strangers in his evolutions something 

 fell behind me with a great deal of spluttering, on the hut, 

 and rolled from thence to the ground ; then another ; and 

 another again ; and on turning round quietly I saw three 

 jays on the grass, struggling to set themselves free ; but the 

 glued stick held them well, and the birds' fate was settled. 

 In a moment more four or five more jays were also coming 

 down, and Karl, withdrawing his fingers, allowed his ' call ' 

 bird to relapse into quietness. Thereupon those of the wild 

 birds which were still free flew back towards the forest, 



