THE HERO ENTERS SUDDENLY 



tractive perching places were imperative; 

 a high pole with horizontal bars at branch- 

 like distances being the favorite of these. 



Whenever I left the room without the 

 birds, I dropped and fastened to the floor 

 the mosquito-netting portieres which always 

 hung at my doors as precautionary meas- 

 ures; and for longer absences I had also 

 provided screens for open windows. Chupes 

 and Jenny were at liberty to fly out when I 

 could accompany them, but there was dan- 

 ger in any expedition not under my direct 

 supervision. Boys with kidnapping de- 

 signs, cats, dogs, hawks, and I can't tell 

 you how many other enemies, awaited 

 them. And a propos of dogs, why would it 

 not be advisable to employ for decreasing 

 their number and preventing much of their 

 misery the same merciful methods that I 

 have suggested for lessening the cat popu- 

 lation? Although they are not such fierce 

 49 



