92



Mr. Reginald Phillipps,



or denseness or whatever you may like to call it held him back.

What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh, and, like the

typical Britisher, having been accustomed to one way of doing a

thing, rather than do it in any other he would prefer to—to live

on some other person’s scanty earnings. Thus in identical

circumstances some succeed, and others fail because they will

not take the trouble to adapt themselves to their altered

Surroundings.


On the 17th the two eggs w T ere safe. O11 the following

morning, at S.40, I found the bird on the nest with her head

under her wing, a sight I had never previously beheld with any

sitting bird of any species that I can remember. After break¬

fast I closely watched her. Her breathing was rather laboured

but she seemed bright and cheerful, and was most unwilling to

come off the nest, so I left her undisturbed. During the morning

I was busy near her, and for a moment she came out; she

seemed fairly well, and on seeing who it was promptly hopped

back again. The eggs must have been safe at that time ; but

when I returned about 4 p.m. both had disappeared and the old

birds too.


The afternoon had been foggy and dark ; and lamps, and

my old friends the Bee-eaters, figured April, 1902, who cannot

see to feed themselves in a bad light, had fully occupied my

attention. In truth I had on one occasion sallied out and driven

away the male Black-headed Sibia, figured June, 1903, who had

taken up a watchful position close to the nest, like a cat watching

a mouse-hole, in spite of the energetic remonstrances of the

Bishop. Doubtless it was this bird who secured the coveted

eggs (alas for me, for I also coveted them) ; but whether it was

that the female, owing to indisposition, had deserted the nest,

or had only gone away to feed and warm herself, I do not know.

Probably it was the latter; and one feels that the male, if he had

not the gumption to sit on the eggs, might have kept the thief at

bay until the female returned, as 011 former occasions; but a

male Sibia is slim, bold, purposeful, and strong, and exception¬

ally daring and quick in his movements.


The nest, built solely of hay, 3ft. Sin. above the ground, was

so open in construction that one could see through it in any part.



