A few Aviary Notes.



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Michaelmas daisies. Here she sat very closely, not even getting

off to take food and water, which she let me put within her reach.

A few days before the eggs should have hatched out, I saw the

hen walking uneasily about and, on going to look, found the

“ nest ” empty. At first I thought a rat had carried off the eggs,

but presently discovered they had fallen down a hole and were

completely buried in the sandy soil. Only one egg was warm

and this hatched out in due course. When the chick was only

one day old the mother walked off with it to a secluded part of

the garden, and fed and looked after it entirely herself. Once

she was seen driving off a cat—looking so formidable with wings

outspread and hissing loudly that the cat beat a hasty retreat.

At the end of six weeks she brought the chick amongst the other

birds, and sometimes into the run where the male pheasant

Swinlioe + Silver treats it very well.


Since writing about my Trumpeter in the November maga¬

zine, the severe frosts have made me anxious about him as I can

see he feels the cold very much. One morning I found him with

a leg and foot stiff and frozen. I carried him into the house and

gradually warmed them in my hands until circulation was

restored. During the frosts I keep him indoors, only letting

him out for a run in the middle of the day. He makes himself

quite at home, runs up and flies down the stairs after me, and

roosts on a special chair at nights. When the sun shines through

the windows he stands in its rays with spread wings and bent

knees, and basks before the fire iu the same way. Sometimes

lying down on the rug with his wings out.


I should like to add, in conclusion, that if any Member is

visiting Bournemouth, and would like to see this interesting bird

I shall be very pleased to show him. He wins all hearts by his

delightful way of running up to strangers, making pretty little

chirping sounds to attract their notice and attention.



