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Miss Rosie Aederson,



them. The Cranes know quite well what the sight of a beetle

trap means now, and if they see you with one in your hand they

will probably come out of their favourite corner in the shrubbery

to meet you. They are birds that delight in water and “ Rex,”

the cock bird, will go right into a very large zinc bath that is

always kept filled for them and make a fine splashing. We found,

after all, the Cranes were not plant eaters but, what is almost as

bad, they are plant sitters. I do not know if the hen had any

idea of nesting last summer, but she chose to sit continually in

the centre of a large bed of crimson ivy leaved geranium, “ Rex”

standing guard over her meantime. Later they turned their

attention to beds of Verbenas and other plants. We could not

do away with the flowers, nor did we want to do away with the

Cranes, and so the gardener, who was very patient over the

affliction, for really it was trying to see his bedding out so spoilt,

put small stakes and twine (a sort of miniature fencing) all round

the outside of the flower beds. I hope, as the novelty may have

gone off by now, we shall be able to dispense with this pro¬

tection in the summer and enjoy our flowers undisturbed. I have

not seen the Cranes on the beds for a long time now, though

I once saw “Rex” very cautiously try his weight with one foot

on the top string and, finding it would bear him, I believe he

stepped over. The Cranes are a most devoted couple and it is

very'' amusing to watch them. They will stand motionless facing

one another, gazing into each other’s eyes, then solemnly bow

and shake their wings, and stretching them out above their heads

perform a sort of love dance. It is only when the wings are

spread that the pinioning shows badly, for two joints were taken

off one wing in each bird, when the wings are in repose you

would not notice it.


One last word about the Cranes before you are tired of them.

You should see them cross the garden in a series of long jumps

with stretched out wings and necks. First one bird goes and

then the other, and “ Hop o’ my Thumb ” is not in it. But it is

not very often they so far forget themselves, as a rule they are

far too stately to indulge in such mad behaviour. And now I

will take you down to the lower garden to see almost the first

aviary I ever put up. It is heated with hot water pipes, a bad



