246



Mr. P. W. Fakmborough,



dead and, although the remaining two had a few insects almost

directly, they had gone before breakfast was over. Of course

it was the delay which took place before it was possible for me to

get down to where they were and feed them, as well as having to

wait until morning before insects could be procured that caused

the death of these mites ; thus ended the first experiment.


A few days later, after I had left, I received a letter which

said: “Another nest of young Crakes found yesterday; don’t

worry! Joe* is feeding them up with that ‘stuff’ you left

and says they are taking it well.” This was good news for

three reasons: first that another nest had been found, secondly

that there was someone there who could look after them, and

thirdly that they were feeding, as it so happened that I could

not leave owing to an official engagement that prevented me

going down into the country, so that I felt quite relieved

to think that possibly things would continue to go until I could

get to the farm and see what was happening. It was nearly a

week before I went—two letters having arrived in the meantime

to say all was well—and then when I arrived Joe met me at the

station with “Well, Maister P'armborough, I’se done th’ trick

for ye and gotten them on foine ! you’ll be main pleased when

you sees ’em, I’ll lay.” And so I was for he had got four perky

young Crakes about three weeks or so old, as tame and cheeky

as could be with him, but a bit nervous of me when I tried to

feed them or, to be more correct, put the food in the Tate’s sugar

box for them, as they were picking for themselves.


After a few days I had them transferred to an aviary I had

had constructed by the kindness of my friend the owner, by the

lake, so as to have a part of the water enclosed. It was a very

cheaply erected structure, of tarred posts and wire netting;

advantage was taken of two trees which stood six yards apart,

not quite ten yards from the water’s edge, to make them one end

of the aviary, the other end being five yards in the water, which

was rather shallow just at this spot. The chief item of expense

was the wire netting, which took more than I had at first judged ;

but as my friend told me to order what was wanted and said he’d

pay for it, it practically cost me nothing.



* One of the farm hands.



