My Birds at Brinsop Court.



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hardly exist; ideal in climate, in variety and abundance of species,

and in the fact that it is in the most southerly latitude, where

many of those families distinguishing the great Brazilian sub-region

of South America are still fairly plentiful and well represented, and

where these may be seen without venturing into those countries

where the perennial tropical nature of the climate makes even the

effort of existence a wearisome burden.


The only deterrent might be whether pleasure at the sight of

caged birds might not become somewhat vapid with their wild

confreres within calling distance of those in captivity.



MY BIRDS AT BRINSOP COURT.


By Hubert D. Astley.


For months it was on my mind. That move from Berkshire

into Herefordshire. I could not move all the birds at once. I

could not be settled in my new home, yet I must prepare their

homes, and have someone in one county and someone in another

to look after those that would be moved and others still left behind.

People asked me how many birds I had ? I didn’t know ! About

100 Ducks, including some 16 or 17 species, six species of Geese,

Black-necked and Coscoroba Swans, „14 enormous Cranes, which

wouldn’t exactly go into one portmanteau; the contents of a bird-

room, in which were such rarities as Bed Sun Birds, a Crested

Ixulus, Blue-headed Bock Thrushes, Blue Budgerigars, Yucatan

Blue Jays, etc., etc. ; about 90 birds in outdoor aviaries, and other

etceteras, such as Japanese Bantams (the Duckwing variety). And

at the other end all confusion, a 14th Century Manor House in a

state of resurrection from what it had become of late years, a

decidedly dilapidated farm-house, adorned outside with every con¬

ceivable untidiness and rubbish ; the drainage of the house and farm

emptying into the surrounding moat, the farm-yard staring at one

from the other side of the water, offending both eyes and nose, rats

gaily gambolling in broad daylight ; no garden, unless a strip of

ground rich in chickweed (which, by-the-bye, encouraged me to take

the place !) with a “ summer-house,” whose windows were adorned



