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Mr. G. A. Heumann,



long as they are being stuffed, which only means to delay a little

the inevitable end. I have met with very many refractory birds like

this, and my experience has taught me that it is far better to give

them their freedom. The Rifle-birds are undoubtedly the cream of

the Australian bush, though the species here is not quite so gorgeous

as the one from New Guinea which has been imported into England.

They are shy birds, and I have not been so fortunate yet as to catch

one. When insects are scarce in the bush they will feed on fruit,

and during one of their raids on a loquat tree one fine cock got on a

lime stick set for Regents, which my friend was watching at the

time. However, before he was able to take the bird it had dropped

off the stick by its own weight. This trick, when finding that the

legs stick, of falling backwards and gradually dropping off without

moving a feather, shows certainly a great deal of intelligence, for

should one feather adhere to the lime there would be no escape. I

found a number of birds do this, such as Silver Eyes, Red Heads and

others. I regret even now that, in mistake for a Honey-sucker

which I did not know, I once shot what proved to be afterwards a

young male Rifle-bird. I have not given up hopes yet of seeing this

bird in my aviaries. A fine bird is the Pitta, commonly called

“ Dragoon,” on account of its proud and upright walk or run. A

gorgeous bird, not unlike the Kingfisher. In the early morning or

towai’ds evening their mournful call may be heard sounding like I

lost my wife,” twice repeated. They are curious birds, and can

easily be whistled up. A trap set with a dead bird in it will never

fail to catch them, even whilst one looks on. Feeding principally on

snails in the bush, these birds have the remarkable habit of carrying

them to a certain stone in the bush which serves all the Pittas in

the neighbourhood ; here the snails are cracked and eaten. It is, of

course, only by chance that one finds the spot, which is apparent

by the quantities of broken shells lying about, but, when found, to

catch Pittas is like shelling the proverbial peas. In the aviary they

live on raw beef, and if a smaller bird comes within their reach they

go for its brains ; yet, with all their faults, they are most desirable

birds. Another lovely bird we caught was the Mountain Thrush

(Turdus lunulatci). These resemble the European Thrush, but are

larger and more stately. They live on the ground in the dense



