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Mr. Hubert D. Astley.



degradation and broke its heart I should not like to say, but it died

that night, so that I had no chance to study this most beautiful of

its genus: of the allied Bronze Mannikin I have had a fair number,

but the hens always died egg-bound. I purchased two or three of

the tiny Bib finch in poor condition, but did not succeed in keeping

them long; they were probably on their last legs when they came

into my possession. The Mannikins (as a sub-group) are, generally

speaking, hardy and long-lived.


(To be continued.)



MY BIRDS AT BRINSOP COURT.


By Hubert D. Astley.


(Continued from page 206.)


It never rains but it pours ! I wonder whether other people

find that if there is one loss or tragedy amongst their birds, it is

sure to be followed by one or two more.


A few weeks ago my splendid Red male Flamingo, which

arrived from Mexico last autumn, and which I had carefully tended

through the winter, was found dead.


The crop was full of wheat, he was fat and well liking, and

only the day before I had been congratulating myself on his improved

appearance, his energy in sparring with his European cousins, his

colour becoming more vivid, and on his whole demeanour being that

of a bird gaining in health and strength. “ Well,” I said, “ if that’s

the only loss I must feel fortunate,” and tried to buoy up my fallen

spirits with that poor comfort ; but I had my doubts.


I was like a housemaid at a house I was staying in, who,

having had a sharp misunderstanding with the cook, on its being put

before her that the ruler of the kitchen really was not a bad sort and

meant well, replied, “ Well! I ’op>es Fanny will go to ’eaven.” Her

doubts have yet to be verified; mine have not.


I was about to take up my pen to write glowing accounts of

my Cranes, how handsome they all look in one large paddock

together, etc.: when it seemed to me by the calling and trumpeting

that something was wrong, for some of the cries had a sound of

distress. Looking out of the window, the first thing I realized was



