My Birds at Brinsop Court.



253



that three of the Cranes, a Manchurian and a pair of Australian, had

managed to flap over the six-foot wire fencing, and that some great

commotion was taking place. Then to my horror I could see the

pair of Indian Sams dancing a war dance over a fallen Crane, every

now and again digging at it viciously with dagger-like bills. Out I

rushed like a whirlwind, over the stone bridge and paved terrace,

across the lawn, vaulted the railings, and away over the meadow.

By the time I reached the Crane’s paddock I made certain the poor

Australian was done for; she lay all of a heap, perfectly still, head

and neck doubled under her body, and one big wing sticking up

moved only by the April wind. My language was so strong that I

looked round and felt relieved that no one was near.


Much to my astonishment, on lifting up the fallen bird I

found it was still alive, but grievously wounded about the head, one

eye being apparently destroyed. When I had carried it to a small

stream close by to lave its poor head, and then made to put it gently

on the grass, it rose up with a hoarse cry of terror, stumbled

forwards a few feet, and then collapsed in a heap with its neck and

head underneath its body, just as I had first found it.


I looked back at the pair of Sarus, stalking about in triumph,

and shook my fist. Were I to record what I said to them, all the

respectable members of the Avicultural Society would at once resign,

and it goes without saying that that-would embrace the whole

Society!


After having taken the wounded Crane to the house, and

summoned to my aid my Bird-keeper, I went out to look for the

Manchurian—the pair of Australians which had got out were

walking about the meadow fairly quietly—but the Manchurian was

scared, especially as he was separated from his mate, and had

already reached the far end of a very long meadow, apparently with

some idea of walking to Hereford, 6i miles distant. We headed

him, as luckily there was a high hedge to limit his peregrinations in

that direction, walked him back towards the Cranes’ paddock, and

just as we thought we had him in, away he went with large flappings,

dived through a gap in a hedge of overgrown hawdhorns, and up a

field of plough sloping towards a wooded hill. I ran, and he ran,

and we all three ran. The great Manchurian first, I second, and the



