My Birds at Brinsop Court.



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never seen any of mine attempt to do so ; when I let one out loose

on a large pond and had to catch him again owing to other ducks

and the Flamingoes starving him out, it was not until he was hard

pressed by being harried by the boat which followed him that he

finally dived, as any other surface duck would do under such

circumstances.


The male bird is very pretty ; the face and neck snow-white,

the crown of the head dark greenish brown with a darker ring

coming down from the back of the neck and extending round the

base in front; flanks whitish-grey, upper parts deep bottle-green.

The bill is goose-like, as in the Bernicle Geese. Cotton Teal have a

curious way of bobbing their heads up and down, and (on land)

wagging their tails.


They do well on smaller seeds, such as dari, hemp seed,

millet, etc., and are fond of water-weeds. Up till now the flock I

have and the pair at the London Zoological Gardens are, I believe,

the only ones in Europe, and it is only through Mr. David Ezra’s

undaunted perseverance and kindness that these have reached

England in good health, although I must not omit my thanks to the

Captain of one ship and the steward of another who took the

greatest pains to tend them on the voyage from Calcutta.


The next success to be obtained is to breed from them !

They are the smallest ducks that are known in the world. Real

pigmies.


^ 5,*C 5|< 3,' h'


In my Bird-room, which is fitted with every convenience, hot

and cold water, radiator, and electric light, the inmates vary to a

certain extent from time to time. Some of the birds are out in the

aviaries during the summer ; others, especial pets, are always there,

except when their cages are hanging in the courtyard or the loggia,

etc.


A beautiful Blue-headed Rock Thrush still keeps in excellent

condition, his portrait having figured in a coloured plate in the

Magazine. Mr. A. Ezra’s pair of Great Niltavas are also there,

having been sent to me for country air and for more exercise than

they could have in cages in London.


The male is a magnificent shining purple-blue, the female a



