THE


Avicultural Magazine


BEING THE JOURNAL OF

THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY

FOR THE STUDY OF

FOREIGN & BRITISH BIRDS

IN FREEDOM & CAPTIVITY



Third Series. —Vol. XIII.—No. 6 .—All rights reserved. JUNE, 1922.



GENERAL NOTES ON AVICULTURE


By Dr. M. Amsler


{Concluded from p. 80.)


I think I must have been about 14 years of age when I took

a couple of Jackdaws from a pollard elm, which was hollow almost

to the ground level. I well remember the incident because

I scrambled down the inside of the hollow trunk, and it was mere

desperation and a prospect of a slow and lingering death which

enabled me to get up again with my two prizes.


One of these birds I kept: he was full-winged, and had his

liberty in a small London garden. His tameness I have never

seen equalled, and he never strayed but once, when he flew into

the bathroom window of an old lady. She was so irate that

I suspect she must have been having a bath.


I kept this bird for several years, and he died one summer

holiday during my absence. My next two birds were a Jay and

a Magpie, both taken from the nest on the same day. For some

reason neither of these ever became really tame, and I blush to

say I have no recollection of their ends. After this I kept no birds

till I started practice here, when I received three half-fledged

Ravens from the Hebrides ; needless to say they were hungry on

arrival, and I shall not easily forget the face of the man who

carried the travelling box from the station.


One may forget to feed a young Thrush or Lark, but one cannot

forget three lusty Ravens, even if well covered over for the night;


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