The Adventures of a Curlew.



hi



Besides the Violet-eared Humming Bird, Captain Pam brought home

and presented to the Zoological Society 2 Spotted Emerald Tanagers

(Callisie guttata), 2 Purple Sugar Birds ( Ccereba ccerulea), 2 Black-necked

Tanagers ( Euphonia nigricollis), 1 All-green Tanager ( Chlorophonia viridis),

and 1 Red-billed Toucan ( Rhamphastos evythrorhynchus). The Spotted

Emerald Tanagers are new to the collection. D. S-S.



THE ADVENTURES OF A CURLEW.


By Mrs. GREGORY.


The unexpected often happens, even in bird - keeping ! I did not

think to be the possessor of a live Curlew at a moment’s notice.


Just as it was getting dusk last Thursday a policeman rang at the

door-bell and asked to speak to me. In his arms he carried a very fine

Curlew. He said it had been found at the Sandbanks two miles away, and

seemed to think it had walked into Parkstone and into his own little garden

where he caught it. He brought it to me as he could “do nothing with it,”'

and thought I would “give it a home,” adding, “you can pick it np your¬

self as I did, for it is quite tame.” The poor bird was dazzled by the bright

light of the room and hopped mournfully into a corner. It let me take it

up, and I thought the best thing was to put it at once into a run, in which

are a couple of very tame and gentle Silver Pheasant hens. I did not quite

know what to give for food, and it was too late to send for any; but

shrimps for the Flamingoes are always at hand, so I put a few and a little

bread and milk ready for the new comer, but it would not eat.


Next morning I saw that the right wing drooped : the bird had been

slightly injured and could not fly properly. I feared it would mope and

pine if shut in wire, so I opened the aviary door and it walked out escorted

by the two Pheasants. These Silver hens have the entire run of the garden

for hours at a time, and I have no difficulty in getting them back, as they

will follow if I call or let me drive them in at any moment. A week ago

one got over the wall and was found in a garden some little distance off.

She flew back of her own accord ; the other Pheasant at once ran across

the lawn to meet her, offered her a worm, and the two walked quietly back

together into their own run.


But I must return to my Curlew. Now began the first of his troubles.

I had hoped they were at an end, and that he would now make himself happy,

and search for his own worms and slugs with his long slender sensitive bill,

bathe in the nice shallow pond all ready for him, and make himself happv.

But those already in possession thought otherwise. First the three Demoiselle

Cranes walked up to drive away the intruder. They were followed by the

Common Crane. He rushed with open bill at the poor Curlew, and would

have ‘ gone for him ’ had I not promptly'interferred. I carried the perse-



