112 On Ring-necked Parrakeets at large in Hampshire.


know perfectly well that I have returned long before they either see

or hear me the following morning. I know that they are cognizant of my

return by the peculiar noise they make. It is said that the sense of smell in

Parrots is accentuated. Well it may be, but I hardly think this is the

solution. It is impossible that they can see through half-a-dozen brick

walls—unless, as Mr. Samuel Weller said at the famous trial, they had a

magnifying glass of extra million power. I am inclined to think that

there is something in this ‘sixth sense.’


“Of course it goes without saying that their five years’ sojourn in

Hampshire has not been without vicissitudes. On one occasion, they had

flown about three miles from my house, and were resting on the branches

of a tree. Three men, who were working near, were endeavouring to catch

them, when, fortunately, a friend of mine happened to be passing on his

bicycle and observed what was being done. Leaving his machine in the

road, he went to the men and rebuked them. They desisted, and Jack and

Jill reached home in safety.


“A duplicate of this affair was enacted close to our Church a month or

two after what has just been related transpired. Three strange workmen

were uniting their efforts to catch them, when a parishioner at work in a

neighbouring field took in the situation, left his work, and expostulated with

the would-be poachers. To their credit, be it said, they relinquished their

intentions, and again Jack and Jill flew home once more.


“During the summer of 1902, there were many indications that my

birds would set up house-keeping. Again, so early in the season as the

beginning of March last year, everything pointed in that direction. The

hen tried two or three times to make her way into the thatch which covers

the barn, but the project has so far been abandoned.*


“More than once, I have been asked— 1 Do you ever carry anything

about with you, in order to induce these birds to follow you ? ’ In Paris—I

have never seen the sight in London—I have often seen in one of the

squares there half-a-dozen Sparrows settle on the arm of a man, and evince

no fear. Some people will tell you that the man has something in his

pocket by which he attracts the birds, as rats are attracted by oil of aniseed.

I do not believe it for a moment. I certainly do carry one commodity but

only one, and that is love—‘and perfect love that casteth out fear’—but I

carry nothing else. It is all comprehended in that word.”



* If Mr. Edge were to have some suitable nesting boxes or hollow logs fastened up

in the trees the birds frequent, there is little doubt that the Parrakeets would breed

successfully, and a brood of young- Ring-necks, reared in the open, would be a delightful

sight.—E d.



