6920 Birds. 



The plan I propose, besides introducing shell-fish, &c., is to feed 

 them, in captivity, upon worms, and, if we succeed in keeping them 

 alive in Sydney by that method for three months, to send them in the 

 place of confinement, arranged as before described, to England, 

 keeping them upon the same diet. At all events it is worthy of a trial ; 

 and, on quitting Sydney, I left the artificial burrow and other prepa- 

 rations with a person interested in the subject, in order that he might 

 try the experiment. 



I have remarked that when healthy these animals, on emerging 

 from the water, are in the habit of cleaning and drying their fur, and 

 seem to pay great attention to their being in a clean and dry condition, 

 and appear also to be fond of warmth. Not long previous to the 

 death of both these animals, I remarked that they did not dry or clean 

 their fur, and 1 have no doubt that the chilliness produced by that 

 circumstance accelerated their death, as the body — more especially 

 in the male — was not so emaciated as would have been the case had 

 death ensued from starvation. 



The Two Jackdaws. — In the summer of 1858 my friend, Mr. King, of Melbourne, 

 procured four jackdaws from four different nests, wishing to keep one only as a pet. 

 "Three of them were reared, one of which was presented to a neighbouring clergyman, 

 another to a gentleman who lives on a farm on Melbourne Common (a lonely spot, 

 probably a mile distant), and the third he kept for himself. The latter (a male bird) 

 remained quite contented with his situation for about three weeks, at the end of which 

 time he frequently absented himself towards the middle of the day, but came back to 

 roost. This he continued to do for perhaps three weeks longer, when he was missed 

 altogether. Some time afterwards tidings were obtained of him, and, singular to say, 

 that, having crossed Melbourne Pool and a somewhat peculiar kind of country, he had 

 made his way to the farmhouse on the common, and taken up his quarters with the 

 other jackdaw, his old companion, who, by-the-bye, happened to be an individual of 

 the " gentler sex." The two remained at the farm all winter, coming into the house, 

 feeding together, and being very tame. In the spring of the ensuing year they 

 paired, and at last built a nest in the dovecote, where the female would have laid (for 

 the eggs in the ovarium were considerably advanced), but unfortunately, whilst feeding 

 one morning with the fowls, a domestic hen (which had chickens, not liking 

 the colour of Mrs. Jack's cloth) set upon and killed her. The cock still remains in 

 his old quarters alive and well. — From the ' Field.' 



The Magpie Nesting in Confinement. — A curious circumstance occurred at 

 Barrow-on Trent, in Derbyshire, one of the very few instances of the magpie breeding 

 in confinement, more especially in the manner described. Two persons in that village 

 had each a tame magpie, one was a male, the other a female. It was agreed that a 

 matrimonial alliance should take place between them, and consequently they were in 

 due time introduced to each other. With a coyness becoming her sex, Miss Magpie 



