GLUTTONS AND DRUNKARDS 67 



nuts to a Pigeon I encountered just to see how 

 many it would take ; but after eating a couple, it 

 only took the next two or three in its bill and 

 pettishly threw them aside, after which it flew off. 

 Evidently it was already full-fed, but could not 

 resist the temptation to swallow a little more, and 

 its discomfiture reminded me of the story of the 

 glutton Quin, who, after eating all he could of the 

 homely joint of boiled aitchbone of beef, actually 

 burst into tears, after toying with a slice from a 

 roast haunch of venison, which his host, knowing 

 his weakness, had kept in reserve till he should be 

 hors de combat. 



I have also heard of a case in which some Turkeys 

 kept on one of the Channel Islands obtained access 

 to a garden in which there were mulberry trees, 

 and gorged themselves till they died from the 

 effects of their meal. Birds will even get drunk, or 

 something very like it ; the Jungle-Fowl of Southern 

 India {Gallus sonnerati) and of Ceylon (G. lafayetti) 

 feed freely on the fruit of plants of the genus 

 Strobilanthes, which so stupefies them that they can 

 be knocked over with a stick ; and in South Africa 

 Bulbuls {Pycnonottis tricolor) feed on the fermented 

 berries of the Cape gooseberry, which so intoxicate 

 them that they cannot fly straight or far. 



Many years ago, when a boy at Maidstone, I 

 had an opportunity of seeing that a bird may 

 appear to enjoy the feeling of intoxication. Having 

 read that small birds could be caught by oflFering 

 them turnip-seed soaked in whiskey, I tried the 



