THE LONDON DAW 59 



as guests, since their birds are always free 

 to fly about tbe house and go and come at 

 pleasure. But their special favourite is the 

 daw, which they regard as far more intelligent, 

 interesting, and companionable than any other 

 animal, not excepting the dog. On one occasion 

 Mr. Melford saw an advertisement of a hundred 

 daws to be sold for trap-shooting, and to save 

 them from so miserable a fate he at once pur- 

 chased the lot and took them home. They were 

 in a miserable half-starved condition, and to 

 give them a better chance of survival, before 

 freeing them he placed them in an outhouse in 

 his garden with a wire-netting across the door- 

 way, and there he fed and tended them until 

 they were well and strong, and then gave them 

 their liberty. But they did not at once take 

 advantage of it ; grown used to the place and 

 the kindly faces of their protectors, they re- 

 mained and were like tame birds about the 

 house ; but later, a few at a time, at long 

 intervals, they went away and back to their 

 wild independent life. 



Of the many stories of their pet daws which 

 they have told me, I will give one of a bird which 

 was a particular favourite of Mrs. Melford's. 



