BIBDS FOR LONDON 311 



hearts ; accordingly the daw was taken away 

 and placed with the tame rooks. The rooks 

 treated her very well, and in their society she 

 probably soon forgot her foreigner. And by- 

 and-by a wild daw was attracted to the tree 

 and joined the company : this was a male bird 

 in fine plumage, and Sergeant Kimber conceived 

 the idea that it would be a good stroke to catch 

 it and clip its wing-tips to prevent it from going 

 away. The wild daw was very cunning ; by 

 day he would remain most of the time with the 

 rooks and his ragged friend, but at night he 

 invariably retired to roost in some tall trees in 

 another part of the park. In spite of his 

 cunning he was eventually caught and placed 

 on the rooks' tree with just the tips of his wings 

 clipped. From that time the two daws were 

 inseparable, and their romantic attachment 

 promised to end in a lasting and happy union ; 

 but after a few weeks a second wild daw, this 

 time a female, was attracted to the tree and 

 joined the little community. This was a fine 

 glossy bird, and no sooner had she come than 

 the male daw began to make up to her, coolly 

 throwing over his first love. By this time he 

 had recovered his power of flight, and after 



