Birds In and Abont ihc Si at ion. 
330 
swoop after swoop through the water at a pretty smart pace 
with an occasional rest on a branch to fluff themselves out 
and preen their feathers. The water-dish was about i8 inches 
in diameter but quite shallow, two inches deep at most, yet 
the birds never seemed to touch the bottom. The Fantails 
sometimes indulj^ed in swoops through, but the swoops at the 
best were of a very fluttery nature and as a rule the bird's 
preferred n fluttering- sort of swim through from the edge, one 
foot on the bottom sort of swim. The Fantails were not 
above sitting on the edge and having an ordinary splash bath 
but never seemed to bathe standing in the water. 
I regret not having let go these Flycatchers on leaving, 
but my man had al)undancc of live food at his disposal and I 
had good reason to expect their doing" all right with him; 
however they did die. I fancy one would have a better chance 
with hand-reared birds, as ]\Ir. Stewart-Baker had some for 
several years, He seems to have found them easy to cater 
for. chicken's liver being apparently a keenly-desired dainty, 
but from his account (which I have not by me at present) 
they seemed to get a great deal of live food. As far as I 
can remember he only mentions meat in addition to live food. 
I tried various mixtures of soft food, all insect of course', 
with various proportions of fresh hard-boiled egg, but with 
no success. 1 have found egg of the greatest use in tempt- 
ing diffi(~ult birds on lo sofi food. If I see my way to the 
necessary leisure, or can get a real bird-loving man, I shall 
attempt hand-rearing again. Failing that I shall try an adult 
cock caught either on arrival or just before their departure. 
It it unfortunate that I do not see my way to a winter-caught 
bird, as such bird'; in my experience are far the most satis- 
factory, 
{To be continued) . 
♦ 
Editorial. 
A Retrospect: This is always important, but especi- 
ally so when civilisation is engaged in a vital struggle for 
liberty against educated barbarism; but this colossal 
struggle in which many of our members (many more 
than is apparent by our Roll of Honour) are en- 
