A KcDiinisccnce. 
23 
the usual if any attention, then let any one go near him! 
Some >avage, and remains so for a week or more. 
lias anyone tried this with their toucans? I know three 
that do it, and probahly it is a conmion trait. Breathe on the 
hind quarter, just under and at the ti]) of the wing- and watch 
him stand on one foot, cock his head, swell up and open, and 
place across his hack the wing you hlow under. 'I'his posture 
is held for a long time and only rcla.xed gradually to normal. 
Then do it again. Brother, it's fine. 
Has anybody got a mate, and if so could she be gotten 
over ? 

A Reminiscence. 
By Miss A. Bruck, 
The appeals of our liditor fc;r coi)y for our .Magazine, and 
a wish to help, in however small a way, to lighten his burden 
in coimection with it, have prompted me to write a few reminis- 
cences of a bird-friend of pre-war days. 
llie bird in question, a Europk.a.x Bkk-E.mkr, was not my 
j)roperty, hut belonged to our member. Lady Kathleen Pilking- 
ton. 1 was, however, privileged to have an intimate acciuaint- 
ance with him during the wdiole of his life in her possession. 
A letter arrived one morning from ^lessrs. De Von. offering" a 
European- Bee-Eater. This sounded attractive, an answer was 
sent, and in due time the Bee-Eater arrived. 
Our knowledge of their habits at that time was nil; 
however, tempting" insect food was placed in a large flight cage, 
and there also was ])laced the Bee-LLater. ( )n a perch he sat, 
looking" lovely, chirruping in a friendly mann.er when anyone 
came near, but he never canie down from the perch or touched 
the food. Mealworms were put in the cage, but in vain. After 
some hours of this we became agitated. At last his owner had 
an insi)iration and offered him a mealworm on a quill. This was 
greedily taken and the situation saved. Eor the first week he 
was fed with the quill entirely ; niealvvorms, wasp grubs and 
gentles were administered in this manner. After a week he 
