LONDON BIRDS. 
227 
instantly than to allow him to die slowly of starvation. Those 
who have known the pang of losing some favourite animal, 
which may have been for years a cherished companion, will 
have some compassion for me in parting with Mungo. 1 could 
hardly nerve myself to give the fatal order, and I resolved that 
at any rate before doing so 1 would try and secure a life-like 
portrait of the pathetic little face of my much-loved pet. In 
this I happily succeeded. 
I never possessed an animal that from first to last gave me 
such an amount of worry, vexation, and perplexity, and yet, 
even as a mother generally cares most for her naughtiest child, 
so Mungo’s perversity seemed only to endear him to us all. 
The mongoose never could be made to understand, as a dog 
or cat would, that he had done wrong and ought to be 
ashamed of himself. He would pull over a choice vase of 
flowers, and, standing amid the ruins of the china, would 
look up with the most innocent expression imaginable ; one 
could not be angry with such an irresponsible creature. I 
am glad now to remember that all Mungo's wicked little ways 
were patiently endured. If he had any crumpled rose-leaves in 
his life they were of his own making, and I like to think that 
at any rate I did my best to smooth them for him. 
Eliza Brightwen. 
LONDON BIRDS. 
HE pair of dabchicks which bred in Clissold Park, Stoke 
Newington, last year (see p. 98), returned this spring, 
but in spite of indomitable patience and energy on their 
part, extending over a period of several months, were 
unsuccessful in their nesting in consequence of the persecution 
they suffered from other aquatic birds. The daily observations 
by Park- sergeant Kimber and the writer, of what occurred, are so 
curious, that they may be deemed worthy of record. 
The dabchicks first appeared in the middle of May, on the 
larger miniature lake, which, with the island upon it barely 
exceeds a couple of acres in extent. They at once commenced 
building and, as usual, constructed several false nests before 
finally settling down under the bank of the island. 
Whilst these operations were in progress the male adopted 
a pugnacious attitude towards the water-fowl generally, whenever 
the latter approached ; artful y diving under them and, unseen, 
pecking their feet. It was ludicrous in the extreme from time to 
time to watch the sudden affright of the ducks and even the 
stately swans at these, to them, inexplicable attacks, and to see 
their undignified retreat. Such tactics were of course only 
available in the deep water a few yards out. Further along 
