NATURAL HISTORY NOT US 
1 77 
the keeping of birds in small cages is most reprehensible, but the fact that they 
are so kept is no argument at all against keeping them in aviaries and roomy 
cages. The keeping of birds, or, as we now call it, aviculture, is largely on the 
increase in England, and opposition to it is futile ; but much can be done by 
precept and example in teaching the right way to keep our feathered pets. 
I believe that bird-catchers have reduced the number of goldfinches, though 
the decrease is partly due to other causes ; but 1 doubt if there be even one other 
British species the numbers of which have been seriously affected by the catchers. 
Generally speaking, so-called “scientific” collectors do the damage, and bird- 
catchers get the blame. 
Horatio R. Fili.mer, 
52, Ship Street, Brighton. Hon. Sec. Avicultnral Society. 
With a “ Lover of Liberty ” I should like to see a stop put to the keeping 
of caged birds ; but, as regards the canary, even if people were willing to give 
up the birds, the difficulty would be how to do so ; for to let them die out would 
mean something very like cruelty in preventing them from pairing, while, if 
turned loose, they would in general die of starvation and exposure, or be killed 
by other birds. 
It, however, seems to me that a commencement might be made with birds of 
species that are wild in this country : that it ought not to be impossible to in- 
fluence public opinion in favour of prohibiting : — («) the capture of wild birds 
(and the taking of their eggs for hatching) ; (/>) the importation of birds of 
species that are wild in this country — bullfinches, goldfinches, &c. ; (c) the 
possession of such birds in confinement after a certain number of years from 
date of passing the regulation. With these conditions in force a large number 
of birds now caged might without fear be liberated, and no doubt persons would 
be found to purchase what dealers have on hand with the object of giving them 
their freedom. 
I believe that birds fully protected would so increase in numbers and would 
become so fearless that many kinds would give us their company without being 
confined in cages. People should, however, remember that in and about towns 
water is not ordinarily procurable by birds. A shallow vessel of water kept in 
every garden would greatly encourage their presence. A certain amount of 
feeding is also desirable, particularly in winter, but it appears to me that this 
may be overdone, and lead to birds neglecting to search for insects. 
H. W. 
Cuckoo. — I believe that, when a cuckoo deposits her egg in another bird’s 
nest, the intruder, as soon as it is big enough, ousts the rightful nestlings. But 
early in June an instance to the contrary occurred in my garden. I was sitting 
under a tree, on the trunk of which I knew there was a sparrow’s nest and 
young birds, as I had watched the old birds going to and fro. There was a 
sudden clamour and disturbance, and a young cuckoo was jerked out of the 
nest, and fell, with rather a heavy thud, close to my feet. There had been 
violent measures before the expulsion, for there was blood upon its beak, and 
after a few gasps — showing its bright orange mouth and throat — it died in my 
hand. The nest was too high — it was 8 or 10 feet from the ground — for me to 
look into it, but it would be interesting to have known how many sparrow beaks 
it took to serve the ejectment. 
Epsom. Maria Giberxf.. 
Peregrines. — One day when driving between here and Thetford, I noticed 
some half dozen pheasants feeding in a field 60 or 70 yards away. Between me 
and them was an apology for a hedge in the shape of a few upright dead sticks. 
Suddenly, at the height of about 100 yards, a peregrine appeared and made 
towards the pheasants in the open ground, which, on seeing their enemy, 
scattered with cries of alarm in all directions. The falcon singled out a hen, 
which made straight towards my carriage. Then there followed a few moments 
of manoeuvring such as one rarely sees, the pheasant taking advantage of any 
irregularity in the ground, and reaching the fence as her pursuer made a final 
swoop, and missed her by a foot or two. She then took refuge under my 
carriage wheels ; and the peregrine circling round' my head was soon lost to sight. 
