REARING AND TAMING OF WILD BIRDS 19 
seen this bird take a pigeon on the wing and have heard of her 
killing Guinea fowl, but this is exceptional, and the common 
food seems to be rats and mice. Probably, if rats were not so 
common, these hawks would prey on birds, as their talons are 
very strong and were never made for mice. However, for the 
little time this grey hawk was in my possession, she gave me 
the impression of being very useful, but inclined to be slow 
and not to take enough trouble to try again should she miss 
her first stoop. 
It must be understood that I had but little time at my 
disposal for this sport, and have only been able to make these 
few observations, but anyone taking the matter up more 
thoroughly and spending more time will, I am sure, be rewarded. 
I have seen falcons passing overhead, but have not caught 
any, so am not in a position to make any remarks about them. 
REARING AND TAMING OF WILD BIRDS 
By Dr. V. G. L. van Someren, M.B.O.U. 
The subject introduced by Mr. Seth-Smith in the ‘ Uganda 
Note Book ’ is a very wide one, and one of absorbing interest. 
I have, during the past two years, taken a great interest 
in the rearing and taming of wild birds. At different times 
I have had birds belonging to thirty-five different species — 
ranging from a Pelican to the small Finch commonly known 
as the 4 animated plum.’ 
Mr. Seth-Smith mentions the Barbets. These, in my 
opinion, are exceedingly difficult to rear and keep, although 
one would not think so. I have had both young and adults, 
and the longest time any one of these lived with me was a 
fortnight. This was an adult caught off one of its sleeping- 
holes. I cannot account for this difficulty, for, as far as my 
experience goes, the chief food of Barbets consists almost 
entirely of insects and fruit, and the birds I kept were given a 
sufficient quantity of food and ate well. The mere fact that 
