BULBULS. 
161 
very often some odd bird that has fallen into his hands by 
accident. In his cages I have found a Cuckoo, rescued 
from vengeful crows, a Mango Bird, a Button Quail, even 
a Water Hen maimed with a shot meant for duck or 
snipe, but never a Green Bulbul. I had long set my heart 
on having one for a pet, and at last found a nest with two 
young ones almost ready to fly. Birds meant to be reared 
by hand should be taken at an earlier age, for their little 
wills develop with their plumage. So I found mine very 
obstinate. They got it into their heads that the nourish- 
ment I offered them was medicine, and would not open 
their mouths. When a child is fractious in the same way, 
you can hold his nose and his mouth must open, but 
Bulbuls have not tenable noses. However, I managed to 
get a good quantity of food stuffs introduced into them 
one way or another ; but my birds pined, and I soon saw 
that they meant to die. The only thing to do was to 
replace them in their cradle, where their parents made 
great jubilation over them. Within two days, as I was 
walking in the garden, I found one of them on the ground, 
in robust health and trying to fly. I took him under my 
protection again, for I am a benevolent man and was 
sure the crows would find him. This time I tried a diffe- 
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