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Correspondence



my head or shoulders. Sometimes she will come down from the sky with a

great swoop and alight on my outstretched arm so lightly and gently that I

hardly realize she is there. Then we feed her, generally with large chunks

of liver, which she loves greatly. Each time she leans forward to take a piece

from my daughter’s hand I can feel her powerful claws contract and pierce

through my coat sleeve in her effort to get a firm grip.


“ The other day she evidently intended to alight on my head, but, for

some reason, made a bad landing, and alighted on my nose. This gave her

an inadequate foothold, and one painful to me, as she dug her sharp claws in.

She scrambled up my cheek and forehead into a more secure position, leaving

a trail of blood on my face where her claws had penetrated the skin. But

it was all done in love. She always knows when she has had enough, and

can never be coaxed into having another mouthful, but for some time will

continue to sit on my shoulder or arm, looking round and making contented

little noises before flying off. She seems to have no fear of us, but, if a stranger

is with us, she will not come near however hungry she is.


“We are wondering how long she will continue her nightly visits. I suppose

that before long she will grow wilder and cease to be friends with us, but in

the meantime it is pleasant to have this large predatory bird on such very

friendly terms with us.”


Hamilton Scott.



RARE BIRDS IN FRANCE


M. Delacour has obtained a pair of Pheasant-tailed Jacanas ( Hydro-

phasianus chirurgus), an Indian species, once exhibited in the London

Zoological Gardens. Also a Brazilian Oven Bird (Furnarius leucopus) and

a Racket-tailed Humming Bird (Discura longicauda), the last two being new

to aviculture.



