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Mrs. Wharton-Tigar —



not, as my husband took a marked objection to standing about in

the blazing sun while I bargained with the natives! So I had to

give up the idea and we went to Boa Viagem instead, where surely

there is the most perfect sea bathing in the world.


Mr. Cordier undertook to cage and pack all my birds, besides

getting me through the Brazilian Customs (no easy matter !), and

to buy me all the necessary foods for the journey home. I had

taken out well-made cages for the birds to be brought home in, but

on arrival I found that I could not bring these in without paying an

exorbitant duty, so they remained in bond until I left—I never

opened them again until I arrived back in London. They would also

not allow me to land my supply of dried flies and ants’ eggs, and

would have destroyed them if influence had not been brought to

bear ! These were also put in bond and I was alllow'ed to reclaim them

as I left, and they proved very valuable for feeding the birds on the

way back. They also object to meal-worms, so I left mine on board

in cold storage, and was very glad of them later. I should mention

here that we came home on the same steamer as we went out on,

the boat cruising down to Buenos Aires and back during our stay

in Pernambuco.


Another good way of picking up birds is to meet the Lloyd

Braziliero boats from Para and Manaos. I went on board several,

and on one occasion I bought a pair of Stilts from one of the

sailors. The poor birds were in a very bad condition, all crowded

together in a tiny basket. I also saw' two fine Hyacinth Macaw's,

but could not buy of course. I saw Sun Bitterns and Trumpeters,

but I know very little about this type of bird so I did not buy any.

I just missed a very rare little monkey and fell in love with

“ Chico ”, a little Capuchin monkey now at the Zoo. How t fond he

was of me! I well remember his joy on my appearance at the door

of the bird cabin. Not having seen him for several months, I am

wondering w'hat my reception will be like when w r e meet again.


I shall never forget the clay w'e left Pernambuco. After waiting

on the quay with the birds in crates from 10 o’clock in the morning

until seven in the evening, w r e w'ere absolutely exhausted. All the

large, roughly made crates w r ere dumped on board, and I w'as left to



