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The Hon. Anthony Chaplin—Sunbirds and Others



in captivity. Most of the species I have kept have been British, the

best of which was a young female Hen-harrier. I procured the bird

in the North of Scotland while out Partridge shooting : it rose from i

under some whins and I realized at once what it was, but before 1

I could shout “ Don’t shoot ” it had been winged by the gun next to

me. I refused to allow the keeper to kill it and determined to take

it home in a game-bag and try and make it live, as the species is extinct

as a breeding bird on the mainland, although it breeds in Orkney,

whence this immature bird had undoubtedly wandered. After a week

it would jump on to the wrist and was tame enough to travel loose

in the car to London, spending en route a night in my room at a hotel

in Carlisle, sleeping on a wood basket. The bad wing was very difficult

to heal and it was washed and dressed twice a day, the Harrier meanwhile

remaining motionless, and seemingly a better patient than many humans

would have been in similar painful circumstances.


Of foreign species I have only had the Central African Pigmy Falcon

(Poliohierax semitorquatus), and the Himalayan Red-legged Falconet

(Microhierax coerulescens) : the latter I possess at the present time,

and it is certainly the smaller kind of the two. These small Falcons

are very delicate, more so as regards food than temperature, and

unless they are constantly supplied with small birds, mice, and lizards

live only a very short time. But I am sure almost all birds of prey

will become very tame if trouble is taken. But it is no good looking

at them and expecting them suddenly to be aware of their owners’

goodness of heart. The only method is that used in the days of falconry :

to get hold of the bird and carry it about where there are many surprises

and most noise. To do this the bird must either be hooded or prevented

from flying by a clipped wing. The latter operation spoils the appearance

of the bird, but it is surely better to have a Hawk that will jump readily

on to its owner’s wrist and love to be carried about, than one that will

dash at the bars of its cage when looked at.


Other families with which I am well acquainted are the Honeyeaters,

the best of which to my mind is the Spine-bill ( Acanthorhynchus

tenuirostris). A bird with more lovely movements it would be difficult

to mention : it is hardy and might possibly breed in an outdoor aviary,

were a pair ever to be imported. There is a male in the Zoological



