Hamish Nicol —“ Little Joan ,” a Baby Sparrow



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dropped ; never close to her body. Her “ tummy ” was very prominent,

devoid of feathers, and red !


As the days passed she lost all fear, and did not like being in her

box ; so I gave her her freedom whenever possible. She now spent

her time on my desk or perched on my hand or shoulder. In this

manner she would go about the house with me.


At hospital or clinic she was always out either on my shoulder or

on the table, where she would amuse herself pecking about among the

papers or on the inkstand. From time to time she would come to

me to be fed.


At home, during tea, she sat on the table, or on the cake, and

now commenced to feed herself. She took a great fancy to butter

and sponge cake !


At dinner time she spent her time running between me and my

wife, running across the table to us ; sometimes perching on my hand

or arm, and sometimes on my wife’s. She would help herself from our

plates.


She spent the evenings on my lap, occasionally running up my

arm on to my shoulder and pecking at my neck. From time to time

she would creep under my coat and go to sleep.


As I was busy on Sunday afternoon, my wife “ nursed ” her. Little

Joan sat on her hand or pen as my wife wrote letters, sometimes

cuddled up against her neck to keep warm.


When I went into the room she flew across to me and perched on

my hand. She appeared very fond of me !


She was now able to feed herself well, and wouldn’t take food from

me. I attributed this to the fact that she probably was getting enough

herself. On Monday I took her out with me, and we went to the stores

and bought a cage for her. I put her into the cage and she settled

down and seemed to like it. There was food in the cage which she

sampled and picked about on the sand and had a sand bath. She

spent the morning in the cage which I left in the car when I went

into the hospital. I left her at home in the afternoon. She only

wanted to get out when she saw me. On opening the cage door she

flew out and on to my shoulder, where she seemed quite happy. She

slept a good deal on this day, and I was afraid all was not well.



