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P. K. Tenner—My Birds



speaking, for any time, when I had them with foreigners (who, of

course, must have millet but not red even then in my opinion),

but when I parted them and fed the British on a mixture more than

half niger and rape with a little canary (almost prohibitive just now

alas), some hemp and sunflower, I was delighted at the change, and

(D.Y.) hope never to lose another. A Chaffinch, of course, will live on

almost anything but I’m sure that millet is bad for the other species

mentioned. Now to Pheasants, of which just now I have only a few.

Headed, of course, by a superb Monaul. I once read in some circus

biography or other of an old showman, I think a German, who used

to collect beautiful horses and every time he bought a new one'

would stand admiring it for hours, stroking its glossy coat, and muttering

at intervals “ Oh Lord, how manifold are Thy works ”. Well, a cock

Monaul has the same effect on me. How absolutely entrancing are his

rainbow lines—clumsy not a bit, merely stately. So many

people put the Tragopan at the head of the Pheasants—for beauty—

but although handsome enough, to me he is streets behind the Monaul—

surely he is an equally big heavy bird.


I have, of course, the Golden, another magnificent species (imagine

what we should all say if they were imported for the first time !), the

Amherst, and a solitary Silver cock, which has lived loose with the poultry

for three years and roosts in all weathers, about 50 feet up in a big

walnut tree—almost the same branch each night. This species can be

most dangerous, but my present cock is quite quiet, except with my

Golden Polish cock, whom he chases unmercifully, and the two have

to be let out, Polish in morn, Pheasant after the evening feed.

The latter obligingly places himself in his run first thing most mornings

and waits to be shut in !


Lastly I have a very fine two-year-old common Blue Peacock—a more

beautiful species to me than the much lauded Javan or Green,

which lacks, of course, the adorable blue on the breast and neck of

the other. This is a somewhat rambling account, given for what it is

worth. Oh that I may be able to record the breeding of Splendid

Rosellas and Gouldians later in the year !



