. Birds of the water, wood & waste . tion of the feedershands. On one occasion I had been gar-dening in muddy weather, and the birds,though hungry, evinced every sign of disgustand nervousness at the soiled appearanceof my hands, and, indeed, I had to washto appease their susceptibilities. Gloves,too, cause them uneasiness, and on anotheroccasion, when a Maori woman, one of myinnumerable landlords, wished herself tofeed the birds, her brown skin was soevidently an offence that we feared the stoutold lady would notice it, and had to inventmany excuses for the birds unusual conduct!They are now
. Birds of the water, wood & waste . tion of the feedershands. On one occasion I had been gar-dening in muddy weather, and the birds,though hungry, evinced every sign of disgustand nervousness at the soiled appearanceof my hands, and, indeed, I had to washto appease their susceptibilities. Gloves,too, cause them uneasiness, and on anotheroccasion, when a Maori woman, one of myinnumerable landlords, wished herself tofeed the birds, her brown skin was soevidently an offence that we feared the stoutold lady would notice it, and had to inventmany excuses for the birds unusual conduct!They are now beginning undoubtedly to feedthemselves on poplar buds, the undevelopedmale seeds of the insignis, and probablyother dainties of that kind. Often I hear the Pigeon termed a stupidbird, and just as an honest man amongrogues is called a fool, so perhaps the Pigeonstrust and guilelessness does deserve thatname amongst those who shoot him sittingat close quarters. Otherwise he is by nomeans a fool. Far from being stupid, the PLATE Uncle Harrv and his mother. WOOD AND WASTE 187 Pigeon, on intimate acquaintance, seemstruly a very sensible bird. Thus, when putback into the aviary after some weeks ofentire freedom, many birds would have spenthours battling- against the wire. Not sothe Pigeons. They at once settled , when poor Pidgy was hurt by anangry hen, and carried back wounded tomy working room he was welcomed by*Uncle Harry—still on his artificial nestand then for long separated from hisparents—with effusive wing shakings, andit is a curious fact that on at least twooccasions Pidgy attempted to feed theyounger bird pigeonwise from the , again, Pidgy, when brought backhurt, settled at once on his bowl and re-sumed again his old cleanly habit in regardto sanitation of nest. Other instances of ahigh degree of intelligence on the part ofthe two perfectly wild bush birds thathave domesticated themselves will be men-tioned later. Of the trio it is UncleHarry
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1910
