Tu the Editor of the "Nonmi-Cixa Datty News"
'Sm—Those who watch birds by @ay only do not realize what they miss. I recently decided that sleep being out of the question I would spend a night at this game. 1 sit at! the window of my house in what not 80 very long ago' was considered almost rural part of Shanghah. after' midnight, heron has. ong since commuted from Hardoons to Jessfield and most of the respeeable birds are asleep. The last Double Decker Juggernaut has passed to its nest at Connaught Rd. from whence it will "emerge at various times during the night for little brake exercise on the nearby roads, This ira can easily be distinguished by a trail of what appears to be oily smoke and the mysterious noises coming from itx interior, The call of the bird is shrill and sounds like "Pull up! "Pull upt" It feeds chidly fon. tokens, coppers and. postage stamps.
The bird most frequently heard ud) seen by night ix the "Taxi Bird, Around find countryside at all has general call. is rauico and is kept all the tine in Mysterious noises emanate from fas it passes and 1 have endeavoured to put some of the sounds into wards, Of" the: most common Let other wouldn't like Don't muss my hair you tin and, apparently from a "pair" of birds—"Who the heck wanted to meet that Dunch? 1 didn't The Chauffeur Bird passes continually. "It is. notorious for bad sight and wonderful hearing. call is ru and sounds like "Gas more dear, $1.00!" I now Near the honking of geese flying past their way to the feeding grounds and drinking pools, These are other. pretty birds, The mate has the feathers greased tat to the head, the female wears hers in ringlets. "the calls are varied and the nearest 1 could yet 0 a translation wass—"Oh Darling" followed by a noise somewhat like the play being, removed from a wash biwin—"Cutest Cutie" followed by "Ssshh! Don't crumple met" From the next pair of birds to pass came a repetition of the wash asin noise followed by what sounded ike a slap. These must have been very young, birds, Tsaw pass the Golden Aureole and the Bird of Paradise accompanied by their temporary mates. The call of the female of both species is a soft cing, noise sounding somewhat father was an Archduke ete. There is a mercenary gleam in the eye of the females "of both species fand in the winter the fine feathers turn to even finer furs which the male is expected to provide, The claws of the female are bright red, Jong and very sharp. "The colour of the head feathers has been known to change overnight, Then came the Deerepit Bird. This bird passes slowly, its inwards creating a noise like a conerete mixer. It emits terrible honking noises and usually carries on its back half a dozen or more Gay Birds of both exes whose feet hang over the side. One of these Decrepit Birds settled a short distance from where T was sitting and much twittering went on, from which I gathered the Gay Birds could only raise $140 between them and the Deerepit Bird would eumshawless to his next assignment.
The procession was endless. The Philandering, Grass Widower, "Pink Ticket, Lodge, Conference, Detained OMice, "Personal Column and many other varieties of birds honking and twittering in competi lon and making the night hideous.
Finding sleep impossible 1 decided to make a Found of the feeding wrounds and drinking pools. Here T'made many discoveries, The most noticeable thing was the peculiar antics of the young Keese. The males and females drink beer and pink ladies respectively and are fat their best when they have each consumed one drink, They then hop round in couples with their noises like "Oi! Oi" and emitting a shrill whistle. T noticed the other birds did not appear. appreciate this as it left no safe pla These birds on the same spot for some time, their mouths open or june with their feet-and an on their faces like that of enamoured penguin. The fact that some of the oth birds would like to hop past just doesn't interest them, 'Another peculiar bird. to be found at the drinking pools is the Pest Bird. 'These birds consume one large bottle of beer, knock the bottle over (not before disarray their hair, yell {0 acquaintances 100 als. away' and hop around with one foot in the air to the imminent anger of other birds in their The call of this bird is "Lets ave anither," which he seldom does. The female emulates. the male at every opportunity.
Then we have the Soaker Dird. This bird Mies to the pools at an early hour and takes up a strategic position. He is noted for his ability to absorb liquid. His call is "Mine's er! but is never made other than in response to an invitation from another bird. Easily frightened by the rink of a cash register or the sight of a chit, "When the stack of chits in his vicinity has assumed somewhat hefty proportions he will gracefully slide his seat under the table, there to remain until he is handed over. to the Taxi Bird. We recovers quickly and has been' known to "fade" in hhalt_a dozen places in one night, And last but certainly. not. least is the China Bird. There being no safe place where me can hop he is content to sit back with an expre fof disgust on his face wondering these other birds can really be those fof Western origin he is expected emulate, Imagining that by this time 1 might net forty winks before Reveille 1 returned home." Shortly after return Twas awakened by another bird call This consisted of four notes on several times repeated and is apparently the call of the Lazy' Bird, Upon arrival at his nest "this bird has to have the gateway opened for (Uso he sity on his perch and calls until this happens, The period the call depends entirely on the wakefulness of the Watch Bird and sleep appears to be his long. suit Once more I retire and doze off to the call of a bird perched on the calling "Bingo! Bingo!
Sleep doesn't last long as the morning birds commence to arrive with (he dawn, "In steady' procession the Dust Pan Bird with his clash of metal on metal, the Flower Bird With his stock culled mostly {rom nearby gardens, the Food Bird. and the Boy and Amah Birds on. their way to market. The twittering of the Ialter is vastly interesting but 1 had only time to overhear the following dialogue:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.