May 9—That most intriguing bird Maggie has deceived me again: every year she does it ud every year I fall for it like a country she has produced two more babies Obviously some days behind the others... and at last I have seen all five together. This makes the family as follows: Picca Lily, mina-Lea (plus) Aywon and Piccolo—being so named because he has a very voice. The five small creatures and their parents have given me some excellent entertainment for a week or more and I feel it is only fair to give them one more write-up bere they leave me for some unknown destinafion in the country. In spite of all her faults ud angry passions, Maggie is a model mother ud never lets the babies stray far from the old roof-tree: thay are all learning to take a bath "in the evenings, and it is wonderful how much fun they get out it: two or three of them at a time go splashing away in my bird-bath, as if Shanghai were really a health resort....and when they have all been dried (by a short flight round the Poplar trees) they are tucked up in the tree-tops for the night. But here is the strangest thing about it all: a family of Mynahs have apparently taken a fancy to Maggie's home, and every evening they try to force their way into it: Maggie and Father come swooping down from the nearest roof and drive them out: the Mynahs protest and hiss like snakes and, believe it or not, often bring two or three more of their friends to carry on the battle: two of them are obviously intending to set up home together....for they woddie across the lawn rubbing their bills together—a most ridiculous sight when you consider that they both have bristly moustache like a Q. M. Sergeant Majors! How it will all end I do not know but if Maggie cares to let her home to these strangers for the summer months..,.who am I to object?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.