Weihaiwei, Jan, 16—My previous observa-ions of Turkeys have been mainly confined to seeing them hanging up in a poulterer's window Jat Christmas. time looking very naked and ashamed, while my experience of what we might call "Turkey on the hoot has been Jalmost nil: it is therefore not surprising that have taken some interest in the birds In this garden and, in particular, in the white King JGobbler....who recently' acquired 'a peculiar habit, While I sat in the living-room after Hiuneh he came daily (followed by the whole family, Including Captain X.) and tapped on [the glass of the French window as if demand-Ing admittance....to be chased away regularly by the gardener who realized that a family of Turkeys were not most desirable guests in a ]well-kept verandah. Thinking of this peculiar behaviour, I was reminded of an unusual story told by Sir Ronald Storrs in the accurate and painstaking account of is diplomatic career which he called "Orientations." In the most. matter-of-fact manner he recounts how' his friend T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)—rettred irom his' career as Alrcraftsman Shaw to a cottage in the country—was daily visited by a bird which tapped at his window: if Lawrence moved to another room the bird followed and tapped again at the next window: this evident~ got on Lawrence's highly-strung nerves and Jeaused him considerable irritation: so a friend staying with him waited until he went out on his. beloved motor-bicycle one day, and shot the bird. And at that precise moment Lawrence, miles away, shot over his handle-bars and met Instant death. Sir, Ronald makes: Ino comment and, not being superstitious, regarded it merely as a coincidence. 'Thinking this over, I said to my hostess the other sare you going to kill that white Turkey' Jwhich she replied, "certainly not, he Is much too handsome." So T said, "quite right, T agree [with you"... and if T managed to say it quite [calmly 4t fs because 1, too, am not superstitious. But 1 wonder?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.