May 30—I met a man in the country the other day who asked me if I could show him a Kingfisher's nest: I said I had not seen one this year—probably because I had not looked for them—but that I would keep my eyes open fon my next walk, and had no doubt that T would find one. ' Walking next day, and anxious to make good this boast, T began to say to myself, "now, exactly where should T look for a Kingfisher's nest?" If the bird chooses a nesting site according to the rules ald down by Mr. Hoyle, it will be in a steep, perfectly sheer, bank above a clear-water stream: the bank should be protected by reeds if possible, and situated as far as pos sible from the haunts of man: clear water is required because the bird fishes by sight alone: protection from mankind is necessary because the bird's brilliant plumage Is used to decorate hats and even to make brooches and, pins for the adornment of the female of the Species Homo sapient. 'Thinking thus, T wand. ered here and there looking at all the Ikely ks, and-never had the sughest indication of esting-place: I saw many holes in banks but these would probably be the homes' of rats or voles, or even Isnd.erabs. Then, walking along the towing-path of the Siccawei Creek Where men tramp by every ten minutes, T found two Kingfishers working at their nest. in the face of a newly-cut bank: it is high up on the "land side" of the path and above it the rolling earth Is carrying a heavy crop of potatoes: men come and go all the time: the murky creek is quite unsuitable for a King-Asher's fishing: Father K-P will have to fly half a mile to get food from a clear-water pond: Mother K-F.will have hor heart in her mouth every time the young K-F's cross the road (I mean the towing-path): it is the most Unsuitable site for a Kingilshor's nest I have seen for years..,.s0 this s{upld young couple have chosen it. T can almost soe them buying their furniture on the instalment plan and having It delivered in a plain van.—zsw.
June 2—(Coneise diary entry of a Sunday morning walk). (T am.). Bright sunny morning. Entered Hungjao country to hear a singing competition between Blackbird and Shrike: both bawling at the top of their voices: Blackbird finally. gave lifelike Imitation of Oriole, Whereupon Shrike attacked it and Blackbird fled (chuckling as if enjoying a joke)—1 wonder why? Glad to see a number of Pond Herons: thought they had left us alone this summer as' they have not returned to their usual nesting' siles, (70 a.m). Have just left the "Podgies*
(Little Grebes) still feoding boldly in the same pond: have missed them "or we days. Surprised a White-breasted Walerhen standing frozen beside a small island which might well conceal a. nesting site, Must investigate this.
o.m,), Revisited the nest of the foolish young Kingishérs who have built under a potato field: Father trying to fish from a stone in the muddy" Siccawei Creek: very poor fshing as I foretold: lost five minnies waiting for Mother to come home to nest: Father said pip-ptp when: Mother came home; he is, maybe, not so dumb. (6.15, am.). Heard another Watethen croaking loudly birds. Waterhens! Found a broken Pheasant's egg in the comer of newly reaped fel fers must find many nests. (0 am.). Home to find telephone ringing: friend says his dog (and Boy) killed a large snake in his garden last night: snake wag just about to swallow frog—which escaped—Boy says snake was poisonous: I said impossible: large snake as described must be common Paddy-snake as our only poisonous snake is a much smaller Pit Viper. (9.15 am.) Putting out birds' food and inspecting garden: found Lady Godiva (new baby Magpie) being fed by chauffeur; and Ma eldest son coming to sit on her perch tot get a share.out of food. Most amusing.....and possibly the beginning of Lady Gs first romance. (830 am.). Cook gave me a hard-bolled egg for breakfast; which serves me right—ts.w.
June 4.—This High Cost of Living question, beginning with the household staff who keep. repeating "rice belong too dear" is beginning to get me down. I spend a lot of time walking Found and about this city and I often think of the statement made by that fine old countryman Witliam Cobbe't in his Rural Rides (1830) somewhat to this effect: "If you want fo guage the prosperity of any community. look at the women and see if they are well or badly dressed." After thirty years of quiet observation I can say that I have never seen the working women. of Shanghai better dressed: pretty cotton gowns. cut in directoire style to give a glimpse of coloured stockings and neat shoes (often foreign high-heeled style): hair expensively frizzed in latest fashion: even the lasses working in the fields are better dressed than ever. John-Willy and Sister Melamel go to school in socks and shoes (each carrying a little leather case): big. brother wears "shorts" and fancy stockings in hhis hours of ease, and rides to his work on a bicycle: it is no uncommon sight to see four or five modern pneumatic-tyred bicycles piled up in the corner of a field being harvested. 'a sight unheard of even a year ago. Each morning T can show you carts piled up with long frosted glass containers (looking ike long light-bulbs)* which are the "insides" of Thermos Flasks....because even the Chinese farmer has become *iermos-minded" and hag discarded his old brass teapot for the new invention. As to food: I recall the story of the King who said, "the people are starving, for bread 1s too dear"? Oh" said the Little Princess, "why do they not eat cake?" Precisely! if T can judge the dainty "dishes served at every "little wayside stall: bowls of stewed strawberries are the latest fancy. Lads who came to my office years ago dressed in cotton gowns now look Uke prosperous stockbrokers with the old School-tie and dove-grey spats. Do 1 begrudge these hard-working people this high of living? Certainly' not, bless their Is no use telling me'that all the "H.C.L." is due to the high cost of rice and vegetables, If you want to know the true answer. remember the words of William Cobbett. and keep your on the pretty-profiles as go to work in ly mornings—Es.W.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.