ion by turns with her mate. He would
sit patiently for four hours on the nest, while Blanche spent that time
with me; then, punctually at the right moment, she would wake up, and,
lazily stretching her wings, would fly out at the open window to see how
affairs were getting on at home, and take her place on the nest for her
appointed four hours.

She was a most eccentric bird in the matter of laying eggs. I sometimes
found she had made me a present of one, neatly placed amongst my working
materials! In fact, wherever she happened to be upon the table would be
deemed by her a suitable place for laying; and, as I always conveyed the
eggs to her nest, her little freaks did not much matter. But at last
she took it into her wilful little head to lay her eggs in the
coal-scoop, an arrangement which by no means improved her snowy plumage.
She had a pretty crest, which curved over her head, and her feet were
clothed with rather long feathers reaching to the claws. At our
breakfast-time she would often sit close to my plate, letting me stroke
her and draw out her pretty wings. I must own she was as conceited as
any peacock, throwing herself on her side and stretching out a feathered
foot, little dreaming how she was being laughed at for her affected
attitudes. If she had a fault, it was her temper! I have seen her go up
to her mate and give him a most uncalled-for peck, and he--amiable
bird!--would bear all her unkindness so meekly, only answering by a
propitiatory coo. Blanche reared many sons and daughters, but none were
so interesting as herself. I ascribe her unusual tameness to the loving
care bestowed upon her in her long illness. When once a bird's
affections are won in that way they generally remain firm friends for
life.

[Illustration]

GERBILLES.

These curious little animals were brought to my notice by a scientific
friend who had seen them at the Zoological Gardens, and heard that they
were to be obtained there by applying to Mr. Bartlett.

As I always regretted the untimely death of my pet jerboa, I thought
these little rodents would fill his place, and prove amusing pets. And,
accordingly, I paid a visit to the Zoo, and found a whole colony of
gerbilles of all ages living very amicably together in a large,
strongly-built wooden box, with bran, oats, and nuts for provender.

It was no easy matter to secure a pair of suitable size and age. I could
but admire the patience of the attendant who made perse