Some time had elapsed after the loss, when a person, accidentally passing a hut, overheard some Chinese of the lower class conversing together; he understood sufficient of their language to find out that they said, “It would be a pity to kill so handsome a bird.”—“How, then,” said another, “can we dispose of it?” The hut was noted, as it was immediately suspected that the lost Mandarin drake was the subject of the conversation. A servant was sent, and, after some trouble, recovered the long-lost drake by paying four dollars for him. He was then brought back to the aviary in one of the usual cane cages.
As soon as the bird recognized the aviary, he expressed his joy by quacking vehemently and flapping his wings. An interval of three weeks had elapsed since he was taken away by force; but when the forlorn duck heard the note of her lost husband, she quacked, even to screaming, with ecstacy, and flew as far as she could in the aviary to greet him on his restoration. Being let out from the cage, the drake immediately entered the aviary—the unfortunate couple were again united; they quacked, crossed necks, bathed together, and then are supposed to have related all their mutual hopes and fears during the long separation.
One word more on the unfortunate widower, who kindly offered consolation to the duck when overwhelmed with grief: she in a most ungrateful manner informed her drake of the impudent and gallant proposals he made to her during his absence;—it is merely supposition that she did so; but at all events the result was, that the recovered drake attacked the other, the day subsequent to his return, pecked his eyes out, and inflicted on him so many other injuries, as to occasion his death in a few days. Thus did this unfortunate drake meet with a premature and violent death for his kindness and attention to a disconsolate lady. It may perhaps be correctly written on a tablet over his grave—“A victim to conjugal fidelity.”
Several of the beautiful Nicobar pigeons are also in the aviary, and are usually seen perched upon the trees, even upon the loftiest branches. They build their rude nests and rear their young upon trees, similar to all the pigeon tribe. They usually come down to feed upon the ground, but return to their elevated situation to repose during the night and most part of the day. Their plumage is of a splendid bronze, and their shape most graceful; but the long loose plumage pending from the breast, which they seem to delight in ruffling out, in some degree conceals their beauteous form, as seen in others of the tribe who have a smoother and more delicate plumage. These birds inhabit Sumatra, Nicobar, and other islands forming the eastern archipelago.[24]
Two elegant peacock pheasants from Cochin China; the jungle cock and hen from Java; the bright scarlet cardinal; the crested partridge from the Malay peninsula; the pretty and delicate Java sparrows; several of the Chinese water-fowl; and numerous doves, adorn and enliven this interesting place.[25]
A beautiful pink cockatoo, from the eastern islands, attached to a hanging perch, is placed near the aviary; and a large, elegant Persian cat, with fur of a most delicate silky texture, is seen attached by a long string to a tree. The docile creature reposes during the fine sunny weather upon the grass-plot in front of the aviary. The two latter are removed into the house at night, and placed in the garden during fine and serene weather.
Upon a large tree, also, on the terrace, near the aviary, is a fine female specimen of the Ounderou monkey of Ceylon (Simia silenus et leonina, Gm.) The fur of the animal is black, with a large white mane falling over on each side of the head. This specimen is nearly two feet high, but does not walk in the erect position. A house is placed for it in the branches of the tree, and the animal is secured by a chain, with a moveable ring, passing round a lofty bamboo, which communicates with the tree; so that Jenny, as the creature is called, can ascend or descend from the tree, and range for a certain extent through the branches, or for a short distance over the ground, when she descends. She is not readily attracted by strangers, unless they excite her alimentiveness by displaying some food. Her appearance is very ludicrous,—the black physiognomy peering through the huge white mane, when she is seen peeping from her kennel in the tree, exercising her secretiveness by pretending, when called, not to notice or understand, while, in reality, her attention is directed towards the person who may be addressing her. But, let some fruit be displayed—rapid as thought she slides down the bamboo, and is close to the object of attraction. Do not imagine, stranger, that you are the object of attraction—as in the plenitude of your vanity you might;—no, she is paying a devoted attention to your donations of oranges or plantains, which having attained, she will soon forsake your society to enjoy the proceeds of her efforts upon the branches of the tree, far removed from your reach.
One morning, when I was visiting Mr. Beale, a bird had been just received, which was purchased in Canton from a Mantchow Tartar: it was a Pitta, and supposed to be the P. brachyura of Gould, figured in his splendid illustrations of the birds of the Himalaya mountains; but, from the red abdomen and vent, it appeared to accord more with the species called P. erythrogastra of Temminck; it was in excellent condition, very tame, feeding on insects, boiled rice, &c. This specimen was mentioned as having been procured from Tartary; but the habitat of the first species is usually stated in our works on Natural History to be Ceylon and the Himalayas, and the second the Philippine islands.
Much care is required when the aviary is painted, to prevent the birds being injured, not alone from their pecking it, but, from getting the paint upon their feathers, as they eat it when cleaning their soiled plumage; the aviary is therefore painted as seldom as possible, and, when done, the interior of the painted part is lined with mats, until thoroughly dry.