We hope it will be a lesson to him for the rest of his life.

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[Illustration:  Gentle Creature (who fancies she has heard the customary sound of her cat tapping at the window to be let in). “NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY ADOLPHUS!  COME IN AT ONCE, LIKE A GOOD BOY!”]

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BIRD NOTES.

Nature Study has recently been recommended by a well-known Daily Paper as a means of gradual relaxation from war-worry.  Mr. Punch would therefore like to contribute for so noble an end a few ornithological notes, having for a long time been addicted to the observation of bird-life.

CUCKOO.—­This bird, which obtained its name on account of the similarity of its note to that of the Cuckoo-clock, was one of the earliest sufferers of the housing problem, which it successfully solved by depositing its eggs in the nests of other birds.

SEAGULL.—­When the eggs of this bird are hatched the mother-parent feeds its young on the glutinous substance that oozes from sea-weed—­hence “Mother Seagull’s Syrup.”

THROSTLE.—­See THRUSH.

PIGEON.—­This bird was used as a message-carrier with great success during the War.  An attempt to cross it with the Parrot, to enable it to deliver verbal messages, was unfortunately a failure.

SPARROW.—­Bird-fanciers experience great difficulty with this bird when kept in captivity, as it frequently develops jaundice, in which case it can only be sold under the name of “Canary,” at a big difference in price.

GUILLEMOT.—­The name “Guillemot” is derived from the French word “Guillemot,” which means a Guillemot.

LARK.—­The protective instinct in this bird is very marked.  Although nesting on the ground it soars high into the sky for the purpose of leading aviators and balloonists away from its young.

GOLDFINCH.—­A favourite cage-bird.  The best method of catching the goldfinch is to wait until it settles on the lowest branch of a tree, then approach it from behind and gently tap its right wing with your right hand.  This causes it immediately to turn its head to see who has touched it; you can then bring up your left hand unnoticed, into which it falls an easy victim.

BULLFINCH.—­Another popular cage-bird.  The best method of capturing it, which differs widely from that in use with the Goldfinch, is as follows:—­Hang head downwards from the fork of an old tree in order to resemble a dead branch, having previously covered yourself with some adhesive matter.  In this position you should wait until as many Bullfinches as you want have settled on your clothes and stuck there; then climb down from the tree and have them scraped off into a large cage.

BARN OWL.—­This bird invariably builds its nest in empty houses.  There will be no nests this year.

STARLING.—­Threepence was placed on the head of this destructive bird last year in many parts of England.  The old way was to put salt on its tail.