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Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1925, Page 4

PIGEONS’ TRICKS. LONDON, Oct. 5. if the Citv of London does not like pigeons Wustinin-iter does. Stores of them are to he seen every day on tin greensward in Parliament-square surrounded by dozens of admirers, and although the Houses of Parliament are said li) be crumbling and Westminster Abbey is always needing repair, no one has vet blamed the pigeons for this state of affairs.

Indeed the birds, unlike those in the City, are a source of pride to 'Westminster folk, who bring their ‘•country cousins" to see the pigeons feed and watch thorn perch <>u Hie hands or shoulders of the onlookers, and take corn and maize front between the lips of those whom, by their regular attendance. they know well. Fat, aldermanic birds they are too: probably some of them are migrants from the City of Loudon, the reputation of which, for sleekness and general well-being, they nobly maintain. Some of them, too. know tho tricks of the true Citv birds.

These have always been famous scavengers and they know how. in tho days when horses were more plentiful on I be streets than they are to-day. to make a horse spill corn from its nosebag. A gentle little peck on the animal’s hooks, or a momentary alighting on its hack, was always sufficient to make the animal throw up Ms head and sr.-ill some of its teed, on which the birds quickly pounced. Some of the Westminster birds do this to-day. but for the most part they are content to strut: about the grass near tile monuments, knowing lull well (_! ~( ,- ni will he showered around them in plentv—for nowadays enterprising hawkers'sell little bags of •‘corn for the birds." The Conid of Common Council of the City of London, on tho proposal of Colonel Dilutee, have instructed the Sanitary Committee to consider what stops ran be taken to abate the nuisance and damage caused by pigeons.

“YRINDA DEVI." CALCI’TTA. September 24. Wifli the death of " Vrinda Devi,” tliti British wife of Pandit Shyam E-hanker, at the Calcutta Medical College Hospital ends a unique life that ! eg, in at SJoane-Square, London, in the person of Miss Vanda Constance Morrell. 1 M E"3 Miss Morrell, who was 30, met Pundit Shyam Shankor at a London “at home," where he sang. She fell in love with the songs and the singer. She, being a splendid pianist, aeeoainanied the Bandit wherever he

At the end of 1015 they parted, tho Bandit having left England (after being called to tho Bar) to take up his post as Minister in .Ihalawar State. Not a year pass.si before Miss Morrell I -ft Flit-land. too. and came to Jbala-

I-V.r about three years in .Ihalawar she fought against the attacks of convention. She was converted into a Hindu bv orthodox Rajputs and Brahmans, and his Highness himself gave her away -as bis daughter) ill marriage to the Pandit, every orthodox Hindu rite and custom being sirietly observed.