June was busting out all over

Well, its been a while. Mrs. Ha and I went to Italy, Honkers suffered its wettest month on record and presumably Fumie has been searching for chums to join him in moistness on a Friday night. I have however managed a trip or two with the camera and here, for the lucky reader who passes by, are just a few.

As you can see, the bugs have prevailed over the birds this time. The birds are a bit absent at this time of year. But I have managed to pick up a rather spiffing bird book entitled "Birds recorded from or known to occur in the Shanghai area". This was written by Arthur de Carle Sowerby in 1943. It would have to be fairly old as most of the birds in the area have since died of asphyxiation. The book contains a signed photograph of the author, with details in his own hand on the reverse. The photo shows him on horseback at "Si-an Fu, capital of Shensi Province" relating how he had been on an expedition "to rescue missionaries in the far interior of China". I paid an enormous amount of money to the proprietor of "Picture This" for the book along with "The Birds of Burma" by Bertram E. Smythies, the most generous benefactor of the Oriental Bird Club (of which I am a member). The book is illustrated by Commander A. M. Hughes, the same Commander H., who illustrated Geoffrey Herklots books.

Sowerby, by the way, was the editor of the China Journal, of which I have a dozen or so copies from the late 20's early 30's and a jolly good read they are too. So, coincidentally I am orf to Shanghai tomorrow with probably nary a bird in sight but I shall do my utmost to see what bugs there are in the Shangri-La.

Pip pip.


BTW (again) the top picture is of a Mantid, Hierodula patellifera, and I am assured that they can and do bite.

BTW (2) if you want some gripping yarns to read may I recommend The Alexander Trilogy by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Man this is an epic story, of how Alexander the Grate burnt the cakes in Ancient Wessex before invading Persia, Egypt, India and Balham. If you like history, heroes, blood, gore and a soupcon of sex, this is where to find it.