maybirds

He came round that evening and hewed down an apple-tree under the light of the moon to make room for the maybird-run, and in the morning he brought a large roll of wire-netting, and the next day he built a wooden house, and the day after that he brought his five maybirds, and the day after that he came round and asked for some cinders.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 29, 1920 Various 1898

Then he gave me a bag of food, which he said was particularly efficacious for maybirds, and produced his bill.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 29, 1920 Various 1898

Unless a great improvement is manifested in the New Year I have decided to butter the maybirds with arsenic and place them in the outhouse too.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 29, 1920 Various 1898

But I can see no justification whatever for keeping maybirds, for they are neither useful nor beautiful.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 29, 1920 Various 1898

About a week ago the corn which apparently forms a part of the necessary nourishment of maybirds, and is kept in an outhouse, was attacked by rats.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 29, 1920 Various 1898

He segregated five maybirds and explained their points to me.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 29, 1920 Various 1898