I caught ‘Bertie’, as we came to call him, on one of those ill-fated expeditions to Pandyssia which I and a few others attempted from time to time, to follow in the footsteps of the great Sokolov.
The birds assemble in great flocks and nest in cliffsides. He had flown too close to our ship, and so one of the sailors snared him with a well-thrown net and we managed to cage him.
He was the first of his species to reach Gristolean shores! He caused a stir in the popular imagination when I first displayed him. I did a circuit of public lectures on Pandyssian fauna and each theater was packed with people hopeful for a glimpse of my little bird. I heard from some friends that Bertie even featured in some children’s literature, with fanciful illustrations.
After a time, Bertie grew quite tame. He would even accept grapes from my hand. Sadly, he died after just a few short years. But he inspired a passion for Pandyssian birds, egg-collecting, and taxidermy. I had him stuffed, and occasionally I charged a small fee to allow viewers to see him.
He will always hold a special place in my heart.