!*«’' - — I I THE AVICULTURAL : MAGAZINE : BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF FOREIGN AND BRITISH BIRDS IN FREEDOM AND CAPTIVITY. EDITED BY HUBERT D. ASTLEY, M.A., F.Z.S,, M.B.O.U. THIRD SERIES. VOL VI. NOV. 1914 to OCT. P,r LONDON : Messrs. WEST, NEWMAN & CO., 54 HATTON GARDEN, E.C. - 1915. Contents iii. CONTENTS. Title Page Contents Council’s Report Alphabetical List of Contributors List of Plates List of Members, October, 1914 Rules of the Avicultural Society The Society’s Medal Magazine Index page iii. iv. vi. xii. 18 22 23 393 IV. Report op the Council. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1914-1915. tT is with a feeling of great satisfaction that the Council has to report that another most successful year has just closed for our Society. The volume now completed forms the Sixth of the Third Series, and is the Twenty-first issued by the Society. Now that it has attained its majority, we feel confident that all its members will do their utmost to help the Society, so that it may continue to progress along the path it has always followed. This last volume will be found quite up to the standard, both in size and quality of its contents to any of its predecessors, and it is this fact which calls for special thankfulness, for in this time of stress and anxiety, when so many of our contemporaries have had to be very much reduced, or have been forced to disappear altogether, we have been able to give our members their usual monthly magazine. How much this happy state of affairs is due to the unceasing efforts of our untiring Editor perhaps the majority of our members scarcely realize, for only those who see the actual production of a monthly magazine like ours know the continual strain and labour which it entails. The Council would like to call special attention to the article on the scope of the Magazine, by our Editor in the September issue, Report of the Council. v. for only by the loyal support of our members can we hope to con¬ tinue our useful work as heretofore. The members of the Council tender their grateful thanks to all who have contributed to the welfare of our Society during the past year. Signed for the Council, T. H. Newman, Hon. Business Secretary. Sept., 1915. VI. Alphabetical List of Contributors. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. The Asterisk denotes in the Correspiondence column. A. Alderson, Miss E. Diamond Doves, 342 Amsler, Dr. Maurice. Breeding of the Orange-headed Ground Thrush ( Geocichla citrina ) and the American Robin ( Turdus migratorius ) 30 Breeding of the Occipital Blue Pie ( Urocissa occipitalis) 367 Astley, Hubert D., M.A. F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. The Brown Thrasher, or Thrush ( Harporliynchus rufus ), 23 The Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida), 49, 104 Cranes in Captivity, 52 Noteworthy Exhibits at the International Cage Bird Show, 70 The Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Hedymeles ludovicianus) , 81 My Brown-necked Parrot ( Pceoceplialus fuscicollis) , 110 Reviews — ‘A List of British Birds,’ 164 ‘British Birds,’ 223 The Red-headed Bullfinch (. Pyrrhula erythrocephala ', 169 Obituaries — Lord Brabourne, 191 Sir Roland J. Corbet, 224 Lieut. Rowland E. Naylor, 263 English Bird Dealers versus Germans, 267 Cotton Teal ( Nettapus coromandelianus) in captivity, 269 Apropos of Pink-crested Touracos, and a visit to the live-stock department at Gamage’s, 270 Cuckoo’s Habits in the Breeding Season, 279 Has the object of the Avicultural Magazine been misinterpreted ? 340 Home Notes, 348 Notes — Arrival of Rare Indian Birds, 351 The Ruddy -headed Goose ( ChloSphaga rubidiceps ), 357 A wonderful collection of Birds from Ecuador, 373 Notes — Arrival of more Humming Birds in Paris, 392 Alphabetical List op Contributors. vii. B. Baily, W. Shore. Weavers, 62 *Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds, 294 Barlow-Massicks, F. *A large Black and Yellow Troupial, 232 Decrease of House-Sparrows in Noranches, 355 Bedford, The Duchess of. Spring Bird Notes from various Scottish Islands, 204, 233 Blathwayt, Arthur P. * Advertisements in the Magazine, 294 Brabourne, Lord. *On Humming Birds, 264 Brook, E. J. Breeding of the Fair Lorikeet, 29 *Food for Tanagers in Captivity, 80 Sun and Sugar Birds, 115 Mealworm Breeding and Stick Insects, 199 Do Field Voles as food for birds cause a wasting disease ? 168 Butler, Arthur G., Ph.d., E.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. *On feeding Tanagers, 80 Reason in Birds, 86 *Blue-bonnet plucked bare, 133 Are Birds Deceitful ? 246 Economy and Mice, 282 treatment of Mynah, 295 ^Bullfinches and Mannikins, 296 What is Science ? 365 c. Cecil, The Lady William (Baroness Amherst of Hackney). The Kingfisher in freedom and captivity, 136 Chawner, Miss E. F. Notes for 1914, 66 Nesting of Jardine’s Pigmy Owl, 244 *Jardine’s Pigmy Owls and Yellow-winged Sugar Birds, 293 Cross, W. *Four varieties of the Pceocephalus family, 293 Alphabetical List of Contributors. viii. Currey, Mrs. Katharine. Breakfast Guests, 32 6 A Combat in Music, 352 An Owl Hooting, 353 D. Drummond, Miss *Blue-bonnet plucked bare, 133 Dyott, R. A. Nesting of Quaker Parrakeets, 198 E. Ezra, Alfred. My Humming Birds, 286 F. Erench Member of the Society. My Humming Birds and how I obtained them, 105, 150 G. Gallaway, P. E. M. The Nightjar (Caprimulgus europczus, 137 The Kingfisher, 147 ^Feeding a Nightjar, 231 Gregory, Mrs. Patagonian Plovers and Trumpeter Birds, 201 Gurney, Gerard, H. F.Z.S. Notes on the Breeding of the South African Coly, 179 H. Hampe, Alex. Bird Keeping in China, 24 Holden, Ralph, A., F.Z.S. Nesting of Hyphantornis, 36 Hopktnson, Dr. Emilius. English Names for the Parrots, 43, 74, 95, 128, 165, 191, 225, 288, 317, 353 Housden, .James B. * Starlings on a Battlefield, 231 Hutchinson, Miss Alice. A Derelict Pelican, 339 Alphabetical List of Contributors. IX. J. Jamrach, William. Past Importations of Indian Pheasants, 126, 157 Johnstone, Mrs. The Mikado Pheasant (Calopliasis mikado), 265 K. Kock, Felix J. Our Pilfering, Chatterbox Friend, the Magpie, 92 L. Lambert-Baker, William. Destruction of Birds’ Nests and Eggs, 197 Le Souef, Dudley. ^Destructive Warfare among Parrots, 296 Lovell-Keays, Dr. L. Breeding of Cactus Conures, 41 Practical Remarks on Practical Aviculture, 118 The Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds, 236 The Breeding of the African White-eye ( Zosterops viridis), 27 * Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds, 324 The Winter Treatment of Birds, 355 *The Breeding of Zosterops virens, 355 The Breeding of Bearded Tits ( Panurus biarmicus), 35S Low, George E. Notes on Nesting of Hill Tits, 39 M. Millsum, 0. Birds of Paradise on Little Tobago (W.I.), 88 MOERSCHELL, F. ^Treatment of Mynah, 295 N. Nicoll, Michael J. Notes on the Eggs of the Sudan Crowned Crane i Balearica pavonina ceciice), 69 P. Pam, Albert. The Bird Market of Caracas, 251 Phillipps, Eeginald. A Tame Raven, 182 X. Alphabetical List of Contributors. Portal, Maurice. The Crowned Cranes at Logan, 68 Notes on the Blue- winged Teal (Querquedula discors), 249 Potter, Dr. Bernard B. Birds in Flanders, 298 R. Rattigan, Gerald E. The Kingfisher and Snipe in Captivity, 139 Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds, 311 Renshaw, Graham, M.D., F.R.S.E. The Pigeon Hollandaise ( Alectroenas pulcherrivia) , 61 Rare Birds in Continental Zoos, 160 The Vulturine Guinea-Fowl, 297 s. Seth-Smith, D. Parrots at the Agricultural Hall, 72 Seth-Smith, Leslie, M., F.Z.S. The Great Creasted Touraco (Corythceola cristata), 325 Sherman, Althea R. Experiments in feeding Humming Birds during seven summers, 328, 381 Silver, Allen, F.Z.S. British Show and British Red Cross Fund, 48 ^Nesting of the Lesser White-throat, 294 Smith, C. Barnby. *The Kingfisher, 104 Five Nesting Failures and Follies, 111 SOAMES, H. A. ^Bullfinches and Mannikins, 295 Staples-Browne, Richard. Bird Notes from the Fjords, 307 Stead, G. D. Mr. Heumann’s Aviaries at Beecroft, N.S.W., 303 Stewart, B. Theo. The Australian Piping Crow, 218 Alphabetical List op Contributors. XI. Stone, 0. J. Migration Instinct in Cage Birds, 232 St. Quintin, W. H., F.Z.S. The effect of Modern High Explosives on Birds, 181 T. Tavistock, The Marquis of. Some Experiences of Mealy Rosellas, 171 Red Rosellas at Liberty, 332 *Parrakeets nesting in a state of Liberty, 324 Temple, W. R. The Kingfisher, 136 Thom, A. A. *A “Scandal” in my Aviary, 296 Thomasset, Bernard C. Aviary Notes in 1914, 84 Hybrid Buntings, 380 Trevor- Battye, Aubyn, M.A. *Kingfishers, 167 Jottings on Common Indian Birds, 209, 255 Bird Feeding in India, 221 u. Urwick, Douglas R. An Aviculturist in Portugal, 186 V. Vernon, Mrs. B. Warren. *The Feeding of Birds, 48 w. Wormald, Hugh. Nightjar, Snipe and Phalarope, 195 Hand-rearing Long-tailed Tits, 389 Xll. List of Plates. LIST OF PLATES. * The Asterisk denotes a coloured plate. TO FACE PAGE The Brown Thrasher (H arporhynchus rufus ) Orange-headed Ground Thrush (Geocichla citrina) Hill Tits ( Liothrix luteus ) The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida ) Crowned Cranes in the bed of a stream The Red-headed Pigeon Hollandais ( Alectrcenas pulcherrima) ... Weaver-Birds Nests in the Aviaries of Mr. W. Shore Baily ... The Rose-breasted Grosbeak ( Hedymeles ludovicianus) Riccord’s Humming-Bird ( Sporadinus riccordi) Garnet-throated Humming-Bird ( Eulampis jugular is) The Nightjar (Caprimulgus europceus ) A Kingfisher ( Alcedo ispida) Amsterdam Zoological Gardens. The Ibis Aviary Amsterdam Zoological Gardens. Boat-billed Heron (Canchroma cochlearia ) ... Red-headed Bullfinch (Pyrrhula erythrocephala ) Trumpeter Bird ( Psophia crepitans) Stack from the North-West Bird-feeding Towers, Ahmedabad Gap between two portions of the Stack Blue- winged Teal ( Querquedula discors ) j Chilian Teal ( Nettium flavirostre) A pair of British Shelduck ( Tadorna tadorna) Artificial Burrow for Shelduck ’s nest Cereopsis Geese (Cereopsis novce-hollandice) ... * The Mikado Pheasant ( Calophasis mikado ) ... Nest of Zosterops virens ... Cuckoos and Wagtail’s Nest The Vulturine Guinea-Fowl The Geiranger Fjord, Norway The'Lotefos, Norway Great Crested Touraco (Corythceola cristata) The Pelican of Locarno (2 plates) ... * Ruddy Headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) Young Occipital Blue Pie ( Urocissa occipitalis) 23 30 40 49 58 61 62 81 105 108 137 143 160 162 169 201 206 222 233 249 250 262 265 274 280 297 307 309 325 339 357 370 AVICULTURAL MAGAZ I N E CONTENTS. pagk Officers for the Year 1914-5 ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 List of Members ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Buies of the Avicultural Society ... ... ... ... ... 17 The Society's Medal... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 The Brown Thrasher, or Thrush (with Coloured Plate ) by Hubert D. Astley ... 23 Bird-Keeping in China, by ALEX. HAMPE ... ... ... ... 24 Breeding of the Fair Lorikeet, by E. J. BROOK ... ... ... 29 Breeding of the Orange-Headed Ground Thrush and the American Robin (Illustrated) by Dr. MAURICE AMSLER 30 Nesting of Hyphantornes, by RALPH A. HOLDEN ... ... ... 36 Notes on Nesting of Hill Tits (Illustrated) , by GEORGE E. LOW ... 39 The Breeding of Cactus Conures, by Dr. L. LOVELL-KEAYS ... ... 41 English Names for the Parrots, by Dr. E. HOPKINSON ... ... 43 CORRESPONDENCE : — The Feeding of Birds ; Bird Show and British Red Cross Fund ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 Third Series. Vol. VI. No. 1. The price of this Number is 2/6- NOVEMBER, —1914.— NOTE. — A new volume commences every November. All Subscriptions should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. WEST, NEWMAIM &. Co., 54, Hatton Garden, E.C. AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Persons wishing to join the AviCUi/l'UK at, SociKTY are requested to communicate with either of the Hon. Secretaries or the Kditor. g@“,The Magazine can also be had from the Publishers by NON-MEMBERS at a Subscription of 15/- per annum. NOTICKS TO MEMBERS. l'he Subscription to the Avicultural Society is 10/- per annum, due on the ist of November in each year, and is payable in advance. The entrance fee is IO/6. The Avicultural Magazine is sent free to members monthly. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year, on the payment of entrance fee and subscription. All MSS. for publication in the Magazine, Books for Review, and Private Advertisements should be addressed to the Kditor, Hubert D. ASTLKY, Esq. Brinsop Court, Hereford. All Queties respecting Birds (except post mortem cases) should be addressed to the Honorary Correspondence Secretary, Dr. A. G. BuTT.KR, 124, Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent. [. Enclose Stamp for reply]. All other correspondence, should be sent to the Honorary Business Secretary, Mr. R. I. Pocock ; Zoological Society’s Gardens, Regent’s Park, London, N.W. Any change of address should at once be notified to him. Dead Birds for post mortem examination should be sent to Prof. G. H. Wooldridge:, Zoological Society, Regent’s Park, N.W. Advice is given, by post, by members of the Council to members of the Society, upon all subjects connected with Foreign and British birds. All queries are to be addressed to the Hon. Correspondence Secretary and should contain a penny stamp. Those marked “Private” will not be published. The Magazine is published bv Messrs. Wkst, Newman & Co., (54, Hatton Garden, E.C.) to whom all SUBSCRIPTIONS, orders for extra copies, back numbers, and bound volumes (accompanied by remittance) should be addressed. Cases for binding the Magazine (in art cloth, with gold block on side, can be obtained from the Publishers, post free and carefully packed, at 1/6 each; or the Publishers will undertake the binding of the Volume for 2/6, plus 8d. for packing and postage. Members are requested to state whether they want the wrappers and advertisements bound in at the end or not. BOUND COPIES OK The “AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE.” The following can be obtained from the Publishers at the prices given below. 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PET ANIMALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. r Humblodt’s Wooly Monkey ; i Battikofers Guenon ; I Patas Monkey ; 2 Pigtail Apes ; 1 Red Baboon ; 5 Dogface Baboons ; 2 Sacred Baboons; 2 Mandrills; 190 Rhesus Monkeys; 20 Jew Monkeys ; 4 Black and White Ruffed Lemurs; 2 Orange-cheeked Lemurs ; 7 Brown Lemurs ; 2 Agouti ; 1 Coati-Mundi ; 2 Corpus; 10 Jerboas; 1 Mexican Squirrel ; 1 Red Squirrel ; 20 Canadian Porcupines ; 1 Bull, Cow and Calf Indian Zebu Buffaloes ; 1 Sanibur Stag ; I pair Axis Deer ; 1 Hog Deer ; I tame young Blackbuek ; 8 Bennett’s Wallabies; 1 perfectly tame African Leopard on lead ; 1 Tibet Bear; 1 Sloth Bear; 1 Himalaya Bear; 1 American Bear; 2 young Dingos ; 3 South American Rhea Ostriches ; I White-whiskered Paradoxure ; 1 Indian Civit ; 2 Swamp Civits ; 1 Two-spotted Parodoxure ; 3 Griffin Vultures ; 1 Rough-legged Buzzard ; 13 Black Swans ; 8 White Swans ; 2 Barheaded Geese; 2 Chinese Geese ; 100 Falcated Teal ; 20 Man¬ darin Ducks ; 15 Formoson Teal ; 10 White-faced Tree Ducks ; 100 Common Teal ; 10 Demoiselle Cranes ; 4 Antigone Cranes ; 2 Rosy Flamingoes ; 4 Rosy Spoonbills ; 3 Ibis; 1 Penguin ; 1 marvellous talking Grey Parrot; 1 talking Hill Mynah ; 1 pair the new Cuban Connies ( Con-urns euops) ; 1 pair Blue-cheeked Rosellas ( Platycercns amalhusia) ; 1 Pennants Broadtail ; 1 White-eared Connie ; I pair Red-sided Blclectus Lories ; 1 pair Red¬ necked Lorikeets ; 1 pair Alexandrine Rock Parrots; 2 Canarywing Broto- gerys ; 1 Golden-fronted Brotogerys ; 2 Yellow-billed Pionus ; 1 Red-vented Pionus ; 2 Nandv Connies ; 2 Half-1110011 Connres ; 20 Amazon Parrots ; 100 Rose Cockatoos; 200 Budgerigars; 50 Lavender-headed Lovebirds; 100 Ring-necked Parrakeets ; 10 Great Sulphurerest Cockatoos ; 2 Bare-eyed Cockatoos; I Lesser Javan Cockatoos; 1 Green Military Macaw ; II .Silky Starlings; 1 Chinese Rosy Starling ; 4 Cuban Song Thrushes; 1 Singing Sliania ; 6 Chinese-crested Mynahs; 2 Crimson-eared Bulbuls; 20 White Java .Sparrows ; 8 Saffron Finches ; 10 Dwarf Finches ; 15 Change and Yellow Bishops; 3 Yellow-vented Buntings; 2 Cape Sparrows ; 12 Indigo Finches ; 1 pair imported Chinese Ringneck Pheasants; Silver, Amheist, and Reeves Pheasants; 20 Peafowl ; 20 Zebra Doves; 40 White Doves; 100 Ring Doves; 6 Vinaceous Turtle Doves; 1 Stock Dove; 1 Triangular-spotted Pigeon; Sternotheres ; Tortoises; Terrepins; Lizards; Snakes ; Crocadiles ; etc. Wanted to Purchase, SURPLUS ACCLIMATISED SPECIMENS, BIRDS, REPTILES, OR ANIMALS Cables and Telegrams : “ Cross, Liverpool.” National ’Phone 6491 Central. ®irfc«»%ore. A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Edited by Frank M. Chapman. EACH VOLUME CONTAINS— About 400 pages, with 12 full-page colored plates of our own birds, and many photographs from nature. Descriptions of experiences with living birds in their haunts, and help¬ ful articles on how to study birds. Migration tables, showing when birds maybe expected at many places throughout the country. A list of prominent ornithologists who will help you in your study of birds. Bird Censuses by numerous observers. Reviews of books and of magazine articles relating to birds. Editorials on current questions in bird study. A School Department. An Audubon Society Department. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION .. 5/- I). APPLETON & Co., 25 Bedford Strkkt, Covent Garden, London. Pp. T42, Cloth, Demy Svo., Price 5/- net; Postage qd. PRACTICAL - - BIRD-KEEPING. BEING REPRINTS FROM “THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE,” 1911- L2. EDITED BY L. 130NH0TE, M.A., F.L.S., E.Z.S. A Manual intended as a practical help to those who find both pleasure and profit from the keeping of wild birds in confinement. Contributed to by specialists in each class of birds described. With One Coloured Plate and Sixteen Uncoloured. London: WEST, NEWMAN 6c Co.. 54 Hatton Garden, E.C. THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY, FOR THE STUDY OF FOREIGN & BRITISH BIRDS IN FREEDOM & CAPTIVITY OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1914-1915: President : The Hon. and Rev. Canon F. (t. Dutton. Vice-President : Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford. Council : Miss alderson. Mr. Arthur Denman. Mr. Alfred Ezra. MAJOR B. R. HORSBRUGH. Mr. E. G. B. Meade-Waldo. Mr. Albert Pam. Mr. R. I. Pocock. Mr. W. L. Sclater. Mr. D. Seth-Smith. Mr. C. Barnby Smith. The Marquis of Tavistock. Mr. B. Thomasset. Mr. A. Trevor-Battye. Mr. H. Willford. Executive Committee : Mr. D. Seth-Smith. Mr. r. i. Pocock. Mr. E. G. B. Meade-Waldo, The Hon. Secretaries and the Editor. Hon. Business Secretary: MR. T. H. NEWMAN, “Newlands,” Harrowdene Road, Wembley, Middlesex. Hon. Correspondence Secretary : DR. A. G. BUTLER, 124, Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent. Hon. Treasurer : Mr. B. c. Thomasset. Editor : Mr. HUBERT D. ASTLEY, Brinsop Court, Hereford. Auditor : Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant. Scrutineer : Mr. H. Wormald. W. T. MOULTON & CO., LTD., PRINTERS AND STATIONERS, CHURCH STREET, BRIGHTON. 3 List of Members. Corrected to October 26th, 1914. NOTICE. — Member* are particularly requested to inform the Hon. Secretary of any error in the spelling of their names, addresses, or descriptions, so that it may be corrected. The date following the Member’s name is the date of his election. “ Orig. Mem.” signifies that the Member joined the Society on its formation in Oct., 1894. The asterisk denotes that the Member belonged to the U.K. Foreign Oage Bird Society, either at the time of the amalgamation or some time before. Abraham, Miss Beatrice; Grove Lodge, Muswell Hill, N. (Feb. 1911). ACTON, G. H. ; Bytham, Kidmore Road, Caversliam, Reading. (April, 1914). Ainley, John William ; 16, Dalton Green, Dalton, Huddersfield. (June, 1895). Aederson, Miss R. ; Park House, Worksop, Notts. (April, 1896). AESTON, Gavin; Yondercroft, Darvel, Ayrshire. (June, 1900). Ames, Mrs. Hobart; North Easton, Mass, U.S.A. (1913). Amseer, Dr. Maurice; Eton Court House, Eton, Windsor. (Dec., 1908). AnninGSON, Mrs. ; Walt-ham-Sal, Barton Road, Cambridge. (May, 1899). Arthur, Charees P. ; Market Place, Melksham, Wilts. (Jan., 1895).* 10 ASTeey, Hubert Deeavae, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Brinsop Court, Hereford. (Editor). ( June, 1S95). * ASTeey, Reginald B. ; Compton Beauchamp, Shrivenham, Berks. (July, 1902). ASTEEY, Mrs. Reginald ; Compton Beauchamp, Shrivenham, Berks. (Oct., 1905). Athereey, Mrs. ; Croft Castle, Kingsland, R.S.O., Herefordshire. (April, 1903). ATTEWEEE, Harold E.; “Cassia Grove,” Kingston, Jamaica. (July, 1903)- Bainbridge, W. a. ; Hazelwood, Thorpe, Surrey). (1913). Bahr, Dr. Philip H., B.A., M.B.O.U.; 12, Vicarage Gardens, West Kensington, W. (Nov., 1907). Baiey, W. Shore ; Boyers House, Westbury, Wilts. (Feb., 1910). 4 List of Members. Baird, Sir Alexander, Bart; Urie, Stonehaven, Kincardine, N.B. (Oct,, 1904). Baker, E. C. Stuart, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; 6, Harold Road, Upper Norwood, S.E. (Feb., 1904). 20 Baker, Dr. F. D. ; Superintendent, Nat. Zoological Park, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Baker, John C., M.B., B.A., M.B.O.U.; Ceely House, Aylesbury. (June, 1903). Baldelli, La Contessa Giueia Tommasi ; 4, Via Silvio Pellico,. Florence, Italy. (April, 1902). Bamford, Wieeiam; The Coppice, Werneth, Oldham. (March, 1904),. Bampfyede, The Hon. Mrs. ; Court Hall, North Moltou, N. Devon. (Oct., 1910). Barber Starkey, F. W. G. ; (no permanent address). (June, 1906). Barceay-WaTSON, Miss F. ; The Court House, Goring, Sussex. (July,. 1902). Barlow, Alfred; Superintendent, Alexandra Park, Oldham. (April, 1908). Bareow-Massicks, Leslie ; The Mount, Rotherham, Yorks. (1913). Bedford, Her Grace the Duchess of, F.Z.S. ; Woburn Abbey, Woburn, Beds. ; and 15, Belgrave Square, S.W. (Feb., 1903). 30 Beebe, C. William; Curator of Ornithology; New York Zoological Park, New York City. (July, 1903). Bentley, David; 80, St. Hubert’s Street, Great Harwood, Blackburn. (July, 1895). BerESFORD-Webb, G. M. ; Norbryglit, South Godstone, Surrey. (May,. 1906). BERKELEY, The Rev, C. J. Rowland ; Sibbertoft Vicarage, Market Harborough. (Nov., 1902). Blackburn, H. R. ; Woodlands, Surrenden Road, Preston, Brighton. (I9I3)- Blaauw, F. E., C.M.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; Gooilust, ’s Graveland, Hilversutn, Holland. (Nov., 1901). Blagg, E. W. H. ; Greenliill, Cheadle, Staffs. (Sept., 1911). Blaine, G. ; Whitedaile, Hambledon, Hants. (Oct., 1908). BlathwayT, A. P. ; The Grange, Nortliwood, Middlesex. (Jan., 1895). Bonhote, John Lewis, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Zoological Gardens, Ghizeh, Eg}rpt. (Dec., 1894). 40 BorThwick, Alex. ; Vereena, Canonbury Grove, Dulwich Hill, Sydney ^ N.S.W. (Feb., 1909). Boscawen, Townshend E. ; 1, Old Burlington Street, London, W. (1913)- Boscawen, The Hon. Vere Douglas; 2, St. James’s Square, S.W. (Nov., 1910). Boughton-Leigh, Henry ; Browusover Hall, Rugby. (May, 1900). Bourke. Hon. Mrs. ALGERNON ; 75, Gloucester Place, Portman Square, W. (Feb., 1911). Bousfield, Miss M., 58, Southbourne Road, Bournemouth. (June, 1914). List of Members. 5 Box, E. A. Granville; 76, Broomwood Road, Battersea, S.W. (Nov., 1907). Boyd, Harold; Box 374, Kelowna, British Columba. (March, 1902). Boyes, Frederick; Norwood, Beverley, Yorkshire. (Sept., 1907). Brampton, Miss E. ; 31, Church Crescent, Church End, Finchley, N. (Feb., 1898). 50 Brampton, Mrs. G.; Queen Anne Lodge, Stoke Newington, N. (July, 1914.) Brazil, Prof.; Uuiversite de Caen, France. (1913). Bridgeman, Commander The Hon. Richard, O.B., R.N., M.B.O.U. ; H.M.S. “ Hyacinth,” Cape Station. (Dec., 1904). Bridgeman, Colonel The Hon. Francis C. ; 59, Emiismore Gardens, S.W. (Oct., 1905). Bright, Herbert ; “ Lynton,” Eaton Road, Cressington Park, nr. Liverpool. (June, 1914). Bufton, R. P. ; “ Caerlyn,” Llandrindod Wells. (Feb., 1914). Brook. E. J. ; Hoddam Castle, Ecclefechan, N.B. (August, 1905). Browning, William H. ; 16, Cooper Square, New York City. (March, 1906). Burdon, Mrs. W. ; Hartford House, Bedlington, Northumberland. (I9I3)- Burgoyne, F., F.Z.S., 116, Harley Street, W. (1912). 60 Burton, Walter ; Mooresfoot, East Sheen, Mortlake, S.W. (Dec., 1901). Butler, Arthur G., Ph.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; (Hon. Corres¬ pondence Secretary) ; 124, Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent. (Orig. Mem. * Butler, A. L., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Superintendent of Game Preservation, Khartoum, Soudan. (Aug., 1906). Butler, Arthur Larchin, M. Aust. O.U. ; Waimarie, Lower Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania. (July, 1905). Buttikoffer, Dr. J., C.M.Z.S., M.B.O.U., Director of the Zoological Gardens, Rotterdam, Holland. (Oct., 1907). (Hon. Member) . Buxton, E. Hugh; Fritton Hall, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. (June, (1909). Byng, Hon. Mrs. Julian ; Thorpe Hall, Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex. (May, 1914). Cadogan, Mrs. Francis; Hatherop Castle, Fairford, Glos. (Sept., 1913). Camps, H. T. T., F.Z.S. ; Linden House, Haddenham, Isle of Ely. (Orig. Mem.) Capern, F. ; Avenue House, Cotham Park, Bristol. (March, 1903). 70 Carr, Richardson ; Home Farm, Tring, Herts. (1913). Carpenter, The Hon. Mrs. ; 22, Grosvenor Road, S.W. (Feb., 1908). Carpenter, Prof. G. H. ; Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, Phoenix Park, Dublin. (Oct., 1905). Carrick, GeorCE ; 13, King’s Terrace, Maryliill, Glasgow. (March, 1898). 6 List of Members. Castellan, Victor E. ; Hare Hall, Romford, Essex. (Orig. Mem.) Cattle, C. F. ; Thurston, Bury St. Edmunds. (Jail., 1905). Cecil, Lady William ; Baroness Amherst of Hackney ; Didliugton Hall, Stoke Ferry, Norfolk and 23, Queen’s Gate Gardens, S.W. Chamba, H. H., Sir Bhuri Sinch, K.C.S.I , Rajah of, Chamba, via Dalhousie, Punjab, India. (Jam, 1908), Chamberlain, Walter ; Pendock Grove, Cobham, Surrey. (1912). CharringTon, Mrs. Mowbray; How Green, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent). (May, 1906). 80 Chawner, Miss; Forest Bank, Lyndburst, Hants. (July, 1899). Christie, Mrs. ; Newton House, By Elgin, Scotland. (Sept. 1914), Clitherow, Mrs. Claud Strachy ; 20, Park Square, Regent’s Park, N.W. (June, 1903). Connell, Mrs. Knatchbull; The Orchard, Brockenhurst, Hants. (Nov., 1S97). Constable, The Rev. W. J.; Uppingham School, Uppingham. (Sept., 1901). Cooper, Sir Edward E. ; Berrydown Court, Overton, Hants. (1912). COOPER, James ; Cavton, Scarborough. (Orig. Mem.) COOPER, William; Aislaby Hall, Pickering, Yorks. (March, 1907). Corbet, Sir Roland J., Bart. ; Coldstream Guards, Chelsea Barracks, S.W. (May, 1911). Cory, Reginald R. ; Duffryn, near Cardiff. (August, 1905). 90 Craig, Prof. Wallace; Orono, Maine, U.S.A. (1912). Croft, A. B. ; The Clock House, Ashford, Middlesex. (May, 1907). Cronkshaw, J. ; 193, Manchester Road, Accrington. (Dec., 1894). CROSS, W. Simpson, F.Z.S. ; 18, Earle Street, Liverpool. (Jam, 1898). Cuningham, Martin ; Goffs Oak House, Cheshunt, Herts. (Oct., 1908). Currey, Mrs.; The Pit House, Kwell, Surrey. (Feb., 1906). Cushny. Charles; (No perina?ient addressj. (June, 1906). Davies, Claude G., M.B.O.U. ; “D” .Squadron, Cape Mounted Rifle¬ men, Matatiele, E. Griqualand, S. Africa. (July, 1909). Davies, G. ; 96, Greenfield Terrace, New Tredegar. (July, 1914). Dell, Charles; 12, High Street, Harlesden, N.W. (July, 1900). 00 Denman, Arthur, M.A.. F.Z.S., F.S.A., 12, Harley Gardens, South Kensington, S.W. (Sept., 1909). Dennis, Mrs. H. E. ; St. Leonard’s Park, Horsham. (March, 1903). De Pass, Miss O. ; 6, The Orchard, Bedford Park, W. (March, 1914). DE Tain'TEGNIES, La Baronne Le Clement; Cleveland, Minehead, Somerset. (Feb., 1902). Dewar, I)., I.C.S. ; Pilibhit, U.P., India. (Sept., 1905). deWinton, William Edward, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Southover, Burwash, Sussex. (Aug., 1903). Director, The; Zoological Museum, Tring, Herts. (1912). List of Members. 7 Donald, C. H. ; c/o The Alliance Bank of Simla, Ltd., Simla, India. (March, 1906). Douglas, Miss; Rose Mount, Pitlochry, N.B. (June, 1905). Douglas, William C., F.Z.S. ; 26, The Boltons, S.W. (Nov., 1900). no Drewii't, Frederick Dawtrey, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; 14, Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington, W. (May, I903)- Drummond, Miss; Mains of Megginch, Krrol, N.B. (Feb., 1905). DUFF, The Lady Grant; Earl Soham Grange, Framlingham, Suffolk. (Aug., 1905). Dunleath, The Lady ; Ballywalter Park, Ballywater, co. Down, Ireland. (August, 1897). Dutton, The Hon. and Rev. Canon ; Bibury Vicarage, Fairford. (Orig. Mem). Dyott, R. A.; Freefoid, Lichfield. (1912). Eckstein, F. ; Ottershaw Park, Ottershaw, Surrey. (1912). Ezra, Alfred; iio, Mount Street, London, W. (1912). Ezra, David; 3, Kyd Street, Calcutta. (June, 1912). Farmborough, Percy W., F.Z.S. ; Lower Edmonton. (June, 1896).* 120 FasEY, William R.; The Oaks, Holly Bush Hill, Snaresbrook, N.E. (May, 1902). Field, George; Sorrento, Stapelhurst, Kent. (March, 1900). Field, Miss Hilda; Ashurst Park, Tunbridge Wells. (1912). Findeiskn, A. S. ; Hallowdene, Torquay. (May, 1914). Finn, Frank, 36, St. George’s Road, Regent’s Park, N.W. [Hon. Member). Fisher-Rowe, HERBERT; St. Leonard’s Grange, Beaulieu, Hants. (1913)- Firebrace, Mrs. ; 28, Old Queen Street, Westminster, S.W. (Feb., 1911). Fitzgerald, Hon. Mrs. ; 18, Clyde Road, Dublin. (July, 1914). Flower, Captain .Stanley Smyth, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; Director Egyptian Government Zoological Gardens, Ghizeh, Cairo, Egypt. (Jan., 1913). Flower, Mrs. Stanley; Longfield, Tring, Herts. (March, 1909). 130 Focklemann, AUGUST ; Tier Park, Hamburg-Grossborstel, Germany. (Nov., 1907). FolLETT, The Lady Julia; Woodside, Old Windsor. (Oct., 1903). FoRTESCUE, Col, H. ; Falmouth House, Newmarket. (Oct., 1908). Foster, E. Hubert, Lower Bowden, Pangbourne, Berks. (1912). Fowler, Charles, 26, Broad Street, Blaenavon. (Dec., 1894). Frost, Wilfrid; 13, Fairlawn Avenue, Chiswick Park, W. (July, 1908). Galloway, P. F. M.; Durban, Rectory Road, Caversham, Reading. (March, 1907). 8 List of Members. GhiGI, M. le Prof. Allessandro; Via d’Azeglio, Bologna, Italy. (March, 1911). Gibbs, Mrs. H. Martin; Barrow Court, Flax Bourton, R.S.O., Somer¬ set. (April, 1904). Gibbins, William B. ; Ettington, near Stratford-on-Avon. (June, 1895). * 140 GlivBKY, Sir Walter, Bt., F.Z.S. ; Elsenham Hall, Elsenham, Essex' (Dec., 1907). Giles, Henry M., M. Aust. O.U. (Orig. Mem.) ; Zoological Gardens, Perth, Western Australia. (June, 1903). Gill, Arthur, M.R.C.V.S. ; Mount Denison, Novia Scotia. (Dec., 1899). Gladstone, Miss J. ; The Lodge, Parkstone, Dorset. (July, 1905). Goddard, H. E. ; Rothsay, Thicket Road, Sutton, Surrey. IFeb. 1899). Godman, F. DuCane, D.C.L., F.R.S., F.Z.S. ; President of the British Ornithologists’ Union, 45, Pont Street, S.W. Oct., 1904). (Honorary Member). GoodalL, A. A.; 12, Udersley Grove, West Dulwich, S.E. (Nov., 1909). Goodchild, Herbert, M.B.O.U.; 66 Gloucester Road, Regent’s Park, N.W. (Oct., 1912). Goodfellow, Walter, M.B.O.U. ; The Poplars, Kettering. (June, 1897). GorteR, Madame ; The Delta, Walmer, Kent. (Nov., 1901). 150 Gosse, Philip, M.R.C.S. ; Curtlemead, Beaulieu, Hants. (April, 1911). Grabham, Dr. Oxley; The Museum, York. (June, 1914). Grabowsky, F., Director of the Zoological Gardens; Breslau, Germany. (June, 1905). Gray, Henry, M.R.C.V.S.; 23, Upper Phillimore Place, W. (June, 1906). Greening, Linn^EUS; Fairlight, Grappenhall, nr. Warrington. (Jan. 1911). Gregorv, Mrs.; Melville, Parkstone, Dorset. (Dec., 1901). Grey, Rt. Hon. Sir Edward, Bart, K.G., M.P. ; 3, Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W. (1913). Griffiths, M. E. ; Caizley House, Temple Road, Stowmarket. (May, 1902). Gronvold, Henrik; 26, Albert Bridge Road, Battersea Tark, S.W. (Nov., 1902). Grossmith, J. L. ; The Grange, Bickley, Kent. (Nov., 1912). 160 Guilford, Miss H. ; 23, Lenton Avenue, The Park, Nottingham. (March, 1903). Guldenkian, C. S. ; 27, Ouai D’Orsay, Paris. (Dec., 1908). Gunn, W. Cecil; The Red House, Bickley, Kent. (Jan., 1910). Gurney, John Henry, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Keswick Hall, Norwich; and Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, S.W. (Dec., 1904). HaagneR, A. K., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa. (Nov., 1905). Hagenbeck, Heinrich ; Stellingen, Hamburg, Germany. (Nov. 1913)- List of Members. 9 Haggie, G. E. ; Brumcoinbe, Foxcombe Hill, Oxford. (June, 1914). Halkhd, Lieut. N. G. B. ; King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry ; [No Address). (Dec., 1908). Hampk, A. ; c/o Messrs. Arnhold, Kaxberg & Co., Shanghai. (May, 1914). Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Lewis, P.C. ; 14, Berkeley Square, W. (1913). 170 Harding, W. A., M.A., F.Z.S. ; Histon Manor, Cambridge. (Dec., 1903). Hardy, Lawrence, M.P. ; Sandling Park, Hythe, Kent. (Nov., 1906). Harewood, The Countess of; Harewood House, Leeds. (March, 1903). H ari.ey, Mrs. F. ; Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire. (1908). Harper, Edward William, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; c/o Wardle & Co., Nairobi, British East Africa. (Feb., 1901). Hartley, Mrs.; “ Lynchfield,” Bishops Lydeard, Somerset. (April, 1S97). Harvey, The Hon. Lady; Langley Park, Slough. (Oct., 1906). Hawke, The Hon. Mary C. ; Wigliill Park, Tadcastar. (Nov., 1900). Hawkins, L. W. ; 206, Clive Road, West Dulwich, S.E. (Jan , 1899). HAZELRIGG, Sir Arthur, Bt. ; Noselev Hall, Leicester. (March, 1907). 180 Hebb, Thomas ; “ Brooklea,” The Downs, Luton, Beds. (April, 1914). Hemsworth, The Rev. B., M.A., J.P. ; Monk Fryston Hall, South Milford, Yorks. (June, 1901). Hetley, Mrs. Hknry; Beaufort House, 1 14, Church Road, Norwood, S.E. (July, 1910). Hkumann, G. A. ; Strand Arcade, George Street, Sydney, New South Wales. (Sept., 1913). Heywood, Richard; Narborough, Norfolk. (Oct., 1911). Hide, Mrs. E. Staveeky ; Oxley Manor, Wolverhampton. (Oct., 1905). Hinder: R. Franklin ; 34, Brunswick Road, Liverpool. (Sept., 189S). Hodgson, The Hon. Mrs. ; Clopton, Stratford-on-Avon. (Match, 1903). Holden, Ralph A., P'.Z.S. ; 5, John Street, Bedford Row, London. (May, 1906). Hopkinson, Dr. Emieius ; I),S.O., M.A., M.B., Oxon., 45, Sussex Square, Brighton. (Oct., 1906). 190 Hopson, Fred C. ; Northbrook Street, Newbury. (March, 1897). Horsbrugh, Major Boyd R., A.S.C. ; Tandridge Priory, Oxted, Surrey. (Jan., 1898). Housden, James B. ; Brooklyn, Cator Road, Sydenham, S.E- (Orig. Mem.) Howard, Robert James, M.B.O.U.; Shear Bank, Blackburn. (April, 1903)- Howard-Vyse, H. ; Stoke Place, Slough. (Nov., 1906). Howman, Miss ; 6, Essex Grove, Upper Norwood. (Mar., 1897). Hubbard, George; 112, Fenchurch Street, E.C. (Jan., 1905). Hutchinson, Miss Alice; Alderton Vicarage, Chippenham, Wilts. (August, 1907). Inchiouin, The Lady; Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, Ireland. (Nov., 1S97). 10 List of Members. Ingram, Collingwood ; The Bungalow, Westgate-on-Sea. (Oct., 1905). 200 Ingram, Sir William, Bart; The Bungalow, Westgate-on-Sea. (Sept., 1904). Isaac, Charles; Sonierton, Bath Road, Slough. (March, 1906). Jamrach, Albert E. ; 180, St. George Street, E. (April, 1913). Johnson, Major Frank ; Melrose House, Wilbury Road, Hove, Sussex. (1912). Johnstone, Mrs. E. J. ; Burrswood, Groombridge, Sussex. (May, 1908). Keays, Dr. C. Lovell; Park Lodge, East Hoathley, Sussex. (Aug., I9I3)- Kennedy, Lieut. G. ; (No permanetit address). (1911). Kirchner, Mrs. ; Salisbury House, 2c, Lewis Avenue, Margate. (Jan., 1911). Kr.oss C. Bodkn ; (No permanent address). (1912). Kuser, J. Dryden ; Faircourt, Bernardsville, New Jersey, U.S. A. (1912). 210 Lancaster, John ; Dunchurch Lodge, near Rugby. (March, 1904). Lascelles, The Hon. Gerald, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Tillington House, Petworth, Sussex. (Oct., 1S96). Leach, C. F. ; Vale Lodge, Leatherhead, Surrey. (June, 1914). LEE, Mrs. E. D. ; Hartwell House; Aylesbury. (July, 1906). Leeke, Miss Dorothy; 9, Hertfotd Street, Mayfair, W. (May, 1909). Leicester, The Earl of, G.C.V.O., etc. ; 15, Hill Street, Berkeley Square, W. (May, 1913). Leigh, Cecil; Lyburu Park, near Lyndhurst, Hants. (Nov., 1906). LEGGE, Hon. Gerald; Patshull House, Wolverhampton. (Feb., 1913). Lemon, Frank E. ; Hillcrest, Redhill, Surrey. Le SoueF, A. Sherbourne; Zoological Gardens, Sydney, New South Wales. (Aug., 1923). 220 LS SoueF, Dudley; Zoological Gardens, Royal Park, Parkville, Mel¬ bourne, Australia. (1912). Lilford, The Lady ; Lilford Hall, Oundle, Northamptonshire. (Jan., 1898). Lloyd, Capt. A. M. ; 1/24U1 Regiment, Chatham Barracks, Chatham. (April, 1912). Lockye;r, Alfred; St. Monica’s Lodge, Elm Park Road, Wmchmore Hill, N. (Dec., 1905). Long, Mrs.; Sherrington Manor, Berwick, Sussex. (Feb., 1907). Lovelace, The Countess of; Wentworth House, Chelsea Embankment, London, S.W. (May, 1906). Lovett, C. ; Route 3, Brentwood, Tennessee, U.S. A. (Dec , 1912). Low, GEORGE E. ; 14, Royal Terrace East, Kingstown, Ireland. (Mar., 1913)- Lucas, Dr. N. S. ; 19, Westbonrne Terrace, Hyde Park,W. (Jan., 1913). List of Members,. 11 Manchester Public Libraries ; Reference Library, Piccadilly, Manchester. (Juiy, 1913). 230 McDonnell, H011. Sir SchomberG, G.C.V.O. ; Dalness. Taynuilt, Argyllshire. (March, 1914). McGeagh, Dr. R. T. ; Mona Lodge, Lezavre, nr. Ramsey, Isle of Man. ^Aug., 190S). McGee, The Rev. Father ; St. Laurences, Forbes, N.S.W. (July, 1908). Malone, Mrs. M. L’Estrange; West Lodge, Malton, Yorks. (Jan., 1902). Manners-Smith, Lieut.-Col. ; The Residency, Nepal, India. (1911). Mappin, Stanley ; 12, Albert Hall Mansions, Kensington Gate, S.W. (April, 1911). Marshall, Archibald MclEan; Cliitconibe, Brede, Sussex. (Jan., 1906). Martin. H. C. ; 147, Victoria Road, Old Charlton, Kent; and Saladero, Liebig, Fray Bentos, Uruguay. (Jan., 1897). Martin, H. J. ; Clock House Farm, Woodmansterne, Surrey. (June, 1911). Martorelli, Dr. Giancinto, M.B.O.U., etc.; Collezione Turati, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan, Italy. (July, 1906). ( H 07ioi ary M ember J. 240 Mason, D. ; 23, Prince of Wales Terrace, Kensington, W. (June, 1914). Mathews, Gregory M., F.R.S. Edin., F.L.S. ; Langley Mount, Watford, Herts. (Dec., 1909). Maud, Mrs. Charles E. ; Monterey, California. (July, 1913). Meade-Waldo, E. G. B., F.Z.S , M.B.O.U. ; Stonewall Park, Eden- bridge, Kent. (Jan., 1895). Medland, Miss Lilian M. ; 10, Newcastle House, Northumberland Street, W. (Oct., 1913). Mercer, William ; Doylestown, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. (March, 1913). Mills, The Hon. ViOLET; The Wilderness, Sevenoaks. (Oct., 1907). MiLLSUM, O. ; 7, Cliftonville Parade, Margate. (Aug., 1909). Mitchell, Harry; Haskells, Lyndhurst, Hants. (Feb., 1904). MoERSCHELL, F. ; Imperial Hotel, Malvern. (June, 1895). 250 Momber, Mrs.; La Junia, San Remo, Italy, (Sept., 1907). Montagu, Hon. E. S., M.P., M.B.O.U. ; 59, Bridge Street, Cambridge, and 12, Kensington Palace Gardens, W. (May, 1912). Montgeon, Mdlle. de ; Covertside, Hasfield, Gloucester. (Oct., 1913). Morgan, Hon. Evan F. ; 37, Bryanston Square, W. (1912). Morrison, Hon. Mrs. McLaren ; Parkfield. Park Lane, Southwick, Sussex. (Sept., 1911). Morshead, Ladj' ; Forest Lodge, Binfield, Bracknell, Berks. (Dec., 1894). * Mortimer, Mrs. ; Wigmore, Holmwood, Surrey. (Orig. Mem.) * Mundy, Miss Sybil MILLER; Shipley Hall, Derby. (Jan., 1909). Munt, Henry ; 10, Ashburn Place, S. Kensington, S.W. (1912). 12 List of Members. Mvi,an, Jas. George, B.A., M.B. (Univ. Col.); L.R.C.P. and L.R.C.S. (Ed.) &c., 90, Upper Hanover Street, Sheffield. (Dec., 1901). 260 Nayi.or, Rowland E. ; Marrington Hall, Cliirbury, Salop. (March, 1913)- Newall, Mrs.; Red Heath, Croxley Green, R.S.O., Herts. (June. 1911). Newman, T. H., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; Newlands, Harrowdene Road, Wembley, Middlesex. (May, 1900). (Hon. Secretary J . Nichols, Walter B., M.B.O.U.; Stour Lodge, Bradfield, Manningtree. (Jan., 1907). Nicoll, Michael J., M.B.O.U. ; Zoological Gardens, Ghizeli, Cairo, Egypt. (1906). Oakey, W. ; 34, High Street, Leicester. (March, 1S96). * Oberholser, Harry C. ; 1444, Fairmont Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., United States of America. (Oct., 1903). Ogilvie-GranT, W. R., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; British Museum (Nat. Hist.), Cromwell Road, S.W. (Dec., 1903). Ogle, Bertram Saville, M.B.O.U. ; Steeple Ashton, Oxford. (Dec., 1902). Oliphant, Trevor ; Bale Rector}7, Melton Constable, Norfolk. (May, 1 90S). 270 Onslow, The Countess of; Claudon Park, Guildford, Surrey. (July, *910). O’Reilly, Nicholas S. ; 144, Eastern Road, Kemp Town, Brighton. (Dec., 1894). Ostrehan, J. Elliott D, ; Bank House, Thame, Oxou. (April, 1903). Page, Wesley T., F.Z.S. ; Glenfield, Graham Avenue, Mitcham, Suriev. (May, 1S97). Painter, K. V. ; 2508 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. (Dec., 1909). Palmer, Airs. G. W. ; Marlston House, near Newbury. (Oct., 1905). Pam, Albert, F.Z.S. ; Wormley Bury, Broxbourne, Herts. (Jan., 1906). Pam, Hugo, C.M.Z.S. ; 65, Bishopsgate, E.C. (Sept., 1911). Parkin, Thomas, M.A., P.R.G.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Fairseat, High Wickham, Hastings. (Oct., 1903). Pattinson, Mrs. ; The Deanery, Brisbane, Queensland. (April, 1913). 280 Pauwkls, R. ; Everberg, par Corteuberg, Brabant, Belgium. (Dec., I9°4)- Peir. P. ; c/o W. G. Peir, Esq., 60, Elizabeth .Street, Sydney, N.S.W. (July, 1903). Pennant, Lady Edith Douglas; Soliam House, Newmarket, Cambs. (Sept., 190S). Penrose, Frank G., M.D., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, S.W. (Dec., 1903). PERREAU, Major G. A. ; 2/4 Gurkha Rifles, Bakloli, Punjab, India. (Dec., 1903). List of Members. 13 PERCY, The Lord Wirriam ; Alnwick Castle, Alnwick. (May, 1913). Perring, C. S. R. ; 1, Claremont Avenue, New Malden, Surrey. Phirripps, Reginard ; 26, Cromwell Grove, West Kensington Park,W. (Orig. Mem.) * Phirrips, John C. ; Knobfields, Wenham, Mass, U.S.A. (March, 1910). Phirrips, Mrs. E. Lort, F.Z.S. ; 79, Cadogan Square, S.W. (April, 1907). 290 PlCHOT, M. Pierre A.; 132, Boulevard Hausmann, Paris (Sept., 1910). PlCKFORD, Randorph John ; Thorn Lea, Carmel Road, Darlington. PiKB, L. G. ; Kiugsbarrow, Warehouse, Dorset. (1912). Pocock, R. I., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; Zoological Society’s Gardens, Regent’s Park, N.W. (Feb., 1904). Portae, Maurice ; High Sandhoe, Hexham. (April, 1913). Portae, The Lady Rosemary; Kingsclere House. Newbury. (April, Wi3)- Potter, Dr. Bernard E. ; 58, Park Street, W. (March, 1914). PowiS, The Earl of; 45, Berkeley Square, W. ; and Powis Castle, Welshpool. (April, 1902). Princeton University, LibraryioF; Princeton, New' Jersey, U.S.A. (Nov., 1907). Pycraft, W. P., A.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O,U., &c. ; British Museum (Nat. Hist.), Cromwell Road, S.W. (Nov., 1904). (Hon. Member). 300 Quincey, Richard S. de Q. ; Inglewood, Chislehurst, Kent, (April, I9I3)- RadcrifFE, Captain A. Derme ; 105U1 Maratha Light Infantry, Poona, India. RaThborne, Henry B. ; Dreenau, Boa Island, Pettigo, Co. Fermanagh. (May, 1901). RATTIGAN, G. E. ; Lanarkslea, Cornwall Gardens, S.W. tAug., 1908). Reid, Mrs. ; Funchal, Madeira. (Feb., 1895). Renshaw, Dr. Graham, M.B., M.R.C.S. ; Bridge House, Sale, Man¬ chester. (Jan., 1910). RICE, Captain G. ; Persey House, Blairgowrie, N.B. (May, 1912). Rirey, Joseph H. ; U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (June, 1906). Ritchie, Norman ; The Holmes, St. Boswell’s, N.B. Feb., 1903). Robbins, Henry ; (Address unknozvn) . (April, 1908). 310 Roberts, Mrs., C.M.Z.S,, M. Anst. O.U. ; Beaumaris, Montpelier Street, Hobart, Tasmania. (June, 1903). ROGERS, Lt.-Col. J. M., D.S.O., F.-Z.S., M.B.O.U. (late Royal Dragoons) ; Riverhill, Sevenoaks. (April, 1907 ). ROGERSON, A.; Fleurville, Ashford Road, Cheltenham. (Dee., 1902). Rothschird, Lioner de, M.P., 46, Park Street, W. (Nov., 1913). Rothwerr, James E. ; 153, Sewall Avenue, Brookline, Mass, U.S.A. (Oct., 1910). 14 List of Members. ST. Quintin, William Herbert, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; Scampston Hall, Rillington, York. (Orig. Mem.) Schluter, John C. ; “ Heathwood,” 5, Dacres Road, Forest Hill, S.E. (Dec., 1910), Sola TER, W. L., M.A., F.Z.S.; 10, Sloane Court, S.W. (Aug., 1904). Scott, B. Hamilton ; Hamildean, Ipswich. (1912). SEGUR, M. le Comte DE; 45. Avenue d’Jena, Paris. (Sept., 1913). 320 Seppings, Captain J. W. H. ; The Army Pay Office, Canterbury. (Sept., 1907). SETH-Smi'TH, David. F'.Z.S., M.B.O U.; 34, Elswortby Road, South Hampstead, N.W. (Dec., 1894). Seth-SmiTh, Leslie M., B.A., M.B.O U. ; Alleyne, Caterham Valley, Surrey; and Kampala, Uganda. (July, 1902). Sherbrooke, Mrs. P. ; Ravenswvke, Kirbvmoorside, Yorks. (March, 1897). Sibag-Montefiore, Mrs.; 2, Palace Houses, W. (1913). SiCH, Hrrbrrt Leonard; Corney House, Burlington Lane, Chiswick, W. (Feb., 1902). Silver, Allen; 303, High Road, Streatham, S.W. (Aug., 1904). Simpson. Archibald ; Oakfield House, Stanks, Crossgates, nr. Leeds. (Feb., 1901). Smallp:y, F. W., F'.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Challan Hall, Silverdale, near Carnforth, Lancs. (1912). Smith, C. Barnby ; Woodlands, Retford, (August, 1906). 330 Smith, Miss Dorrien-Innis ; Tresco Abbey, Isle of Scilly, Cornwall. (August, 1908). Soames, Rev. H. A, ; Lyncroft, Bromley, Kent. (April, 1914). Southesk, The Countess of; Kinnaird Castle, Brechin, N.B. (Feb., 190D. Southport Corporation; Curator; Hesketh Park, Southport. (Jan., 1904). Spence, G. O. ; Elmwood, Hartburn, Stockton on Tees. (1913). Sprankling, E, ; Brookland Cottage, South Road, Taunton. (Feb., 1914). STansfELD, Captain John ; Dunniald, Montrose, N.B. (Dec., 1896). StaplES-Browne, R. ; Bampton, Oxfordshire. (August 1S98). Steavenson, Mrs. Paget ; Cross Bank Hill, Hurworth on Tees, Darlington. (June, 1914). Stevens, H. ; Gopaldhara, Nagri Spur, P.O. Darjeeling Himal. Ry. Sonada, India. (Oct., 1911). 340 Stockport Corporation; Superintendent; Vernon Park, Stockport. (Oct., 1902). Stone, O. J. ; “ Cumnor,” The Drive, Lawrie Park, Upper Sydenham, S.E. (March, 1914). Sturton-Johnson, Miss; Oratava House, Ore, Hastings. (May, 1897). Suffolk and Berkshire, The Countess of ; Charlton Park, Malmes¬ bury. (Feb., 1909). List of Members. 15 SuGGiTT, Robert; Suggitt’s Lane, Cleethorpes, Grimsby. (Dec. 1903). SUTCLIFFE, ALBERT ; Fail-holme, Grimsby, (Feb., 1906). Sutton, Lady; Brinsop Court, Hereford. (Dec. 1901). Swaysland, Walter; 47, Queen’s Road, Brighton. (Orig. Mem.)* Taka-Tsukasa, Mr. ; 25, Kaminibancho Kojimaclii Tokyo, Japan. (Feb., 1914). Tanner, Dr. Frank L. ; Vanvert House, Guernsey. (Jan., 1904). 350 Tavistock, The Marquis of; Woburn Abbey, Beds. (1912). Teck, H.H. the Duchess of; Frogmore Cottage, Windsor. (April, 1913)- Temple;, W. R. ; Ormonde, Datchet, Bucks. ( June, 1907). Terry, Major Horace A., M.B.O.U. (late Oxfordshire Light Infantry); Compton Grange, Compton, Guildford. (Oct., 1902). Teschkmaker, W. E-, B.A. ; Ringmore, Teignmouth, Devon. (May, 1904). Thom, Alfked A.; The Citadel, Weston, near Shrewsbury. (June, I9I3)- Thomas, F. Inigo ; 2, Mulberry Walk, Church Street, Chelsea, S.W. (June, 1914). Thomas, Henry ; 15, dinning Road, Birkdale, Southport. (Jan., 1895). Thomas, Miss F. G. F. ; Weston Hall, Towcaster, Northants. (March, (1899). Thomas, Mrs. Haig, F.Z.S. ; Moyles Court, Ringwood, Hants. Aug., 1907). 360 Thomasset, Bernard C., F.Z.S. ; The Manor House, Ashmans* worth, near Newbury. (Hon. Treasurer). (July, 1896). Thomasset, H. P. ; Cascade Estate, Mahe, Seychelles. (Nov., 1906). Thompson, Mrs. F. F. ; Canandaigua, N.Y., U.S.A. (July, 1907). Thorniley, Percy Wright; Shooter’s Hill, Wem., Shrewsbury, (Feb., 1902), Thorpe, Charles; Selborne, Springfield Road, Wallington, Surrey. (Dec., 1901). TicehursT, Dr. C. B. ; Grove House, Lowestoft. (1912). Ticehurst, Norman Frederic, M.A., M.B., F.R.C.S., F.Z.S., 35, Peveusey Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea. (Dec., 1906). Tomes, W., J.P. ; Glenmoor, 31, Billing Road, Northampton. (Dec., 1902). Townsend, Stanley M. ; 3, Swift Street, Fulham. (Sept., 1898). Trenow, Evelyn Henry, F.Z.S. ; Ivy Lodge, Eppiug, Essex. (Nov., 1910). 370 Trestrail, Mrs. ; Southdaile, Clevedon. (Sept., 1903). Trevor- Battye, Aubyn, B. R., M.A., F.L.S. ; Ashford Cliace, Petersfield, Hants. (July, 1898). Tuckwell, Edmund H. ; Bertharpe, Compton, near Guildford, Surrey. (1912). 16 List of Members. Turner, Mrs. Turner; Abbey Spring, Beaulieu, Hants. (July, 1910). TwEEDlE, Major W., Arg. and Suth. Highlanders ; c/o Cox & Co., 16, Charing Cross, S.W. April, 1903). Urwick, Douglas R. ; St. Cross Mill, Winchester. (March, 1913). Valentine, ERNEST; 7, Highfield, Workington. (May, 1899). Van OorT, Dr. E. D. ; Museum of Natural History, Leiden, Holland. Wachsmann, A. E. ; “ Maitai,” Murray Road, Beecroft, New South Wales, Australia. (August, 1914). Waddell, Miss PeddiE; 4, Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh, N.B. (Feb., 1903). 380 Wade, Lawrence M. ; Oakhill Road, Ashstead, Surrey. (Sept., 1913). Wait, Miss L. M. St. A.; 12, Rosary Gardens, S.W. (Feb., 1909). Walcott, F. C. ; 14, Wall Street, New York, U.S.A. (March, 1913). Walker, Miss H. K. O. ; Chesham, Bury, Lancs. (Feb., 1895). Walker, Miss; Persey House, Blairgowrie, N.B. (Jan., 1903). Wallace:, Mrs. R. W. ; Moelwvn, Inglis Road, Colchester. (Sept., I9H)- Wallace, Mrs. Williamson ; Kelton, Dumfries. (1912). Wallop ; The Hon. Frederick ; (No address). (Feb., 1902). Wa'i'ERFIELD, Mrs. Noel E. ; Blj'burgate House, Beccles, and Port Soudan, Red Sea. (Sept., 1904). Watts, R- J. ; “ Wilmar,” Wiggenhall Road, Watford, Herts. (Feb., 1914k 390 Waud, Reginald ; Hoe Benham, near Newbury. (May, 1913). WELLINGTON, Evelyn, Duchess of ; West Green House, Hartley Wintney, Winchfield, Hants. (1912). Wellington, Her Grace the Duchess of ; Ewhurst Park, Basingstoke. (Oct., 1913). Whitaker, Joseph I. S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ; Malfitano, Palermo, Sicily. (August, 1903). Whitehead, Mrs. Henry; Haslem Hey, Bury, Lancs. (March, 1902). Whitehead, Jeffery ; Mayes, East Grinstead, Sussex. (1912). Whitlaw. Miss Rosa M. ; Amerden, Taplow. (August, 1914). White, Stephen J. ; Lloyd’s, London, E.C. (Oct., 1913). WlGELSWORTH, Joseph, M.D., M.B.O.U. ; Springfield House, Wins- combe, Somerset. (Oct., 1902). WilmoT, Rev. Richard H. ; Bisliopstone Rectory, Hereford. (March, 1914). 400 Willford, Henry; Upland View, Havenstreet, Ryde, Isle of Wight. (Nov., 1907}. 'st- WiLHAMS, Mrs. C. H. ; Emmanuel Parsonage, Exeter. (May, 1902). Williams, Mrs. Howard; 51, Harley House, Regent’s Park, N.W. (April, 1902). List of Members. 17 Williams, Sydney, Juu., F.Z.S.; Holland Lodge, 275, Fore Street, Edmonton, N. (Feb., 1905). Wilson, Maurice A., M.D. ; Kirk by Overblow, Pannal, S.O., York. (Oct., 19051. Wilson, T. Needham; Harrow Lodge, Bransgore, Christchurch, Hants. (Dec., 1901). Winchelsea and Nottingham, The Countess of; Harlech, Merioneth. (April, 1903). Wolfe, Miss Georgina; S. John’s, 37, Granada Road, E. Southsea. (August, T904). WOOLRIDGE, Prof. G. H., F.R.C.V.S.; 30, Brixton Hill, S.W. (1912). Workman, Wm. Hughes, M. B.O.U. : Ltsmore, Windsor, Belfast. (May, 1903). 410 Wormald, Hugh; The Heath, Dereham, Norfolk. (Dec., 1904). Wright, R. N.; Church Hill, Robert Road, Haudsworth, near Bir¬ mingham. (Dec., 190S). Yealland, James; Binstead, Isle of Wight. (July, 1913). Yule, Lady ; Hanstead House, Bricket Wood, Herts. (Feb., 1914). Younger, Miss Barbara Henderson ; 4, Douglas Gardens, Edin¬ burgh. (July, 1909). 18 Buies of the Avicultural Society. Rules of the Avicultural Society. ,4s amended January, 1908. X. — The name of the Society shall be The Avicuetural Society and its object shall be the study of Foreign and British Birds in freedom and in captivity. Poultry, Pigeons and Canaries shall be outside the scope of the Society. The year of the Society, with that of each volume of the Society’s Magazine, which shall be known as The Avicultural Magazine, shall commence with the month of November and end on the 31st of October following. 2. — The Avicultural Society shall consist of Ordinary and Honorary Members; and the latter shall be restricted in number to six, and be elected by the Council. 3. — The Officers of the Society shall be elected, annually if necessary, by members of the Council in manner hereinafter provided and shall consist of a President, one or more Vice-Presidents, a Business Secretary, a Correspondence Secretary, an Editor, a Treasurer, an Auditor, a Scrutineer, and a Council of fifteen members. The Secretaries, Editor, and Treasurer, shall be ex officio Members of the Council, 4. — New Members shall be proposed in writing, and the name and address of every person thus proposed, with the name of the Member proposing him, shall be published in the next issue of the Magazine, unless the candidate shall, within two weeks after the publication of his name in the Magazine, be objected to by at least two Members, he shall be deemed to be duly elected. If five Members shall lodge with the Business Secretary objections to any candidate he shall not be elected, but the signatures to the signed objections must be verified by the Scrutineer. If two or more Members (but less than five) shall object to any candidate, the Secretary shall announce in the next number of the Magazine that such objections have been lodged (but shall not disclose the names of the objectors), and shall request the Members to vote upon the queston of the election of such candidate. Members shall record their votes in sealed letters addressed to the Srutineer, and a candidate shall not be elected unless two thirds of the votes recorded be in his favour; nor shall a candidate be elected if five or more votes be recorded against his election. 5. — Each Member shall pay an annual subscription of 10/-, to be due and payable in advance on the 1st of November in each year. New Mem¬ bers shall pay in addition, an entrance fee of 10/6 ; and, on payment of their entrance fee and subscription, they shall be entitled to receive all the numbers of the Society’s Magazine for the current year. Buies of the Avicultural Society. 19 6. — Members intending to resign their membership at the end of the current year of the Society are expected to give notice to the Business Secretary before the first of October, so that their names may not be included in the “ List of Members,” which shall be published annually in the November number of the Magazine. 7. — The Magazine of the Society shall be issued on or about the first day of every month,* and forwarded, post free, to all the Members who shall have paid their subscriptions for the year : but no Magazine shall be sent or delivered to any Member until the annual subscription shall have reached the hands of the Business Secretary or the Publishers. Members whose subscriptions shall not have been paid as above by the first day in September in any year shall cease to be Members of the Society, and shall not be re-admitted until a fresh entrance fee, as well as the annual sub¬ scription, shall have been paid, 8. — The Secretaries, Editor, and Treasurer shall be elected for a term of five years, and should a vacancy occur, it may be temporarily filled up by the Executive Committee (see Rule 10). At the expiration of the term of five years in every case, it shall be competent for the Council to nominate the same officer, or another Member, for a further term of five years, unless a second candidate be proposed by not less than twenty-five members of at least two years standing, as set forth below. In the September number of the Magazine preceding the retirement from office of the Secretaries, Editor, or Treasurer, the Council shall publish the names of those gentlemen whom they have nominated to fill the vacancies thus created ; and these gentlemen shall be deemed duly elected unless another candidate or candidates be proposed by not less than fifteen Members of at least two years standing. Such proposal, duly seconded and containing the written consent of the nominee to serve, if elected, in the capacity for which he is proposed, must reach the Business Secretary, on or before the 15th of September. The Council shall also publish yearly in the September number of the Magazine the names of those gentlemen nominated by them for the posts of Auditor and Scrutineer respectively. 9. — The Members of the Council shall retire by rotation, two at the end of each year of the Society (unless a vacancy or vacancies shall occur otherwise) and two other Members of the Society shall be recommended by the Council to take the place of those retiring. The names of the two Members recommended shall be printed in the September number of The Avicultural Magazine. Should the Council’s selection be objected to by fifteen or more Members, these shall have power to put forward two other candidates whose names, together with the signatures of no less than ^Owiug to the extra pressure of work, the October and November numbers are liable to be late. 20 Buies of the Avicultural Society. fifteen Members proposing them, must reach the Hon. Business Secretary by the 15 Ih of September. The names of the four candidates will then be printed on a voting paper and sent to each Member with the October number of the Magazine, and the result of the voting published in the November issue. Should no alternative candidates be put forward, in the manner and by the date above specified, the two candidates recommended, by the Council shall be deemed to have been duly elected. In the event of an equality of votes the President shall have a casting vote. If any Member of the Council does not attend a meeting for two years in succession, the Council shall have power to elect another Member in his place. I r 10. — Immediately after the election of the Council, that body shall, proceed to elect three from its Members (ex officio Members not being eligible). These three, together with the Secretaries and Editor, shall form ia Committee known as the Executive Committee. Members of the Council shall be asked every year (whether there has been an election of that body or not) if they wish to stand for the Executive, and in ally year when the number of candidates exceeds three there shall be an election of the Executive. The duties of the Executive Committee shall be as follows: (i) . To sanction all payments to be made on behalf of the Society. (ii) . In the event of the resignation of any of the officers during the Society’s year, to fill temporarily the vacancy until the end of the year. In the case of the office being one which is held for more than one year (e. g. Secretaries, Editor, or Treasurer, the appointment shall be confirmed by the Council at its next meeting. (iii) . To act for the Council in the decision of any other matter that may arise in connection with the business of the Society. The decision of any matter by the Executive to be settled by a simple majority (five to form, a quorum). In the event of a. tie on any question, such question shall be forthwith submitted by letter to the Council for their decision. The .Executive shall not have power (i) . To add to or alter the Rules; (ii) . To expel any Member ; (iii) . To : e-elect the Secretaries, Editor, or Treasurer for a second term of office. It shall not be lawful for the Treasurer to pay any account unless such account be duly initialed by the Executive. It shall be lawful for the Business Secretary or Editor to pledge the Society’s credit for a sum not exceeding ^15. Buies of the Avicultural Society. 21 Should a Member wish any matter to be brought before the Council ■direct, such matter should be sent to the Business Secretary with a letter stating that it is to be brought before the Council at their next meeting otherwise communications will in the first place be brought before the Executive. A decision of a majority of the Council, or a majority of the Executive endorsed by the Council, shall be final and conclusive in nil matters. IX. — The Editor shall have an absolute discretion as to what matter shall be published in the Magazine (subject to the control of the Executive Committee). The Business Secretary avwl Editor shall respectively refer all matters of doubt and difficulty to the Executive Committee. 12. — The Council (but not a Coujmittee of the Council) shall have power to alter and add to the Rules, from time to time, in an}7 manner they may think fit. Five to form a quorum at any meeting of the Council. 13. — The Council shall have power to expel any Member from the Society at any time without assigning any reason. 14. — Neither the Office of Scrutineer nor that of Auditor shall be held for two consecutive years by the same person. 15. — The Scrutineer shall not reveal to any person how any Member shall have voted. 22 The Society's Medal. The Society’s Medal. RULES. The Medal may be awarded at the discretion of the Committee, to any Member who shall succeed in breeding. in the United Kingdom, any species of bird which shall not be known to have been previously bred in captivity in Great Britain or Ireland. Any Member wishing to obtain the Medal must send a detailed account for publication in the Magazine within about eight weeks from the date of hatching of the young and furnish such evidence of the facts as the Executive Committee may require. The Medal will he awarded only in cases where the young shall live to be old enough to feed themselves, and to be wholly independent of their parents. The account of the breeding must be reasonably full so as to afford instruction to our Members, and should describe the plumage of the young and be of value as a permanent record of the nesting and general habits of the species. These points will have great weight when the question of awarding the Medal is under consideration. The parents of the young must be the bona fide property of the breeder. An evasion of this rule, in any form whatever, will not only dis¬ qualify the breeder from any claim to a Medal in that particular instance, but will seriously prejudice any other claims he or she may subsequently advance for the breeding of the same or any other species. In every case the decision of the Committee shall be final. The Medal will be forwarded to each Member as soon after it shall1 have been awarded as possible. The Medal is struck in bronze (but the Committee reserve the right to issue it in silver in very special cases), and measures 2^ inches in diameter. It bears on the obverse a representation of two birds with a nest containing eggs, and the words “ The Avicultural Society — founded 1894.” On the reverse is the following inscription : “Awarded to (name of recipient) for rearing the young of [name of species), a species not previously bred in captivity in the United Kingdom.” The Avicultural Magazine. BROWN THRASHER Order— Passeres Family— Mi mid/e Genus — Toxostoma Species — Rufum National Association of Audubon Societies 23 THE Avicultural Magazine, BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Third Series. — Vol. VI. — No. 1. — All rights reserved. NOVEMBER, 1914. THE BROWN THRASHER, OR THRUSH. Harporliynchus rufus. By Hubert D. Astley. Range. Eastern North America : breeds from the Gulf States to Manitoba, Maine, and Montreal : winters from Virginia south¬ ward. Nest, of twigs, coarse rootlets, and leaves, lined with finer rootlets, in bushes, thickets, or on the ground. Eggs, three to six, bluish white or greyish white ; thickly, evenly, and minutely speckled with cinnamon or rufous-brown. 1.08 X .80. [Chapman : “ Birds of Eastern North America.”] Mr. Chapman writes that this bird “ is generally speaking an “ inhabitant of the undergrowth, where it passes much time on the “ground, foraging among the fallen leaves.” “ He is an active suspicious bird, who does not like to be “ watched, and expresses his annoyance with an unpleasant kissing “ note, or sharply whistled wheeu.” But he seeks an exposed position when singing. “ Morning and evening he mounts his favourite perch — “ generally in the upper branches of a tree — and deliberately gives “ his entire attention to his song. He is a finished musician, and “ although his repertoire is limited to one air, he rivals the Mocking - “ bird in the richness of his tones and execution.” Audubon was greatly impressed by the Brown Thrasher’s song, for he wrote : “No sooner has the bird reached its destined 24 Mr. Alex. Hampe, “ abode, than, whenever a fair morning occurs, it mounts the topmost “ twig of a detached tree, and pours forth its loud richly varied and “ highly melodious song. It is impossible,” he added, “ to convey “ the charms of the full song of the Brown Thrush ; you must go to “ its own woods and there listen to it. The actions of this species “during the period of courtship are very curious, the male often “ strutting before the female with its tail trailing on the ground, “ moving gracefully round her, in the manner of some pigeons.” It is of special interest to aviculturists to read Audubon’s words, where he writes “ They breed well in aviaries, and are quite “ tractable in a closer state of confinement. In cages it sings well, “ and has much the movements of the Mocking-Bird, being full of “ activity, petulant, and occasionally apt to peck in resentment at the hand which happens to approach it.” Audubon’s friend Bachman wrote to him as follows concern¬ ing a tame Brown Thrasher that he had : “So perfectly gentle did this bird become, that when I opened its cage, it would follow me “ about the yard and garden. The instant it saw me take a spade “ or hoe, it would follow at my heels, and as I turned up the earth, would pick up every insect or worm thus exposed. I kept it for “ three years, and its affection for me at last cost it its life. It “usually slept on the back of my chair, in my study, and one night “ the door being accidently left open, it was killed by a cat.” The reproduction of the coloured plate was most kindly per¬ mitted by the National Association of Audubon Societies, and was originally published in “ Bird-Lore.” The Brown Thrasher is allied to the Mocking Birds, and is not a true Thrush. BIRD-KEEPING IN CHINA By Alex. Hampe. To keep birds in China is in many ways not as easy as in Europe. There is first the climate which is changeable to the extreme, viz. : very hot and damp during the summer months, and rather cold, with sharp winds, from December until April. The autumn is, however, delightful, and it is then when my birds always look their best and happiest. on Bircl-keeping in China. 25 Further, the supply of foreign birds is very irregular. A steamer from Australia or Singapore may bring some desirable species, but the same bird might not be imported again for years and it is of no use to give an order for certain birds to the dealers. They are not as amiable or intelligent as our dealers at home who will do their best to procure a bird which is not in stock and, of ■course, periodicals such as the Avicultural Magazine or Die gefiederte Welt do not exist in China. The few bird and animal dealers of Shanghai visit the arriving steamers and buy what they can get at a cheap price, while the brightest coloured birds — often not the rarest — generally go to Japan where they fetch a better price. Of native Chinese birds, only the very few species, which John Chinaman keeps either for song, or for fighting respectively for gambling, are usually available, but to obtain the rarer species from Fokien or Szetchuen, is a task I have found so far very difficult to accomplish. Even coloured plates do not help much, as the distances in China are so large and the transport from the interior of course very difficult. This will, let us hope, soon become better, when China has more railways and the connections between the provinces are improved. We may then hope to obtain the lovely game-birds from Szetchuen and Thibet such as the white and the blue Crossoptilon and Lophophorus Ihuysii, etc. which up to now seem to be out of our reach. The Chinese are in a way great bird fanciers, viz., their love for birds goes as far as song and ability of talking and fighting is concerned. The last provides to them an occasion for gambling of which our eastern friends are only too fond. Actually bred in captivity by the Chinese there are as far as I know only two birds. Our yellow friend, the Canary, and the Cormorant which is used for catching fish in the muddy lakes and creeks round Scotchau. I have read that the blue Crossoptilon pheasant is bred in captivity for its tail feathers, which in former years were in great demand for the hats of the mandarins, but I have my doubts, at least I have tried in vain, and offered what would seem to a Chinaman an enormous price to the dealers who sell the tail feathers. The principal birds kept by the Chinese are the follow¬ ing: The White Eye ( Zosterops simplex), the Jay Thrush ( Garrulax 26 Mr. Alex. Hampe canorus ), the Crested Mynah ( Sturnus cristatellus) and the Mongolian Lark ( A Lauda viongolica). The four are appreciated for their song, while the fighting bird par excellence is the little Suthora Webbiana* (I am sorry I do not know the English name), and secondly the amiable Dyal bird, which besides his fighting capacity has also an agreeable song. The special favourite of the Chinaman seems to be the little White Eye ( Zosterops simplex). He is kept in small neat bamboo cages and fed on bean flour and hard-boiled eggs, and every day one may see some Chinaman carrying the small cage with its inmate gaily twittering its song', while his master walks in his leisurely manner through the busy streets of Shanghai. I have always kept some White Eyes in my aviary and delightful little pets they make. Always neat and smooth in appearance, tame and lively, and never disturbing any of their companions. At present I have three different kinds with me : two pairs of Zosterops simplex, the usual cage-bird of the Chinese, one pair of Zosterops japonicus, and a single cock of Zosterops erythropleurus, which kind is generally for sale on the local bird-market in September. Of these Zosterops erythropleurus is the best songster. My little bird frequently sits on a high branch of the aviary and sings his song which is remarkably loud for such a small bird, with wings hanging and quivering. Curiously Ire takes no notice of the other White Eyes, but keeps friendship with a single Australian Waxbill (CEgintha temporalis). I have never succeeded to breed the White Eyes. The Japanese pair carried nesting material about for some time, but that was all. Probably my failure is due to the fact that too many different birds are kept in my aviary. Given a separate compart¬ ment, with plenty of green shrubs to which White Eyes would not do the least harm, these birds should probably breed successfully. The Chinese Thrush, the Hooamee of the Chinese, is the bird of the poor Chinaman. Annually large numbers are brought to our market in very small cages where the poor birds can hardly turn round. One will then see mafus (grooms), gardeners, etc. stand before a pile of these cages and try to select a suitable good bird which will cost about two shillings. If the owner is lucky and * The Suthoras are small Tit-llke birds with short Finch-like bills.— Ed. on Bird-keeping in China. 27 picks a good singer, he will be able to sell his bird later on for twenty shillings or even thirty shillings, but only on rare occasions will a Chinaman part with a really good bird. The Hooamee is generally kept in a neat bamboo cage and fed on crushed rice. Attached to the cage is a small wicker-box in which grasshoppers and other insects are concealed in order that the bird may be pre¬ sented with such a tasty morsel after a good performance. One often sees several Chinese take their birds in the morning to a garden or an open place where they hang the cages up in a tree. The birds are then uncovered and a real singing competition starts, while the owners listen attentively to the concert. I have never kept Hooamees. They cannot be put together with small birds and their song is too loud for me, at least when the bird is caged up. I should however think they would make a suitable bird for turning out in Europe, as they are hardy birds and their song in a large park must sound lovely. The Mongolian Lark is a great favourite with the Chinese. One often sees them in dome-shaped cages in public tea-houses and restaurants where they are taken by their owners, so that they may enjoy the song of their birds while drinking a cup of tea and having a friendly gossip with a neighbour. In the middle of the cage there is a small platform on which the bird stands when singing its song, which to my taste is however too loud and shrill. I once saw a perfect Albino of this lark in the native city. The price asked for it was £5, but probably a serious buyer would have bought the bird for less than half the money. A good singing specimen costs however never less than 20/-. The little Suthora is kept exclusively for fighting purposes. Two friendly owners will put their birds together for a fight and bet on one of them to win. The little birds fight desperately but do not kill each other, and after a time one of them will try to escape, when the adversary is removed. Of course the birds are trained for fight¬ ing, when in freedom they are very sociable and peaceful birds. I have never seen the Suthora in a Zoological Garden or private collection in Europe- I have kept a pair in my aviary for a few weeks and they proved very good and harmless companions to the other 28 On Bircl-keeping in China. inhabitants — small finches, etc. Their plumage is very simple and they have no song, but still their quaint and confiding ways make them a desirable and interesting bird. My birds seemed to be perfectly happy until spring came and they could hear the call of their wild comrades from the garden ; then they became very rest¬ less and fluttered constantly against the wire-netting, so that finally I gave them their freedom. Last year I found a pair of the large Paradoxornis gularis — in my opinion a near relation to the small Suthora — in the bird-market. As they looked interesting birds, although I cannot call them exactly beautiful, I bought them and put them in a large garden aviary. They were quiet birds, equally peaceful as their small cousins, but unfortunately they escaped through a hole in the wire-netting only a week after they had come into my possession. The Mynah is never caught as an adult bird, but always taken from the nest. They become very tame and attached to their owners, whom they will follow like a dog. They have an agreeable natural whistle and are certainly very clever in imitating the human voice and tunes. I have seen a Mynah which talked as well as a good parrot. I have never kept them, as some pairs nest regularly in my garden where I can watch them better than when in an aviary. At present a pair has its nest in a pigeon cote, and pigeons and Mynahs seem to agree very well together. The Dyal Bird is a lovely cage-bird and I can fully endorse the interesting lines written in his praise in a number of last year’s magazine. It is, however, not advisable to keep him with smaller birds together, as he is given to bullying the small companions. It is difficult to find hens here. Last autumn I procured a bird which moulted into a fine hen, but all my efforts to keep her with a very tame and perfect cock proved in vain. Tne cock fought the hen pertinaciously and certainly would have killed her if I had not removed her from the cage. I let her fly away in spring, while the cock lives now in freedom in the garden of a friend of mine, but always comes back to the verandah to feed and to roost in his cage. These are the principal birds kept by the Chinese. Of other species one finds the following here in the market : The Ruby Throat (Calliope camtschatcensis), the Bulbul ( Ixus sinensis ), the Blue Ely- Breeding of the Fair Lorikeet. 29 catcher ( Muscicapa cyanomelcena), etc. and besides a good many foreign birds, chiefly from Australia and the South Sea Islands. Of them another time.'"' BREEDING OF THE FAIR LORIKEET. By E. J. Brook. Probably no member of the Parrot tribe is more graceful or beautiful than the little Lory, with the imposing name of Gharmo- synopsis pulcliella or Eair Lory. A gem of bright green and crimson, the breast marked across by a band of golden dashes like marks of interrogation. Always interesting with its vivacious impulsive movements, always on the move as if ready for any fun that may present itself, it is at the same time quite safe with other inmates of the aviary. The pair I write about are in an aviary with Tanagers and Sunbirds and have never shown any inclination to harm their companions. Just over five years ago I obtained these birds from New Guinea, and though they have nested on several occasions, the one egg they lay has always proved unfertile till this summer. I am not sure what the period of incubation was, for after numerous disappointments I ceased taking much interest in their domestic affairs. We found that there was a young bird in the nest, evidently just after it was hatched, and it remained in the log exactly two months ; it is now flying and feeding itself. t The young bird differs from the parents in having no golden marks on the breast, these being displaced by a blotchy band of green. There are small green feathers blotched about all over the breast down to the vent, but the general colouring of this region is crimson as in the adult. The green of the back is continued up the nape to the top of * Some of these birds would be very acceptable to English aviculturists, especially perhaps the Blue Flycatcher. — ED. f This is the first time that this species has been bred in captivity in the British Isle's. — ED. 30 Dr. Maurice Amsler, the head ; in the adult the nape is crimson and the top of the head is blackish purple. I can see no markings to distinguish the sex of the young bird ; in the adult these markings are very conspicuous. I am pleased to record the appearances of the young of this species, as I believe that up to now no authentic description has yet been given. BREEDING OF THE ORANGE-HEADED GROUND THRUSH Geocichla citrina, AND THE AMERICAN ROBIN Tardus migratorius. By Dr. Maurice AMSLER. It was with a feeling somewhat akin to shame that I met our hard-working Editor in September near the Western Aviaries at the Zoo. for is he not constantly reminding us that it is not his business to write and illustrate the whole of the Avicultural Magazine? However, a friendly and by no means complimentary allusion to the Mandrill and the Kaiser dispelled all fear that he had any personal grudge against me, and in the end, when we parted, I had promised a few notes on the breeding of the above two species. My reason for choosing these birds being that both males were given me two years ago by our Editor, and that he, who was the first in Great Britain to breed them, gave us but sparse notes of the events. In my humble opinion the Thrush family are amongst the most attractive and intelligent of aviary birds : easily tamed, more inclined to breed than any other genus of softbills ; their colouring whether bright or subdued, is always beautiful, and more important than all, they are fine songsters. My Orange-headed Ground Thrush from the very first made himself at home — this was in the autumn of 1912 — but had to be contented with the company of other species until the following spring when I obtained for him a much battered and travel-stained spouse, the latter I kept in a large cage for a time, but one day tried to introduce my male to her notice. Almost before I had closed the The Avicultural Magazine. ORANGE-HEADED GROUND (Geocichla citrina.) THRUSH. Photo by Geo. H. Low. Breeding of the Orange-headed Ground Thrush, etc. 31 cage door she was on him, and before I had time to catch him up she had sadly spoiled his beautiful slate blue back and crown. In May the hen was in quite fair plumage, so I turned her into the aviary with the cock, thinking that the latter could well look after himself seeing that he was in good plumage and stronger on the wing. I proved to be right and nothing happened for a fortnight when both these birds began to harass a pair of American Eobins who were attempting to nest, so off they went into another aviary. Nothing of moment occurred until July the 10th, when I noticed the cock carrying hay. The site they chose was the top of a small nesting box containing some young Zebra Finches ; this place was so insecure that the nest kept falling down, I thereupon nailed up a shallow cigar box just above the chosen site and placed the half-finished nest inside it. The thrushes quite approved of my help and continued gaily with their task, the female finishing off the lining with fine grass and cocoa-nut fibre, no mud was used. During the last few days of building and during incubation the male collected and gave every insect he could find to the hen. On July 23rd she was sitting, and a day or two later the hen being off I mounted a ladder and inspected the nest : there were three eggs, rather smaller than our thrush’s, of a grey-blue ground colour with chocolate-rufous spots. The cock never incubated, but frequently fed the hen on the nest, the latter only coming off for a feed and a bath in the morning and again for a few minutes in the evening. On August 4th — twelve days incubation — two chicks had hatched out : they were pinker in colour than the common thrush. Five days later one of the young birds had disappeared, but both parents assiduously fed their remaining offspring. On the 14th, I took away the young thrush to hand rear, hoping that the parents would nest again : in this I was disappointed as they shortly began to moult. The young bird was reared by my cook on hard-boiled egg and biscuit, together with any available insects. She (for I believe that was her sex) took kindly to the diet and throve apace ; at two months she much resembled an adult hen, but both the * I found that my Orange-headed Thrushes always preferred to use dry moss for the outer nest, which was compactly welded together. — ED. 32 Dr. Maurice Amsler, breast yellow and the olive green of the back were duller in hue. In the spring of this year I sent her to the Isle of Wight in exchange for some other birds and have had no further news of her. During the autumn the cock became very spiteful and almost killed his lately much-beloved wife. I had to separate them for the winter, and in March of this year, when I made sure they would get on, I returned the hen to the breeding aviary, the bullying began again, so for another month they were parted. On April the 22nd I once more tried them together and this time all went well : it was not until three months later, in July, that a nest was built. This year, however, the birds behaved differently from last, both birds took it in turns to squat on the empty nest and led me to believe that the hen had laid : this continued for ten days or so, until July 22nd, when at last I found the hen sitting in earnest. I was away for a few days after this event, and on my return on August 4th I found two young birds about a day old ; odd that they should have hatched on the same date as last year. This time, however, both chicks disappeared and no trace of them has ever been seen since. Nothing' daunted, three more eggs were laid by August 16th, and two young thrushes left the nest on September 12th and 13th. In two more points the cock behaved differently this year ; he never fed the hen either before or after she had laid, and he took no part in feeding the young, although there were two instead of only one. He made up however by singing most beautifully every evening until dark and also sometimes in the early morning. His song is much sweeter and softer than that of our thrush, but at the same time is reminiscent of that bird rather than of the blackbird. The two young birds are growing well and are a pair, I say this not because there is any difference in the colour of the back as in the adult Orange-headed Ground Thrush, but because one bird is of a much lighter body colour than the other and looks almost like a different species. Both have brownish backs and greyish-yellow breasts with indistinct speckles of a darker hue, there is also a darkish line running from the eye downward across the cheek. The cock is already moulting heavily, and the hen, poor thing, is quite bare on the face and forehead, the result I think of digging for worms in the hard dry earth. Breeding of the Orange-headed Ground Thrush, etc. 33 This species is obviously late in nesting', but at the same time appears to moult at the usual period, and there is therefore I fear little hope of getting a second brood. I do not think it likely that they would have made a second attempt this year had not the first brood disappeared when quite young. I have already mentioned that my American Bobin came from the same source as the Orange-headed Ground Thrush : he was in fact bred at Benham Valence in Mr. Astley’s aviaries. I was able to procure a hen for him from Fockelmann, and she arrived here, as do most birds from Germany (let us give them their due for one virtue) viz., fit to turn straight out into the aviary. These two birds were friends from the start and the hen very shortly became as tame as the cock. Within two months of her arrival she began to build and was helped in her labours by the cock. They both persisted in building on a hinged flap placed over the door of their shelter, and as the said flap has occasionally to be let down I did my best to discourage them and finally persuaded them to take possession of a shallow box placed near the chosen site. Here a coarse untidy nest was constructed, much like that of a blackbird, the lining being composed of fine grasses and hair, and of a much more workmanlike finish than the exterior. On May 14th the hen was sitting on her nest and this she continued to do until the 24th, when she laid her first egg, almost like that of the common Song Thrush.* No more followed so I placed the egg under a wild thrush, who must have sat for a time and then forsaken, for when I visited the nest on June 10th I found the eggs cold, but the “ foster-egg” contained a fully-formed chick. To return to my Bobins. The hen remained on her nest for three days after I had robbed her and then appeared to forgive me. Here I may quote direct from my notes : — May 30th. Both birds building in a canary travelling-cage : almost completed nest in one day and then ceased work. June 7th. One egg dropped on aviary floor. ,, 8th. Hen is “broody” and is sitting on bare wooden shelf, but does not lay. * The egg of the American Migratory Thrush (or Robin) is a beautiful rich greenish blue, rarely having any spots. —Ed. 34 Dr. Maurice Amsler, Hen is completing nest in canary cage. Has been sitting' for twelve days on one egg. Egg removed “ clear.” Has laid again, one egg only. Chick hatched, flesh colour, white down. Feather tracts on wing and back visible. Chick well developed, taken from nest to he hand- reared : parents quite placid. Young robin well-grown handsome bird, dark brown back, orange brown breast with numerous and regu¬ larly arranged dark brown spots. At or about this date I returned him to his native aviary, but had to take him indoors next day, for I found the poor fellow raw and bleeding, having been nearly scalped, by his parents I suspect. The old birds had had enough for one year and spent an uneventful winter out of doors. On May 3rd of this year they again built in the same canary cage, three eggs being laid on the 11th, 12th and 13th ; these all hatched out on 24th and 25th, the hen only sitting and the cock perching in a apple tree outside and singing lustily, especially in the early morning and during wet weather : the song is much like that of a blackbird — flute-like and mellow. On the 26th, one of the young was picked up on the ground below the nest and replaced, on the following day he was picked up dead. The male bird was an exemplary parent and did more feeding than the hen. Both birds were wonderfully tame and I unwisely decided to repeat my experiment of last year when I let some tits out of their aviary for the purpose of foraging for their young. I have already mentioned that the birds in question had built in the shelter-house of their aviary ; no other birds had at that time a nest in the shelter, so I was able to drive the rest of the occupants to the outer flight where they were shut out. The shelter is entered from the garden by a door which opens into a small lobby. The first step was to encourage the parents to come out into this lobby : this was quickly done by putting the live bait in the lobby and keeping the door into the garden closed. I next opened the garden door also, the cock bird who was then doing most of the feeding June 15th. July 5th. ,, 12th. ,, 18th. „ 30th. Aug. 3rd. ,, 9th. Sept. 23rd. Breeding of the Oranqe-lieaded Ground Thrush, etc. 35 came to the threshold, hopped on to the path, took a mealworm from my feet and flew back to his young. So far so good. Next time I sprinkled some mealworms about and stood aside, out came our friend again, picked up all he could and once more returned to his family ; during this time the hen was brooding the young, for which I was thankful, as I was not quite so certain of her, and rightly as my readers will see if they will bear with me a little longer. At his next outing I had the pleasure of seeing my American Eobin perfectly at home in the midst of an English rock garden, hunting successfully amongst Saxifrages, Helianthemums, Pinks and a hosts of other plants new to him, but doubtless containing much that he liked, for again he returned to his family. Now comes what is to me a source of continual regret (but shall I be cured ?) The hen appeared at the aviary door and came right out, she had no intention of doing wrong or of being un- motherly, but she had not been drilled as had the cock, and after collecting a few insects did not seem to know her way back ; that she wanted to return I know, else why did she not swallow that beakful of insects (birds are not entomologists or coleopterists). Just as the poor thing was at the height of her distress, fully shared by myself, some kind friend thought fit to enter the garden, not with due respect and quietly, but noisily and with banging of gates ; this was more than the frantic mother could stand, and off she flew over the aviary and out of sight. I searched the neighbourhood and called at various cottages, but no sign of my bird from that day to this. I hope that she may be happy in the wilds of Windsor Forest, where perhaps she may set up house-keeping' with a British blackbird, or will her migratory instinct carry her away over the sea as it did the birds of this species liberated at Woburn Abbey. But I too am wandering. The widowed cock was of course promptly shut in in the hope that he might bring off the young, but I saw from the first that he was absolutely desole, he took not the slightest notice of his erstwhile beloved family and banged him¬ self about against the wires like a newly-caught bird ; still I left him, and next morning shortly after dawn I removed two poor little half -frozen birds, which I fed and then placed in our heated linen 36 Mr. Ralph A. Holden, cupboard, later on handing them over to our kind cook, in whose hands I knew they would be safe : they were only four days old remember. One of the chicks throve and never looked back, but the other seemed not to grow at all, he had fits and internal troubles, common to all babies, and finally when two weeks old he left us. The survivor is I fear a male, so I am left with no chance of breeding these charming birds again. Should any fellow-member have a hen for sale, or in exchange for my young' hand-reared male I should be pleased to hear from him. No, Mr. Editor, I refuse to pay you 6d. for the last “ 18 words or less,” I have sat up into the small hours producing the enclosed “copy,” and I think I have earned the minimum price of an advertisement in the Avicultural Magazine 1 ! Later Notes. — October 10th. The young Orange-headed Ground-Thrushes have been moulting heavily — the young male is now an almost perfect replica of his sire — the female has lost her spots and grey colouring and much resembles the adult female. NESTING OF HYPHANTORNES. By Ralph A. Holden, E.Z.S. For some years I have, like Mr. Sidney Williams, devoted a good deal of attention to the various Weaver Birds, more particularly to those included in the genus Hyphantornis. And previously to 1914 I had almost succeeded in rearing young from the Spotted- backed Weaver ( Hyphantornis spilonotus ) and from a hen of that species paired to a cock Rufous - necked Weaver ( Hyphantornis cucullatus). The greatest difficulty which I have personally experienced is that of obtaining hens of the various species ; the vast majority of the larger Weavers imported being cocks, and even when immature birds are bought (a period at which they are most difficult to accurately sex) a preponderance of cocks seems to appear the moment that adult plumage is assumed. Last winter, I therefore counted myself fortunate in having secured from various sources six undoubted (though immature) hens. on the Nesting of Hyphantornes. 37 These moulted well about April and, when this operation was com¬ plete, the question of identification of the species began. This is no doubt comparatively simple when one can actually handle the birds and compare them with the excellent series of skins at South Ken¬ sington. But it is quite a different matter in a large out-door aviary. However, to the best of my belief, the hens they may be labelled as follows : — four Rufous-necked Weavers, one Spotted-backed Weaver and one Spekes Weaver ( Hyphantornis spekei). I already had in the aviary five cocks of the Rufous-necked Weaver and one Spotted-backed Weaver. The latter, though in magnificent plumage and health, is I fear feeling the effects of Anno Domini. Each of these six cocks marked out as his strict territory a portion of the aviary where he commenced nest-building operations and permitted no invasion. I should perhaps add no male invasion, for the periodic inspection of his handiwork by each of the hens threw him into an apparent ecstasy of joy, and one began to wonder how long his vocal chords would hold out. If ladies may be described as capricious the ones in question certainly carried out the traditions of their sex, for the inspection was most casual, and seemed to invariably end in stern disapproval both of the architect and his handiwork. The ancient Spotted-backed cock was if anything the most industrious and, if human opinion is of value, certainly the best workman, for his nests were stronger, thicker, and more neatly finished than those of his rivals. I only hope that he derived satisfaction from these facts, as personally he was, and remains a dead failure with the fair sex. The most vigorous of the Rufous-necked cocks appropriated as his reserve the interior of the bird-house, where on a single branch he constructed with great rapidity some twelve to fifteen nests, some of them almost touching each other. Whether or not he had in himself some special attractions, or whether his architecture possessed some unique quality I do not know, but the fact remains that he speedily focussed the attention of all the hens and became a polygamist six times over. I think myself that the hens were attracted by the idea of 38 On the Nesting of Hyphantornes. nesting in a colony, and that his collection of nests appealed to their well-known sociable instincts more than the isolated efforts of the other birds. At any rate he became, so far as could be observed, the exclusive possessor of six wives, who, as if they had been drilled to do so, simultaneously lined the nests with feathers, and with amusing precision laid their eggs practically on the same day early in May. It may very well be that some of them had paired with the other cocks but such was not observed. In every case, two eggs were laid. The variation of the eggs of these closely allied species is well known, and mine were no exception. Here are a few rough descriptions : — 1. Pure white (no spots). 2. Deep blue (no spots). 3. Blue green, entirely covered with long streaks of darker blue. 4. Pale pink, spotted and blotched with red, brown and ochre. 5. Deep blue (red spots). The remainder were graduations between these types. Every egg was hatched in due course, and the young birds did exceedingly well until a week or so old. At this stage disaster mysteriously overtook them and the majority of them died, one alone surviving for about a fortnight, by which time it was nicely feathered. In no case were any fully reared. This tragedy has occurred three times, that is to say that eggs have been laid and hatched and young birds partly reared three times, and the indefatigable birds have to-day (September 2nd) a fourth lot just hatched. It will be seen that they have not waited very long between-times. The aviculturist is ever hopeful, and I am still not despairing, but I fear that history may repeat itself. Every description of insect and soft food has been supplied. It is exceedingly difficult to supply enough of the former, especially when there are other birds in the aviary, including a pair of Shamas and a pair of Wagtails, and it may be that this insufficiency is the cause of death, but the dead birds appeared well nourished. I observe that when hatching takes place the hens do not, as is usual with most birds, carry the shells out of sight but merely Notes on the Nesting of Hill Tits. 39 drop them vertically from the nest. It may be that, nesting in such obvious colonies, they regard these precautions as futile. One frequently hears a bad character awarded to the Hyphan- tornes in a mixed collection of birds, hut this has never been my experience, and after a good many years acquaintance with a con¬ siderable number I regard them as practically harmless. They are without doubt extraordinarily fascinating birds and become very tame. In the same aviary I have twice this year had Shamas hatched (but not reared) and the parents are again sitting. Pied Wagtails have also had two abortive sittings : one when the hen bird was in a full moult, that is to say without any tail and with an almost completely bald head. Other results are a hybrid Green-Grey Singing Finch fully reared but since dead, and the usual complement of Ribbon-finches, etc. NOTES ON NESTING OF HILL TITS. Leiothrix luteus. By George E. Low. The following notes are merely an accompaniment to the photos of Pekin Robins reproduced. They do not reveal, I fear, anything novel or out of the way, only a disappointing and not uncommon experience. Huggins ” and “Muggins” derived their names from the habit these birds have of roosting side by side, one of the cock’s wings covering the hen’s back, the two having the appearance when asleep of one rather bloated and puffed-out bird. They decided at the latter end of August — or rather “ Huggins ” decided, his wife taking little or no interest in the proceedings — to set up house. He accordingly selected the covered- in shelter attached to my little aviary, where bundles of heather are attached to the walls. The nest was built in one of these bundles and constructed entirely of grass. It remained unused for about a week, except when * Huggins ” got himself into training by sitting on it at intervals. 40 Notes on the Nesting of Hill Tits. The first egg was laid on the 28th August and the first bird hatched out on the 9th September, the third of the three making its appearance on the 11th September, on which day the whole family were thrown overboard and deposited in various parts of the aviary. During incubation the hen took her fair share of the labour and always sat facing outwards, the cock facing invariably in the other direction. The cock was very careful never to leave the eggs uncovered even for a short period, and immediately the hen appeared made his way to the nest. He always stood on the edge while he thoroughly puffed out his underneath feathers and then slipped in. Which of them was responsible for the tragedy I cannot say. I rather think “ Huggins,” but whoever was the culprit “ Muggins ” has declared she will have no more futile attempts at rearing a family, and is now (21st Sept.) in the middle of a rapid moult and looking thoroughly dissipated. ‘ Huggins,” on the other hand, is as fresh as paint and looking just as well as when he came through the moult last year. I have a pair of Gouldians nesting in the uncovered part of my aviary. Their first attempt was not a success and they are now making a second effort. These are the only two pairs of birds I have in the aviary with the exception of a pair of Cuban Finches. My aviary is a lean-to wooden structure, with window open¬ ing into it from the house. Two features might be of interest — I have not heard of their being adopted elsewhere : one is sliding glass lights, similar to those used to cover garden frames, which cover the whole open front of aviary, keeping off wind and rain, and can he removed in summer time either altogether or partially. The other is waterproof roller blinds in boxes, which can be drawn over the portions of aviary which are unroofed, at night, thus excluding rain and visions of cats. As the early morning sun strikes the glass front the temperature of the aviary becomes appreciably higher than that of the outside air, an important matter in winter-time. Of course this arrangement of blinds would not he practicable in a large aviary, but it is quite feasible in a small one such as mine. The Avicultural Magazine. Female Hill Tit (“Pekin Robin”) on nest. Photos by Geo. E Low. The Breeding of Cactus Conures. 41 THE BREEDING OF CACTUS CONURES. Conurus cactorum. By Dr. L. LOVELL-KEAYS. Conures have one great drawback. They are noisy ! My first pair of Conures were Quakers and the noise was so disturbing that I passed them on to a friend, since when I have not seen nearly as much of my friend, and my wife makes horrid inuendos. But I have long got hardened to mere screechings, and in April of this year I saw in a paper, more or less devoted to “the fancy,” an advertisement telling of “ Yellow-bellied Conures” for one sovereign. I sent for these rare sounding Conures and it took me some time to find out what they were. My description and the books’ description seemed to bear very little relationship to one another. However, a visit to the London Zoo. at once settled the question. I found I only had Cactus Conures. I turned them out into my large parra- keet aviary — a very rough affair with practically no shelter but a very liberal allowance of eaves to compensate for this. En passant I should like to emphasive the many and great advantages of eaves. They are very cheap to construct and very snug and the birds appre¬ ciate them very much indeed. I have them made with a decidedly sharp pitch and a board inside, thus : — I hang my nesting barrels under the eaves and supply a good assortment of stiff branches for the birds to roost on. But I found that one pair of birds would monopolise a whole length of eave, so I had it divided into “stalls” by short vertical lengths of board about two feet apart. I take no credit for inventing eaves, but I have never seen another aviary specialise in eaves as mine do and they are an excellent device. [My aviaries have always had broad eaves. — Ed.] To describe the Cactus Conures very roughly, I should say they were a light olive green above with decided bluish green primaries and tail feathers. The head, neck and upper part of the breast is brownish, but the brown is very distinctly purplish in tone. By acetevlene gas light the brown appears pure violet. The under surface of the body is a dull yellow. Hence my bird-friend’s cognomen of Yellow-bellied Conure. 42 The Breeding of Cactus Conures. The birds were obviously a pair, but one can only sex these birds by comparison, and then the beak is the distinguishing feature. They quickly settled down and in my diary I find that by May 31st the ben bird was constantly incubating and, practically speaking, never left the nest. On one of the rare occasions that she did, I discovered four eggs, perfectly white in colour and roundish oval in shape and the size of a thrush’s egg, only much rounded and fuller. Young were present on June 28th, and these apparently two or three days old and presented the ordinary hideous appearance of young parrakeets — absolutely naked and blind. The quills appear at about sixteen days and the eyes open soon after. Cactus Conures have no distinctive nestling plumage, but probably assume their full plumatic characteristics as they increase in size. All parrakeets grow and develop very slowly and I have been tempted many a time to abandon all hope of young. In this case it was not until August 7th that the first young one left the nest, and hut for an apparently slight difference in size and being considerably lighter in colour, one could hardly tell the difference between the young and old birds. I put the young bird back as it was a dull damp day, but the next day it was out again, and two days after two more young made their appearance. They all did well, and to-day one can hardly tell the young from the old. The hen bird is incubating again and perhaps will present me with more young. I understand they had never attempted to breed before although they had been in captivity some time. They occupied an aviary with all sorts and conditions of birds, but never showed any disposition to quarrelsomeness. I might add that the hen does all the incubating and that the cock appears to feed the hen on the nest, but only when the coast is clear and nobody about. The sanitary arrangements are primitive, but do not cause a nuisance within the meaning of the act. I have come to the conclusion that parrakeets are easy to breed if you give them room and not too much disturbance. They make ideal parents on the whole, but are inclined to neglect their young before they are well able to fend for themselves. No credit is due to me for having bred these birds. I only marvel that it has never been done before. I am sure the great difficulty is to get English Names for the Parrots. 43 a true pair and a breeding pair, i.e. a pair that want to breed. My pair nested in a 6-inch barrel and the hole was at the top and only big enough to admit a small hand. I have never found young birds experience any difficulty in getting out even if the hole is at the top, and I believe the longer you can prevent them getting out the better. With these few remarks I will acknowledge my indebtedness to Dame Fortune, the most successful aviculturist known. ENGLISH NAMES FOR THE PARROTS. By Dr. E. Hopkinson. ( Continued from Vol. V., page 380) CAIQUE, a Parrot of the South American genus Pionites, of which the best known species is P. melanocephalus , the BLACK-HEADED CAIQUE, the * White- Breasted Parrot of Edwards and Latham. Other obsolete names : *Black-Headed Parrot, *Tischih Parrot. Other species are: the WHITE-BELLIED CAIQUE (P. leucogastev) , and the YELLOW-THIGHED CAIQUE (P. xanthomerus) . " Calangay,” or “ Kalangi,” said to be the native name of the RED¬ SIDED ECLECTUS. CAMPBELL PARRAKEET. = Platycercus nigrescens, a close ally of PENNANT’S PARRAKEET. “ Canary Parrot,” see BUDGERIGAR. CANARY-WINGED PARRAKEET. = Brotogerys chirm, sometimes known as the Orange-Winged Parrakeet. “ Car’away,” see SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO, GREATER. *Carolina Arara, see CAROLINA CONURE. CAROLINA CONURE. — Conuropsis carolinensis, the *Orange-Headed Parrot, *Carolina (Caroline) Parrot, and *Carolina Parrot Var. of Latham, the * Parrot of Carolina (Catesby), *Carolina Arara, of other early writers. Sometimes known as the Carolina Parrakeet, or Paroquet. ” Parrakeet,” North American ver¬ nacular. “ Kelinky,” North American Indians’ name. *Carolina Parrot, (i) See CAROLINA CONLTRE. (2) *An obsolete (and most incorrect) name for the ORANGE-SHOULDERED AMAZON. *Carolina Parrot, Var. A., see CAROLINA CONURE. *Carolina Parrot, Latham’s original spelling of CAROLINA P. “ Catanica,” a native name for the RED-MASKED CONURE. “ Cateau vert,” the vernacular name in the Seychelles for the SEY¬ CHELLES RING-NECK PARRAKEET. 44 Dr. E. Hopkinson. Cayenne Parrakeet, see GOLDEN-FRONTED PARRAKEET. CERAM ECLECTUS. = Eclectus cavdinalus, of the Moluccas, sometimes called Ceram Parrot. The Crimson Lory of Latham, and ? his Blue-Breasted Lory (female). Ceram Lory, see CHATTERING LORY. Ceram Parrot, see above. CEYLONESE-HANGING PARRAKEET. — Loriculus indicus. Other names : Ceylonese Lorikeet (or Loriquet), Golden-Crowned Hanging Parrakeet, sometimes Chrome-Headed Hanging P., *Red-Rumped Parrakeet, *Smallest Green and Red Indian Parrakeet (Edwards), *Red and Green Indian Parrot (Latham). Ceylonese Lorikeet, or Loriquet, see CEYLONESE HANGING PARRA¬ KEET. Ceylonese Paroquet, Large, see CINGALESE A. P., under ALEXAN¬ DRINE. CHATTERING LORY . = Lorius garrulus, other names for which are Ceram Lory (Latham), and his Vars. A., B., and C., Scarlet Lory (Edwards and Latham), Crimson Lory. The last two names are also sometimes applied (incorrectly) to other birds, see under RED LORY. An occasional dealer’s name is “ Solomon Islands Lory,” though the species comes from the Moluccas. Chestnut-Crowned Parrakeet, see BLUE-WINGED CONURE. Chestnut-Shouldered Grass-Parrakeet, Gould’s name for the TUR- QUOISINE. CHILIAN CONURE .=Microsittaca ferruginea, the *Emerald Parrot (Latham), whence the occasional book name, *Emerald Conure. Chili Parrakeet, one of Latham’s names for the QUAKER PARRAKEET. *China, Green and Red Parrot from. Edwards described the male RED-SIDED ECLECTUS under this name. *Chinese Parrot, Green and Red, Latham’s name for the same. " Chocoy,” Chilian name for the SLIGHT-BILLED PARRAKEET. Chrome-Headed Hanging Parrakeet,” an occasional popular name for the CEYLONESE HANGING P. Ciceroo,” see AUGUST AMAZON, under Amazon. ^Cinereous Parrot, see GREY PARROT. CINGALESE ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET, see under ALEXANDRINE CITRON-CRESTED COCKATOO. = Cacatua citrinocvistata, sometimes known as the Lemon-Crested C. Coast Grey Parrot,” a not uncommon amplification of GREY PARROT. *Cochin-China Parrot, (i) One of Latham’s names for the VIOLET¬ NECKED LORY, see under Red Lory ; (2) an occasional old book name for the BANDED PARRAKEET. COCKATIEL,” or Cockateel (obsolete variants, Cockatile and Cocka- tilla), the commonly used name for Calopsittacus novae-hollandiae, English Names for the Parrots. 45 the Cockatoo-Parrakeet of authors. Australian dealers’ name, “ Ornary Hen ” ; occasional English fancy name, “ Joey.” Book names : Crested Parrakeet (Latham) ; Crested Ground-Parra- keet, Crested Grass-Parrakeet, Parrakeet-Cockatoo, *Red- Cheeked Nymphicus. *Cockatile, *Cockatilla , see COCKATIEL. COCKATOO, any bird of the family Gacatnidae . Formerly occasionally used for Parrots of other families, such as the HAWK-HEADED PARROT, and some of the MACAWS. An obsolete variant was Cockatoon, while *Jacatoo was also an occasional vernacular cor¬ ruption. Alecto Cockatoo. BANKS I AN BLACK C. Banksian Cockatoo. BARE-EYED C. BAUDIN’S C. BLACK COCKATOO (q.v., and under GREAT BLACK COCKATOO, below) . BANKSIAN BLACK COCKATOO. GREAT BLACK COCKATOO, see below. GREAT-BILLED BLACK C., see below. Red-Tailed Black C. WESTERN BLACK COCKATOO (Gould) . = Calyptorhynchus stel- latus, also known as the Red-Tailed C., and Red-Tailed Black C. Obsolete book names : Banksian Cockatoo, and Var. 5 (?) (Latham) ; * Stellated Geringore. White-Tailed Black Cockatoo, see BAUDIN’S C. YELLOW-EARED BLACK C. Gould’s name for Calyptorhynchus xanthonotus. Also applied to the BLACK C. (funereus) . BLOOD-STAINED C. Blue-Eyed C. *Broad-Crested C. CITRON-CRESTED C. *Cook’s Cockatoo. Crested Cockatoo, see GREATER SULPHUR-CRESTED C. ♦Crowned Cockatoo, an obsolete book name for the HAWK-HEADED PARROT. Dampier C. DUCORPS’ COCKATOO. Dwarf-Cockatoo, see PIGMY PARROT ( Nasiterna ). Funeral Cockatoo, see BLACK C. (1). Galah C. Ganga C. GANGGANG C. 46 Dr. E. Hopkinson, GOFFIN’S C. GREAT BLACK COCKATOO, Microglossus aterrimus, also known as the Great Palm Cockatoo, or Palm Cockatoo. Earlier names : Alecto C., Black C. (Latham), Grey C. (Latham), Goliath Aratoo. *Great Blue and Yellow Cockatoo, see BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW. Great Palm C., see GREAT BLACK C., above. Great White C., Latham’s name for the GREATER WHITE- CRESTED COCKATOO. See below. GREAT-BILLED BLACK C. ( „ , 7 1 =G alyptorhyncnus macrorhyncnus. Great-Billed C. *Greater C., see SALMON-CRESTED C. Greater SULPHUR-CRESTED C. GREATER WHITE-CRESTED C. = C. alba, the Great White C. of Latham. Also known as the White-Crested C. Grey C., see GREAT BLACK C., above. *Guyane, Cockatoo of, an obsolete book name for the HAWK¬ HEADED PARROT. Helmet C. Java C. LEACH’S C. LEADBEATER’S C. Lemon-Crested C., see GREATER SULPHUR-CRESTED C., and CITRON-CRESTED C. Lesser Sulphur-Crested C., see under SULPHUR-CRESTED C. Lesser White C., see SULPHUR-CRESTED C. Long-Billed C. Western Long-Billed C. Long-Billed White C. Long-Nosed C. *Nasicus C. Palm C., Great Palm C., see GREAT BLACK C., above. Parrakeet-Cockatoo, see COCKATIEL. Philippine C., an occasional book name for the RED-VENTED C. “ Pink Cockatoo.” Raven C., see under BLACK COCKATOO. Red-Crested C., Greater Red-Crested C., see SALMON-CRESTED COCKATOO. * Red-Crowned C. Red-Faced White C. Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo, see under BLACK C. Red-Tailed Cockatoo, see under BLACK C. English Names for the Parrots. 47 RED-VENTED COCKATOO. Rose C. Roseate C. ROSE-BREASTED C. Rose-Coloured C. Rose-Crested C., see under SALMON-CRESTED C. and ROSE¬ BREASTED C. Rosy C. SALMON-CRESTED C. SLENDER-BILLED C. WESTERN SLENDER-BILLED C. *SOLANDER C. SPECTACLED C. SULPHUR-CRESTED C. GREATER SULPHUR-CRESTED C. LESSER SULPHUR-CRESTED C., see SULPHUR-CRESTED. *Tricoloured-Crested C. TRITON C. WESTERN BLACK COCKATOO, see under BLACK C. above. Western Long-Billed C. WESTERN SLENDER-BILLED C. White C., see SULPHUR-CRESTED C., GREATER. Great White C., see GREATER WHITE-CRESTED C. above, and GREATER SULPHUR-CRESTED C. Lesser White C., see under SULPHUR-CRESTED C. Long-Billed White C. Red-Faced White C. Small White C., see under SULPHUR-CRESTED. White-Crested C., see GREATER WHITE-CRESTED C. above. White-Tailed Black C., see BAUDIN’S COCKATOO. White-Tailed C., see BAUDIN’S COCKATOO. Yellow-Crested C. Great Yellow-Crested C. Yellow-Eared Black Cockatoo. Cockatoo-Parrakeet, see COCKATIEL. *Cockatoon, an obsolete occasional variant of COCKATOO. COFFEE-BACKED PARROT (Latham). = TJrochroma wiedi. COLLARED PARRAKEET (Latham). —Bolbopsittacus lunulatus. Common Amazon Parrot, see under AMAZON. Common Amazon Parrot, Vars. A to H, see under AMAZON. COMMON KAKA. COMMORO VAZA PARROT, see under VAZA. {To be continued). 48 Correspondence. CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC. THE FEEDING OP BIRDS. SIR, — I am writing to suggest that as so many new birds have of late years been imported, members might tell those less fortunate, how they feed them.* You will, no doubt, have noticed that in all cases where full description of the birds is given, where they come from, etc., no mention whatever is made as to what is found to be the best food, and as this last item is of the greatest importance, I have often wondered why it is neglected. The omission of this information really makes the Magazine of little use to anyone, who is a beginner, and new members must find it curious that the principal point about birds is left out. Regarding Mr. Soames’ suggestion of more medals. These might encourage the man in the street to compete, but as you say, it hardH requires that incentive amongst true bird lovers. E. WARREN VERNON. BIRD SHOW AND BRITISH RED CROSS FUND. SIR, — With your permission I should like to point out to our members that the Foreign Bird Exhibitors’ League, in conjunction with the London Cage Bird Association and the National British Bird and Hybrid Club, are holding their Annual Show as usual at the Horticultural Hall on November 26th, 27th and 28th, 1914, and intend to devote any profit arising from the Show to the British Red Cross Fund. Whilst endeavouring to keep things normal during trying times, they hope if properly supported to make the exhibition a financial success, and this is assured providing a large entry of birds is made, coupled with a good gate. Thirty-one classes have been provided for foreign birds, and our Editor and Mr. D. Seth-Smith, of the Zoological Gardens, will be two of the judges. Especial arrangements have been made to collect and despatch exhibits coming and going by rail, so that provincial exhibitors need not keep their birds away. I there¬ fore appeal to our members to do what they can to make this exhibition a success by entering birds for competition . They will be properly cared for by experts and little or no risk is attached to showing when birds are sent in suitable show cages. Entry forms and other particulars can be obtained from Mr. F. Knight, 64, Chaplin Road, Wembley, Middlesex, on November 1st, and entries will be received by the Show Manager up to November 23rd. I shall be only too pleased to give anyone further particulars with regard to the Exhibition, and I hope that those who cannot show will at least pay a visit to the Show. All being well there will be on exhibition a number of unique birds, many of which are rarely to be seen in any public or private collection in Great Britain. Allen Silver, F.Z.S. * Food for different species of birds has often been described in the back volumes of the Magazine, but perhaps some member wonld kindly write another treatise on the subject. — ED. Noticks to Mkmbkks — ( Continued from page ti. of cover.) NEW MEMBERS. It is hoped that Members will do their best to propose new ones. CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION. Mr. John Wilkinson, The Grange, Kirkandbright, N.B. Proposed by Mr. Arch. McL. Marshall. RESIGNED MEMBERSHIP. Miss C. Ivens. Rev. C. I). Farrar. ILLUSTRATION FUND. £ s. a. Miss L. M, St. A. Wait 0 10 0 Dr. Graham Renshaw . . 5 0 O The Marquis of Tavistock 10 0 0 Sir Rowland J. Corbet, Bt. 2 0 0 Miss Howman . . 0 2 6 Mr. L. G, Pike .. 0 10 0 Mr. FI. J. Brook 2 0 0 The Duchess of Bedford 3 0 0 Mr. Hubert D. Astley .. 5 0 0 MEMBERS’ PRIVATE SALE AND EXCHANGE COLUMN. The charge for ptivate advertisements is sixpence for eighteen words or less, and one penny for every additional three words or less. Trade advertisements are not allowed in this column. Dealers who are members, wishing to advet tise, should apply to the Publisher for terms. Advertisements must reach the Editor on or before the 26th of the month. The Council reset ve the right of refusing any advertisement they may consider undesirable. Pairs Bronzewing Doves, 40/-; Aurita Doves, 20/-; Diamond Doves 20/-; Necklace Doves, 15/- ; also very fine pair Rosellas, 30/-. Will exchange for Ornamental Waterfowl. Wm. Shore Baily, Boyers House, Westbury, Wilts. Hand-reared Caroliuas 20/- pair ; also Chiloe Wigeon 20/- and Chilian Teal 20/- pair ; for immediate delivery. M. Portal, High Sandhoe, Hexham. Hen Brush Bronzewing Pigeon, 15/- ; Gouldian Finches 15/- each ; Long¬ tailed Grass Finches, 10/- each. All very strong and hardy. Bred and reared in open. B. ThomaSSET, Ashmansworth, near Newbury. Pair Red-faced Lovebirds in perfect health and feather, ^3; pair of White headed Lovebirds (reared young this season) 5/- ; young hen 2/- ; cock Budgerigars, 1/6 and 1/- each, from outdoor aviary. Alfred Thorn, The Citadel, Weston, Shrewsbury. One pair Crested Cardinals, 10/6; 1 Napoleon Weaver, 6/-; 1 Madagascar Weaver, 7/6 ; I Orange ditto, 7/6. Miss Douglas, Rose Mount, Pitlochry, N.B. WANTS. The charge for members ' advertisements under this heading is four pence for Twelve words or under, and one penny for evety additional three words or less. Dr. Penrose, Royal Victoria Hotel, Swanage, would be very grateful to anyone who will supply him with, or tell him where to obtain, a few mealworms. Please state terms. WEST, NEWMAN & GO., LITHOGRAPHIC, CH ROMO-LITHOGRAPHIC, AND LETTERPRESS PRINTERS, 54, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, E.C. PRINTERS and PUBLISHERS of Natural History Books and General Printers. Lithographers for various Government and other Museums,, and for learned Societies in London, India, South Africa, & c- Original drawings are accurately reproduced by Lithography or Photo-Lithography, either in colours or monotone, or by line and half-tone blocks. Coloured plates of Birds, Insects and Animals a speciality. TROWER & CO., WHOLESALE SEED MERCHANTS and BIRD FOOD SPECIALISTS, 436,438 & 442, CALEDONIAN ROAD, LONDON, _ _ _ __ _ _ N. EXTRA LARGE SPANISH CANARY SEED. CHOICE GERMAN SUMMER RAPE SEED Finest Selected Seeds for all kinds of Cage or Aviary Bird& British, Foreign, and Canaries, As supplied by us to the leading Fanciers and Exhibitors at the Crystal Palace and1 other Shows. PRICE LIST. SAMPLES FREE. “ CECTO,’' the best Insectivorous Food on the Market, 1/- per lb post paid 1 / 3. Giound Silk Worm Pupae, Mealworms, Ants’ Figgs, Dried F'lies, etc “ EGBISCO ” l'ie fi"est Egg and Biscuit Food yet made. 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2S/« Tins- AVICULTURAL MAGAZ I N E . CONTENTS. The Kingfisher (Illustrated) , by HUBERT D. ASTLEY ... ... ... 49 Cranes in Captivity ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 The Pigeon Hollandais, by GRAHAM RENSHAW, M.D., F.R.S.K. ... 61 Weavers, by W. SHORE BAILY ... ... ... ... ••• 62 Notes for 1914, by Miss E. F. CHAWNER ... ... ... ... 66 The Crowned Cranes at Logan, by M. PORTAL ... ... ... ... 68 Some Notes on the Eggs of the Sudan Crowned Crane, by Michael J. Nicoll ... 69 Some Noteworthy Exhibits at the International Cage Bird Show, by HUBERT D. ASTLEY ... 70 Parrots at the Horticultural Hall, by D. SETH-SMITH ... ... ... 72 English Names for the Parrots, by Dr. E. HOPKINSON ... ... 74 Obituary: Sir WALTER GlLBEY ... ... ... ... ... 79 CORRESPONDENCE : — The Nocturnal Frolics of Stormy Petrels and Manx Shearwaters ; Food for Tanagers in Captivity ; On Feeding Tanagers ... 79 — 80 Third Series. , The price of this DECEMBER, Vol. VI. No. Number is 1/3- — 1914. — NOTE. A new volume eommenees every November. All Subscriptions should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. WEST. NEWMAN & Co. 54. Hatton Garden, E.C. AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Persons wishing to join the AviCUETURAE SOCIETY are requested to communicate with either of the Hon. Secretaries or the Plditor. The Magazine can also be had from the Publishers by NON-MEMBERS at a Subscription of 15/- per annum. NOTICES TO MEMBERS. The Subscription to the Avicultural Society is 10/- per annum, due on the ist of November in each year, and is payable in advance. The entrance fee is io/6. The Avicultural Magazine is sent free to members monthly. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year, on the payment of entrance fee and subscription. All MSS. for publication in the Magazine, Books fot Review, and P/ivate Advertiseme?its should be addressed to the Editor, HUBERT D. ASTEEY, Esq., Brinsop Couit, Hereford. All Queries respecting Birds (except post mortem cases) should be addressed to the Honorary Correspondence Secretary, Dr. A. G. BUTEER, 124, Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent. \_Rnclose stamp for reply]. All other correspondence, should be sent to the Honorary Business Secretary, Mr. T. H. Newman, “ Newlands,” Harrowdene Road, Wembley, Middlesex. Any change of address should be at once notified to him. Dead Birds for post mortem examination should be sent to Prof. G. H. Wooedridge, Zoological Society, Regent’s Park, N.W, Advice is given, by post, by members of the Council to members of the Society, upon the subjects connected with Foreign and British birds. All queries are to be addressed to the Hon. Correspondence Secretary and should contain a penny' stamp. Those marked “ private ” will not be published. The Magazine is published by7 Messrs. West, Newman & Co. (54, Hatton Garden, E.C.) to whom all SUBSCRIPTIONS, orders for extra copies, back numbers and bound volumes (accompanied by remittance) should be addressed. Cases for binding the Magazine (in art cloth, with gold block on side, can be obtained from the Publishers, post free and carefully packed, at 1/6 each ; or the Publishers will undertake the binding of the Volume for 2/6, plus Sd. for packing and postage. Members are requested to state whether they want the wrappers and advertisements bound in at the end or not. BOUND COPIES OF THE “AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE.’’ The following can be obtained from the Publishers at the prices given below. Postage 6d. per volume extra. Vol. II., 6/- to members ; 8/6 to the public. Vols. V. to VII., 10/6 each to members ; 12/6 each to the pubiic. Vol. VIII., 14/- to members ; 17/6 to the public. New Series — Vols. I. to IV., (sets only) ^4 net to members ; ^5 to the public. ,, Vols. II. to VII., 16/- each to members; 21/- ,, ,, Third Series — Vol. I. to V., 16/- „ ,, 21/- ,, „ Current Monthly Numbers 1/3 each (except in special cases, such as the Number containing the List of Members, Index, etc., wheu the Com¬ mittee may increase the price), by post 1/4 ; for back numbers a higher price is charged according to circumstances. Vols. I., III. & IV., are out of print. Second-hand copies sometimes reach the Publishers, to whom application should be made. Bir^Xore. A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Edited by Frank M. Chapman. EACH VOLUME CONTAINS— About 400 pages, with 12 full-page colored plates of our own birds, and many photographs from nature. Descriptions of experiences with living birds in their haunts, and help¬ ful articles on how to study birds. Migration tables, showing when birds may be expected at many places throughout the country. A list of prominent ornithologists who will help you in your study of birds Bird Censuses by numerous observers. Reviews of books and of magazine articles relating to birds. Editorials on current questions in bird study. A School Department. An Audubon Society Department. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION .. 5/- 1). APPLETON & Co., 25 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London. Pp. 142, Cr.oTH, Dkmy Svo., Price 5/- net; Postage 4d. PRACTICAL- - BIRD-KEEPING. BEING REPRINTS FROM “ THE AVICULTUKAL MAGAZINE,” 1911-12. EDITED BY J. L. BONHOTE, M.A., E.L.S., F.Z.S. A Manual intended as a practical help to those who find both pleasure and profit from the keeping of wild birds in confinement. Contributed to by specialists in each class of birds described. With One Coloured Plate and Sixteen Uncoloured. Loudon: WEST, NEWMAN & Co.. 54 Hatton Garden, E.C. CROSS’S MENAGERIE, LIVERPOOL PET ANIMALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. i Humblodt’s Woolv Monkey ; i Battikofers Guenon ; i Patas Monkey ; 2 Pigtail Apes ; I Bed Baboon ; 5 Dogface Baboons ; 2 Sacred Baboons; 2 Mandrills; 190 Rhesus Monkeys; 20 Jew Monkeys; 4 Black and White Ruffed Demurs; 2 Orange-cheeked Lemurs ; 7 Brown Demurs; 2 Agouti; 1 Coati-Mundi ; 2 Corpus; 10 Jerboas; 1 Mexican Squirrel; 1 Red Squirrel ; 20 Canadian Porcupines; 1 Bull, Cow and Calf Indian Zebu Buffaloes ; 1 Sanibur Stag ; 1 pair Axis Deer ; 1 Hog Deer ; r tame young Blackbuck ; S Bennett’s Wallabies ; 1 perfectly tame African Leopard on lead; 1 Tibet Bear; 1 .Sloth Bear; 1 Himalaya Bear; 1 American Bear; 2 young Dingos ; 3 South American Rhea Ostriches ; I White-whiskered Paradoxure ; 1 Indian Civit ; 2 Swamp Civits ; 1 Two-spotted Parodoxure ; 3 Griffin Vultures ; t Rough-legged Buzzard ; 13 Black Swans ; 8 White Swans ; 2 Barheaded Geese; 2 Chinese Geese ; 100 Falcated Teal ; 20 Man¬ darin Ducks ; 15 Formoson Teal ; jo White-faced Tree Ducks ; 100 Common Teal ; 10 Demoiselle Cranes ; 4 Antigone Cranes ; 2 Rosy Flamingoes ; 4 Rosy Spoonbills ; 3 Ibis ; 1 Penguin; 1 marvellous talking Grey Parrot; I talking Hill Mynah ; 1 pair the new Cuban Connies ( Con-urns euops) ; t pair Blue-cheeked Rosellas ( Platycercus amathusia) ; 1 Pennants Broadtail ; 1 White-eared Conure ; I pair Red-sided Delectus Dories ; 1 pair Red¬ necked Lorikeets ; 1 pair Alexandrine Rock Parrots; 2 Canarywing Broto- gerys ; 1 Golden-fronted Brotogerys ; 2 Yellow-billed Piouus ; I Red-vented Pionus ; 2 Kandy Conures ; 2 Half-moon Conures ; 20 Amazon Parrots ; 100 Rose Cockatoos ; 200 Budgerigars ; 50 Lavender-headed Lovebirds ; 100 Ring-necked Parrakeets ; 10 Great Sulphurcrest Cockatoos ; 2 Bare-eyed Cockatoos; 1 Lesser Javan Cockatoos ; 1 Green Military Macaw; 11 Silky Starlings; 1 Chinese Rosy .Starling ; 4 Cuban Song Thrushes; 1 Singing Shania ; 6 Chinese-crested Mynahs; 2 Crimson-eared Bulbuls; 20 White Java Sparrows ; 8 Saffron Finches ; 10 Dwarf Finches ; 15 Orange and Yellow Bishops ; 3 Yellow-vented Buntings ; 2 Cape Sparrows ; 12 Indigo P'inches ; 1 pair imported Chinese Ringneck Pheasants; Silver, Amherst, and Reeves Pheasants; 20 Peafowl ; 20 Zebra Doves ; 40 White Doves ; 100 Ring Doves ; 6 Vinaceous Turtle Doves ; 1 Stock Dove; I Triangular-spotted Pigeon; Sternotheres ; Tortoises; Terrepins; Lizards; Snakes ; Crocadiles ; etc. Wanted to Purchase, SURPLUS ACCLIMATISED SPECIMENS, BIRDS, REPTILES, OR ANIMALS. Cables and Telegrams : “ Cross, Liverpool.” National ’Phone 6491 Central. The Avicultural Magazine. Photo from life by J. H. Symonds. THE COMMON KINGFISHER. (Alcedo ispida). THE 49 Avicultural Magazine, BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Third Series. — Vol. VI. — No. 2. — All rights reserved. DECEMBER, 1914. THE KINGFISHER. Alcedo ispida. By Hubert D. Astley. Looking out of one of my bedroom windows one morning in October I saw the brilliant blue of a Kingfisher as he flashed over the moat and passed beneath the arch of the old stone bridge. That was my view of him on the south side of the room, where two windows with their sashes of Queen Anne period, one on either side of the chimney and fire place, look out on a wide prospect towards a wooded hill in the middle distance on the left hand, and to the Black Mountains in the further distance on the right. And my next sight of him was in the big cedar-tree, planted by Wordsworth and Southey, which spreads its blue-green foliage in front of the other two windows on the west side of the room, stretching its red-brown branches over the broader part of the moat. Let me mention that I can lie in bed and see by night the moon above the wooded hill, which from that point of view forms a back¬ ground to the cedar, gleaming through the branches ; indeed on a winter’s morning I have been able from one of the south windows to look at the sun rising in the E.S.E., and turning round, to see the full moon setting in the N.W., just as if she were thinking, “ here he comes, my light is no longer needed.” Does some impatient aviculturist break in with “ what twaddle, go on about the King¬ fisher, bother the moon ! ” Well I will ! The Kingfisher in question was perched within 50 Mr. Hubert D. Astley, twelve yards of my windows on a bare branch just above the moat, and every few seconds he bobbed his head, looking intently into the water beneath him. Perfectly still but for this bobbing' of the head, he sat there for fully ten minutes, during which time my matutinal dressing was delayed. Suddenly he pulled himself together, gazed down with a greater alertness and then splash , and off he went to the Flamingoes’ pond with a small dace in his long bill. x\nother day, as I stood at one of the windows of the Dining- Parlour, where the moat is within a few feet of the house, and kept from it by a long bed of flowers and a narrow paved way, the King¬ fisher came shooting under the stone bridge with a silvery fish in his bill, which contrasted wonderfully with the azure blue of his upper plumage, as the rays of the morning sun shone on him. I have, although I have been in my present home for thirteen months never seen more than one, always I believe the same bird, but I hope he may find a mate next year, and build in some spot that suits him and her. Nothing saddens me much more in the matter of bird des¬ truction than to constantly see stuffed Kingfishers. There they are in taxidermists’ shop-windows, in gamekeepers’ cottages, and in many a country inn, more often than not, most vilely set up as well as moth-eaten ; besides which many are slaughtered by owners of trout streams. That this bird of gorgeous plumage should be so persecuted is to me monstrous. It is high time that the English, who are horrified at the barbarity of the Germans in the wicked war still raging, should instil into the rising generation a greater respect for and interest in the beauties of our wild life, teaching them from earliest years the pleasure to be derived from watching the birds, and emphasizing the virtues of mercy and love towards them. If the Kingfishers do prey upon very small trout, and as a rule these birds are to be found in the smaller back waters where minnows abound and form their food, cannot some be spared for these lovely creatures ? They perish enough as it is, during hard winters, when the nights are freezingly cold and the ice covers up their breakfast and dinner. Women too have worn their skins in their hats, more shame to them ; our one British bird with really tropical colouring. on the Kingfisher. 51 If after the war there comes a new heaven and a new earth, let us hope that the interest that has of late years sprung up in wild life amongst us, will continue to grow, so that many species of birds will also find a new earth instead of the contents of a cartridge. We shall surely have had enough of ruthless destruction ! Mr. Pycraft has written of the Kingfisher in ‘ The British Bird Book’ : “Of all our native birds it is one of the most interesting, “ as it is also one of the most persecuted. It has been the theme of fables, and of poetry, from time immemorial ; for generations it has been subjected to the desecrations of the milliner and the “ bird-stuffer, while the malice of the fisherman has been scarcely “ less malignant ; only by the ornithologist has it been neglected.” “ Some facts in regard to its life-history have been harvested “ from the raids of the egg-collector ; but of the rest of its economy “ we know little. We are, however, it is Imped, entering upon a “ new era in regard to the study of birds.” Our Kingfisher is the member of a very large family. A whole monograph, a good-sized volume, has been published. The smallest Kingfisher known has a length of 3f inches, the largest, the laughing Jackass of Australia, is 17 inches long. In some the bill has a hook at the tip, in another species it is serrated along the cutting edge, whilst in another the beak is short and of great width. Neither have all Kingfishers the short tail that the British one has ; for one species grows two central tail feathers with long racquets. Some eat fish, like the British Kingfisher ; others live in arid places feeding on lizards, insects and small mammalia. In colouring too, the species differ considerably, from simple black and white in one, to blue and white, red and white, green, blue, and red, etc. in others. With our own bird, the sexes are barely distinguishable, and the young in their first plumage, although decidedly duller on fore¬ neck and breast, are almost as brilliant as the adults. As is well known to most people interested in birds, the King¬ fisher builds in holes in banks of streams and cuttings. Mr. Pycraft writes : “ The Kingfisher invariably digs for itself, and the mouth of “ the burrow can be recognised at a glance from that of any other 52 Cranes in Captivity. “ creature. And this because of its shape, which is oval, and with “ clean-cut edges. Thereby it differs from the burrow of the Sand- “ martin, which is cordiform, the apex upwards. The initial stage “ of the tunnelling is said to be performed by charging the desired “ spot at full tilt, using the beak after the fashion of a lance, till a “cavity is made large enough to afford a grip for the feet.” “As a rule, such nests take the form of a long ascending “tunnel, about a yard in length, ending in a brooding chamber, the “ eggs resting on a platform of fish bones, and the hard part of “ shrimps and other indigestible portions of food. These remains “ are the gradual accumulation of pellets, thrown up as in the case “ of owls, hawks, and many other birds which swallow food con¬ taining much indigestible matter.” The eggs are white tinged with pink, which tint is due to the colour of the blood vessels surrounding the yolk, showing through the shell. I have seen Kingfishers, evidently on migration, on the Lake of Como in Italy in the autumn. On one occasion one passed, flying close above the surface of the w7ater when I was in a launch at least a mile from any of the shores. Kingfishers ought to live perfectly well in an aviary with a deepish pool in which minnows could be placed, but unless the aviary was really roomy, one would not have the pleasure of seeing the arrow-like flight of this lovely bird. If any members can try to observe more closely the habits of the Kingfisher, especially in the matter of the display of the male (if any) and write an account for the Magazine, we shall be grateful. CRANES IN CAPTIVITY. There is something very entrancing in the sight of a well-kept enclosure of Cranes. The dignified, yet graceful, movements of these birds as they walk about ; their beautiful and, at times, striking colouration, and the ease with which they are kept, have tempted more than one amateur to purchase these lovely creatures as additions to their aviaries or bird enclosures. Several, whose wealth has enabled them to gratify their natural inclinations in the fullest Cranes in Captivity. 53 degree, have included examples of all the known species of Cranes in their collections ; the ability to do this, however, does not fall to the lot of everyone, for many of the species are very costly as well as difficult to procure. Cranes appear to the greatest advantage when they can be allowed to run — pinioned, of course — in a large paddock or other similar place, a park for example. They are birds that require a good deal of exercise. Some of the different species of Cranes breed in captivity, but in such a case not more than one pair of birds should be in one enclosure ; they make their nest on the ground, of reeds, rushes, and tall grass, with a few sticks. Two eggs are usually laid, but there generally the matter ends in the case of the ordinary aviculturist, for the eggs do not always hatch out, or if they do, the parents do not succeed in rearing the young. The great crux in the rearing of young Cranes hatched in captivity is providing an adequate supply of insect life as food. No one hut those who have persevered time after time, in spite of many failures, realises what an enormous amount of soft-bodied insects these young Cranes require and how indefatigably the parents work in hunting and searching all over the paddock in order that the nestlings may have a proper and sufficient supply of food. It appears absolutely necessary that the insects for feeding the young Cranes must have soft bodies as I have repeatedly noticed the old birds, when given a large dish of mealworms, carefully pick out those that had just sloughed their hard coats for the nestlings and eat the others themselves. This seems rather strange, for adult Cranes will eat the hardest coated beetles with the greatest enjoyment, and when during the summer months flights of dor-beetles are common, the Cranes soon get to know, and in the evenings may be noticed searching the railings and tree-trunks of their enclosure for such of these insects as have settled after their flight. One very great advantage that Cranes possess over Herons as pets is that they do not need such a quantity of purely animal food (fish, liver, etc.) as do the latter birds, but may be fed on soaked dog-biscuits, bread, grain, and insect food. When the latter runs short it may be necessary to give a little flesh or fish to make up for the deficiency of the other, but so long as earth-worms, grubs and 54 Cranes in Captivity. snails are plentiful they will not require the meat. The most suitable grain foods are wheat, barley and Indian corn, especially the last, which can be given liberally ; in the case of those birds that have just been imported or that are weakly and ill, it may with advantage be soaked in boiling water until it is soft, otherwise it can be given dry. The species par excellence for beginners with these birds is the Demoiselle Crane, a delightful creature of most delicate coloura¬ tion. The body is of a beautifully soft pearl-grey tint, the wing feathers are long, pointed, and hang over the tail, being tipped with black ; the face, throat, and fore-neck are a very dark slate colour, the feathers of the latter being very long and pendulous ; the ear- tufts are silvery white, the feathers curving gracefully downward on each side of the neck. As may be judged this species is a particularly handsome and graceful bird ; it is also one of the tamest in disposition and speedily gets attached to its owner. Another point in its favour is that it is perfectly hardy and thrives in most situations, although a dry soil suits it best. The average cost of a pair of these Cranes is from £3 to £4 when bought from a dealer, but a short advertisement in one of the live-stock papers would probably result in an offer at a lower figure ; in fact, a short time ago I had an offer of Demoiselle Cranes at a £1 apiece. Being imported in fairly large numbers if is nearly always on the market and specimens are readily obtainable at all times from any of the recognized dealers. Examples of this species have been bred in this country on several occasions, but all Cranes, and the Demoiselle is not an ex¬ ception, are very capricious in this respect and will steadily refuse to do anything of the kind under what appear to be the most favourable circumstances. This may go on for three or four seasons, but during the third or fourth year signs of a desire to nest often become apparent to the observant eye. This is usually noticeable in an increasing shyness of the birds, and it is at this point that most amateurs go wrong by generally attributing this conduct to any reason but the real one, the most usual thing that the beginner thinks is that the birds have been frightened and their owner attempts to restore confidence by giving them a good deal of his or her company and by petting them up by following them about Cranes in Captivity. 55 with bonnes touches in the shape of nice fat, luscious insects. Now this, well meaning as it is, is just exactly what the birds do not want ; what they do want is to be left severely alone. Directly it is observed that the Cranes are getting shy and retiring themselves from close observation, especially if they are noticed to be picking up bits of sticks, they should be left undisturbed as much as possible9 and all dogs and strangers kept away from their enclosure ; an arm¬ ful of twigs may be thrown in to them, or an old birch-broom untied and given to them. If it is really a desire to set up housekeeping that has rendered the birds shun observation they will make use of the twigs by commencing on their nest at once. Cranes in selecting a site for their nest are rather erratic in their tastes ; sometimes, and very often they are the shyest birds that do so, they will make their nest in a quite open and unsheltered situation, whilst another pair of Cranes will select a nesting site which is screened from observation by a protecting bush. Two eggs are generally laid, but if they have nested previously with unfertile ones, sometimes only one is laid and the hen starts sitting right away. When two eggs are laid the second is deposited two days after the first and the hen begins to incubate at once ; the period of incubation lasts four weeks and both parents take turns in the work, often relieving each other five or six times during the day. Like many other birds at this time they are very cautious in their behaviour, and if their enclosure is entered, even by their owner, the sitting bird will slip off the nest at once, often pretend to feed and nearly always walk in a different direction from its companion, in an attempt to draw the intruder’s attention away from the nest and eggs : if this be unsuccessful and the person approaches too near the nest for the bird’s peace of mind, the Cranes will adopt the same artifice as that displayed by the Lapwing, the hen tumbling along the surface of the ground as though she had a broken wing or was injured in some manner, while the male will puff up his neck and head feathers in an effort to make a show of ferocity towards the intruder. The eggs will hatch out, if fertile, about the twenty-eighth day ; the young birds are dark biscuit colour, shading off to a cream tint, with chocolate marking's and, like all nestlings, are dear little things. The parents start feeding the young at once, each parent 56 Cranes in Captivity. bird attaching itself exclusively to one nestling and devoting the whole of its attention to that one in particular. It is a most interesting sight to see the assiduity with which the adult birds will methodically search through a paddock for insects, with the young ones following them, leaving hardly a square yard unexamined; directly an insect is seen it is caught up by one of the parents and given into the mouth of the particular young one it is specially looking after. The young only remain in the nest for about four days after they are hatched, and from that time onwards the old birds brood the young ones in dry situations wherever the grass may be short, not always using the same place every night but moving from place to place as fancy takes them. At this time these Cranes are very intolerant of rain, and are most solicitous that the young should not get wet by always selecting at such a time a spot close to the bole of a tree as their sleeping' place in order that the young can get proper shelter under the branches. The young seem to be entirely dependent on the old birds for at least a fortnight, and until that period has elapsed I have never seen them attempt to pick up anything for themselves ; just after the second week the old Cranes commence giving the young wheat grains, and once they have succeeded in getting well on to this they will thrive rapidly. It is the first three weeks of their lives that is the most difficult period of their existence as they subsist entirely on small soft insects found on the grass stems and foliage of their enclosure, and unless there is a plentiful and constant natural supply of this kind of food they will invariably die. But once they have got over the first month they will make astonish¬ ing progress, so much so that a careful eye must be kept on them in case they escape from their paddock, for they can fly before the uill feathers are fully grown. If they do, they are not likely to get right away, for they will in all probability return to the old birds, but it may give their owner a nervous half-hour watching them as they soar round at an elevation of about 150 yards in a circle nearly a mile in diameter, wondering all the while whether they will come back or not. Another species of Crane, well worthy of the serious atten¬ tion of those interested in these birds, is the Australian Crane, the Cranes in Captivity. 57 “ native companion ” of the colonists. This bird is of a different shade of colour to the preceding' species, being rather a bluish, or French grey, as the tint of its plumage, the top of the head and the beak are of an olive-green colour, as is also the gular pouch ; the back of the head is papillose skin of a brilliant scarlet. This Crane is not so reliable in its temper as the gentle Demoiselle and most individuals are inveterate practical jokers, as evidenced by the sly manner with which they will sidle up alongside any one who may be inside their enclosure, looking the pictures of innocence, and then give a nasty lunge with their spear-like beak at the person of the intruder, usually selecting, if it be a man, the back of the calf of the leg ; or, if a lady, the back or palm of the hand. Like the majority of the Cranes this species is very hardy and may safely be left out of doors during all weathers, saving the most exceptionally severe, when it is advisable to put them under shelter. They are so disregarding o the state of the climate that they will wade in a half-frozen pond during a frost and wait until they are literally frozen in and have to be released. In spite of my fears that they would suffer from the prolonged exposure to the ice-cold water, the experience seemed to have no ill-effects upon them and they were none the worse for it. Although I have not as yet had the good fortune in my own aviaries, these particular Cranes have nested in this country, but I am not certain whether the eggs hatched and the young reared to maturity ; I think that both the Duchess of Bedford and Mr. H. D. Astley were equally unfortunate in this respect. If the male bird is pinioned there is no need to perform the same operation on the hen, for she does not appear to want to fly away, although fond of long aerial flights from which she will always return ; at least such is my experience. The Australian Crane is a very jealous bird, quick to take offence, and deeply resents the intrusion of another crane of a different kind to himself on that portion of the enclosure round which he has set an imaginary boundary, but will, directly a tres¬ passer is noticed, run at him with outstretched wings and clappering beak and fairly chase him off the private territory that has been appropriated by himself and his mate ; in fact, the solitary example of the Common Crane is constantly being chased about by both the 58 Cranes in Captivity pair of Australian Crane and the two Cape Crowned Cranes as he ■inadvertently steps into the area reserved to themselves by his com¬ panions, the three species being kept in one paddock. The general favourites at first sight, with most people, are the Crowned Cranes, of which there are two or three species. The illustration of a pair of Crowned Cranes wading in the bed of a small stream gives a very good idea of the beauty of these birds, and it is the quaint-looking, stiff-plumed, top-knot which adds to the attractiveness of them. They possess certain advantages over the other species of Cranes in that they have, when they choose to give vent to it, a rather more musical voice than that of Cranes generally also, they are not nearly so destructive to growing plants as are some of the others, although, curiously enough, Crowned Cranes seem less fond of insect-food and more fond of growing grass-seed and grain generally. In disposition they are quite as gentle as the more commonly seen Demoiselle ; gentle, that is, towards their owner,! for they are more determined at shifting trespassing Cranes of a different species, and will even vent their displeasure by chasing the offending bird all over the paddock. The call of these Cranes is not at all unlike the ‘ toot ’ of a motor-trumpet being sounded a little distance away, and those people who hear the call for the first time, without seeing the birds, often think that there is a motor car approaching along the by-road near the enclosure. They are distinctly greedy birds, always rushing up to the food-pan directly it is replenished and never allowing the others to have anything until they have quite satisfied themselves, and will often behave in a very ‘ dog' in the manger' fashion by mounting guard over what is left to prevent the others having any, so that if this trait is noticed in any Cranes of this species belonging to my readers it will be as well to provide more than one food-pan, in order that the others may get their food without being obliged to wait for the Crowned Cranes to give way. The Crowned Cranes are rather impatient of damp, and a very valuable ‘tip’ for the aviculturist, who has any of this species in his collection, is to make a small gravelled run in that part of the * This is a matter of taste in music. — ED. t This is by no means my experience with two of my Crowned Cranes. — Ed. The Avicultural Magazine. CROWNED CRANES IN THE BED OF A STREAM. Photo by Maurice Portal. ■f Cranes in Captivity. 59 paddock which these birds reserve to themselves : a yard of gravel will be ample as this quantity will cover at least five yards of ground. When this is provided it will be noticed that in wet weather, when the grass is wet, particularly if it be long, these Cranes will always be standing on the gravelled patches. In Crowned Cranes the cheeks are bare skin evenly divided into two distinct patches of pink and white, the proportion varying in different species : the general tint of the neck and body is ashy or greyish black, the wings and tail being white with a rich chocolate brown ; but the thick, upright crest of straw-coloured bristle-like feathers is the dominant features of these birds, and the one to which in no small degree their beauty and attractive appearance is due. There seems some diversity of opinion among those who possess these birds as to whether it is necessary to keep them entirely under cover or not during the winter months : some keep them indoors from November to March, others take no trouble with their birds in this respect and claim that these Cranes suffer no ill- effects by so doing. So far as my own experience teaches, all that is necessary is to put up a small summer-house erection made of wood, with a tarred roof ; this need not be larger in size than about 6ft. cube, entirely closed all round with the exception of a small open doorway, through which the birds can pass one at a time. It is an advantage if the floor can be raised a few inches above the ground level and covered with peat-moss litter. When such a shelter as this is provided for their use, the birds can then decide whether the weather is too inclement or not, and please themselves if they make a retreat into it. Generally it will be found that they will only seek its pro¬ tection during the most stormy weather, especially that accompanied by a strong driving wind ; at other times, even the most cold, they will be proudly marching about the paddock, heedless of snow and frost. The roof of this structure should slope towards the back with the ground at that part raised a bit so as to carry the water away from the shelter as, if the roof slopes towards the front, unless the ground is well drained, there is always a pool just in front of the doorway. This point must be especially looked after if the floor is not raised. Another very charming Crane is the Stanley or, as it is some- 60 Cranes in Captivity. times called, Paradise Crane. This is a most beautiful bird, bluish- grey in colour, with rather a massive-looking head and extremely long wing-feathers which almost reach to the ground. This species requires more animal-food than the other kinds and a few meal¬ worms are a very acceptable addition to the diet ; if these are not readily obtainable, spiders and woodlice, especially the latter, may be given. For grain food, a mixture of wheat, dari, and rice in the husk is as good as anything. It is an extremely gentle bird. The Sams Crane, of which examples are often offered for sale by dealers, is not a suitable bird for mixed collection of Cranes, owing to its spiteful disposition, as it is always interfering with the other Cranes, pecking them and very often inflicting nasty injuries on them. When, however, a separate enclosure can be provided for it, this species makes a handsome addition to the aviaries. The cry is very loud and piercing and can be heard long distances, especially at night, and for this reason it is not advisable to have this bird in too close proximity to the dwelling-house as it is apt to disturb one’s rest, more particularly if one is a light sleeper. The appearance of this species is very stately : the colouration is French grey and a considerable portion of the head and neck is bare skin of a reddish tint. The Asiatic White Crane is a very beautiful bird of dazzling white plumage, with black at the end of the primaries of the wings. This species is a more shy bird than the Sarus and possessed of a very feeble voice, except during the breeding season. It never goes far away from the water pool. The feeding and management is the same as for the other Cranes. The Common Crane, once widely distributed through these islands, is now no longer a resident and only a most irregular visitor. The colour is dark-grey. Their voice is trumpet-like and rather eerie, especially when heard in the early morning. They make nice additions to a collection, but are rather spiteful towards any com¬ panions in the same enclosure, especially if they be smaller than themselves.* * A male bird I had for some time, twice stabbed his mates, and killed them. — Ed. The Avicultural Magazine. Photo by Graham Renshaw. THE RED-HEADED PIGEON HOLLANDAIS. (Alectramas pidcherrima ) . 61 The Pigeon Hollandais. THE PIGEON HOLLANDAIS. By Graham Benshaw, M.D., F.R.S.E. Some years ago there was living in the Western Aviary at the Zoo a curious pigeon which had been received from the Seychelles. The bird was of arboreal habit, sitting sluggishly on its perch, which it grasped with well-developed, powerful feet. Its head was crimson above, the neck and breast were grey, the upper parts and tail blue- black : the orbits, lores, and forehead were wattled. The writer at once recognised it as one of the wart pigeons {Alectrcenas) . Now although attractive from its rarity and also on account of its quaint yet beautiful coloration, the full interest of this specimen does not appear to have been grasped by aviculturists. The bird was already in poor health when photographed by the writer ; no paper relating to it having appeared in the interval since its death, the present account may be of interest. The specimen in question — the Alectrcenas pulcherrima of naturalists — is known as the “Pigeon Hollandais” in the Seychelles. The reason for this is very curious : many years ago there existed [not in the Seychelles but in Mauritius] an allied species, then also called Pigeon Hollandais. This bird ( Alectrcenas nitidissima) had the head and neck white ; the back, wings, and under parts indigo ; the rump, tail and tail-coverts crimson ; its popular name, in fact, denoted that it wore the colours of the Dutch flag. It was dis¬ covered by Sonnerat, who brought home two specimens in 1781. He appears to have been an early aviculturist, for one of his birds, still in the Natural History Museum at Paris, shows by its broken feathers the effects of prolonged confinement in a cage. About 1815 M. Dufresne had another specimen, but whether alive is not known ; this bird is now in the Edinburgh Museum. To-day three museum specimens — in Paris, Edinburgh, and Port Louis (Mauritius) — are all that is left of a fine species. Uno avulso non deficit alter. The name “Pigeon Hollandais” was transferred to the Alectrcenas pulcherrima , although its colora¬ tion was markedly different, and it did not represent the colours of the Dutch flag. The present species is not a very accurate under¬ study of its departed relative ; thus the neck and breast are grey 62 Mr. W, Shobe Baily, instead of white, the upper parts are blue black rather than indigo, while the tail is blue black instead of crimson ! One may class the present instance as another example of the inaccuracy which seems to infest zoological nomenclature in Africa and its islands. Thus amongst the birds alone, the “Cape Lory” is really a Touraco and the “Toucans” are Tree Hornbills, while the Paauw or “Peacock” is a Bustard, the “ Turkey” is a Ground Hornbill, and “ Pheasants” and “Partridges” are Fran colin ! Considerable avicultural interest attaches to the three young birds which were kept alive in 1862 by the Acting' Civil Commissioner for the Seychelles. They are quite arboreal, and would not leave their perches unless obliged ; they were fed on berries and small fruit. They were supposed to be the true A. niticlissima, and if so were among the last of their race ; yet although they were fully fledged some uncertainty existed as to their species, and they may have been the “new” Pigeon Hollandais which normally inhabits the Seychelles. In the new Pigeon Hollandais its lamented con¬ gener lives again, rising Phoenix-like from its ashes. It is to be hoped that no more of these quaint, beautiful island species will be lost, and that the Pigeon Hollandais of to-day will soon be better known to aviculture. WEAVERS. By W. Shobe Baily. The Weavers — more especially those of the Hyphcmtornis group — do not seem to he very great favourites with aviculturists, and dealers tell me that, except for the commoner kinds such as P. franciscanco and afra, they are not always easy of sale. I am sure that I do not know why this should be so, as in appearance they are extremely attractive birds, and besides being easy to cater for, are quite hardy. A group of Orange or Crimson Crowned males in full plumage equals in beauty anything I have seen in bird-life, even if it does not surpass it. In the Boyers House aviaries I have many varieties, and the following short account of some of their doings this season may be of interest to your readers. The Avicultural Magazine. Shore Baily. on Weavers. 63 The Abyssinian Weaver ( H . abyssinicus). I have four cocks and one hen. The difficulty with all Weavers is to get true pairs. I bought so-called true pairs from two different dealers, only to find when they came into colour that they were all males. How¬ ever I was lucky enough to pick up a hen from another source rather late in the Spring and this bird laid three eggs — white, finely marked with pink spots — and hatched one young one, which unfortunately only lived fourteen days, being drowned in the nest by a heavy thunderstorm. All the cocks proved great nest - builders, using almost any material that came handy. Their nests were retort shaped and usually hung from the wire roof of the aviary. They were not nearly so closely woven as some of the other Weavers’ nests, and this was probably the reason why the pair that nested failed to bring up their young one, the rain finding its way through too easily. The brilliant black and yellow of the males make them quite the handsomest of all the large Weavers. The Rufous-necked Weaver (H- cucullatus). Of these I have three cocks and one hen. The cocks are much duller in colour than the Abysinnian and are in consequence less handsome. The hens of the two varieties are practically indistinguishable. Two of my males proved good nest-builders, but, although I frequently saw the hen inspecting the nests, no eggs were laid. These nests were built in bushes and trees and were fairly well woven. The song of the Rufous-necked is not so clear or varied as that of the Abysinnian, but is still rather pleasing. Another large Weaver is the Olivaceous ( S . olivaceus), which is quite equal in size to either of the two varieties just mentioned. It differs from them in having no black about it and in having white instead of red eyes. When in full breeding plumage the face is dusky, its white eyes making it look almost black, but when compared with one of the other black-faced Weavers, the difference is at once noted. This is the finest nest Weaver I have, for although he failed to secure a mate, and consequently only built two nests and these early in the Spring, yet these nests are as good now as when they were built and are quite water-tight. From this bird and a hen ( H . mariquensis) I raised two hybrids last season. The young male hybrid has also proved a great nest-builder and has 64 Mr. W. Shore Baily, woven quite a score of nests this season, but has been unsuccessful in persuading a hen to occupy one of them. In colour he almost exactly resembles a hen Rufous-necked having no black or brown whatever about him and being about the same size. The Black-headed Weaver ( H. melanocephalus ). I have five cocks and one hen. Here again the dealers seem unable to differentiate between the sexes when they are out of colour. One or two of the cocks proved good Weavers, but it is possible the absence of hens prevented the others from making any serious nesting attempts. The Black-hooded Weaver (H. heuglinii). I possess a single male. In appearance he is very like melanocephalus , but has less black on the forehead and a little rufous on the throat. He proved a very good builder, hanging his nests from the branches of a spruce. The Half- masked Weaver (H. vitellinus). Of these, three cocks only, hens apparently being unobtainable. With their chestnut coloured heads these are very pretty birds, and it was unfortunate that I was unable to find mates for them as they built many nests and were apparently most anxious to undertake parental duties. The Golden Weaver (H. galhula). I have two pairs of these and one pair nested, but I think the eggs must have been taken by mice, as the nest was rather low down in a bush and easily accessible to these vermin. The males are about the size of vitellinus, but the crown of the head is bright yellow and there is no rufous below the black of the throat. The Short-winged Weaver (H. hrachypterus). I have two cocks only. They very closely resemble galbula and are about the same size. Only one of these attempted to build ; the sites chosen being very varied. The nests were always well-constructed, the entrance hole usually being in the side. The Dwarf Weaver (S. luteola). Of these pretty little birds I have two pairs, one of which nested twice, bringing up two young ones on each occasion. They are about the size of an English Siskin, and the males are like miniature melanocephalus, having no rufous or chestnut colour about them. The young, which were grey on Weavers. 65 in colour with white breasts, were raised very largely upon meal¬ worms, although seed, principally spray millet, was also taken. The eggs were white. Taha Weavers (P. taha ). Two pairs of these were given a large aviary, in which there were no birds larger than themselves, but strange to say no attempt at nesting was made. The cocks are extremely active and spent much of their time chasing each other and the hens around and around the aviary. They look very hand¬ some with their brilliant black breasts, contrasting so vividly with the bright yellow of the other parts of the body. They differ from P. afra by having the black on the under parts of the body extended to the throat. Like all the genus they are very fond of mealworms, and when I was feeding the Dwarf Weavers with these they generally managed to get their share. Crimson Crowned Weavers (P. flammiceps) . I have three cocks only of this handsome variety, two of which were purchased from a Continental dealer as a true pair of P. oryx. Hens of this variety also seem unprocurable, which is a great pity as they would well repay the trouble of breeding/" One or two of them built nests, but they were never properly completed. Orange Weavers (P .franciscana) . Five cocks and four hens. Napoleon Weavers (P. afra). Three pairs. Red-billed Weavers ( Quelea quelea). Three pairs. These four last-named varieties were all kept together in a large aviary, 13ft. high and having no natural cover. In with them were Budgerigars, Cockatiels and Rosellas ; and although there were many nests, as far as I know no eggs were laid. This is I suppose what one might expect under these conditions, but the lack of success in breeding them is more than compensated for by the grand appearance they make in the aviary now that the males are all in full colour. Another season, if all is well, I shall hope to place them under more natural conditions, when some of them may bring off young ones. * Dr. Butler secured two hens amongst females of P. franciscana (Vide Foreign Birds for Cage and Aviary, Vol. I. p. 194). 66 Miss E. F. Chawner, NOTES FOR 1914. By Miss E. F. Chawneb. I have had very little success this year as far as nesting is concerned. Indigo Buntings built a neat nest of hay and grass lined with tow in such a position that it was impossible to go in or out of the aviary without almost brushing against it. Though plenty of cover was provided it was stuck up in the fork of a dead bough without any attempt at concealment. As the birds were new comers, and the hen in particular very shy, the attempt was doomed from the start. Three eggs were dropped in different parts of the aviary and then the hen brooded in the empty nest for about a week before giving it up. The cock did not appear to take the smallest interest in her proceedings and I never even saw him near the nest. Both birds are much tamer now, and I hope, if they come through the winter, for better luck next summer. Long-tailed Grassfinches built and laid several eggs, then the hen fell ill, and though she recovered she wisely did nothing more in the nesting line. The Hooded Siskins raised my hopes by carrying nesting material to most of the likely places in the aviary, but it went no further, and this autumn to my regret the cock died. He was a charming bird and I miss his gay song and lively ways every time I go to the aviary. I bought him in 1911, and to the day of his death he never looked sick or sorry. My old Pekin Robins built a lovely cup of hay lined with dead leaves and hatched three young ones. But mealworms and live ants’ eggs “gave out” and, owing to the war, no more were obtainable. I tried grasshoppers, and the old birds took to them at once and fed with them, but the young died just as the first had left the nest. I do not know for certain if the grasshoppers were to blame, but I have my suspicions. Hitherto the Pekins have always been successful and reared numerous youngsters on small meal¬ worms, flies, wasp grubs, and live ants’ eggs. This year, as luck would have it, wasp grubs were particularly late and small in this district and I hardly got any, though a fair number of nests were taken. Notes for 1914. 67 The solitary success is a pair of hybrids between a St. Helena Seed-Eater and an English Linnet. The Seed-eater died before the young were hatched and they were fathered by a Grey Singing' Finch x Linnet, which was hatched last year. In fact, seeing him so atten¬ tive to the young I took it for granted that he was their true father and did not discover my mistake until they came into full plumage. One is quite a pretty bird, a Seed-eater in size and shape, with a brown breast washed with yellow and a bright yellow rump, the back, wings, and tail resemble the Linnet. The other, which I take to be a hen, is much duller and browner. It is strange that the Seed-eater should have paired with the Linnet as there is a hen of his own species in the same aviary ; he would have nothing to say to her, but continually followed the Linnet, driving off the Grey Singing-Finch mule, who also had aspirations to her and paired with her as soon as the Seed-eater died. I wonder how other members have succeeded with the Black- chinned Yuhina ? One only of mine has survived, a cock. Whether it has anything to do with his longevity I cannot say, but he has always supplemented his diet of sop and fruit with “ eg'gbisco,” which his companions would not touch. Two baby House Martins, which had fallen from their nests, were brought to me and successfully hand-reared on mealworms, flies, and grasshoppers. As is the way of these delightful birds, they speedily became not only quite fearless but extremely affectionate, delighting in being handled and petted. When old enough they were set at liberty and immediately flew off. It is curious that being so tame they should never have returned to their human friends, but I have found it invariably the case that with them out of sight is out of mind.* Another waif was a young Puffin, picked up in the forest by a beater. It was uninjured but starving ; at first it had to be crammed, but after a few days would feed from hand. Then it took to picking up bits of herring for itself if they were put in its water dish ; any bits left on dry land were utterly ignored, and grew quite plump. It was taken by a friend and turned out on the coast at * The same thing occurred in thfe case of a young Swallow I reared by hand this summer. — ED. 68 The Crowned Cranes at Logan. Beaulieu, where I hope it will do well and fall in with others of its species. The Eagle and Marbled Owls went to nest as usual, but their eggs were all infertile. My Rainbow Buntings are now (Oct. 28th) in heavy moult but perfectly well. They are very beautiful birds and easily managed but not particularly interesting ; they usually skulk in the thickest cover the aviary affords them, where they are practically invisible, and they never utter a sound or pay the slightest attention to any¬ thing except mealworms. They are perfectly peaceable and inoffen¬ sive, that is to say my pair is, I have no experience of any others. THE CROWNED CRANES AT LOGAN. By M. Portal. The pair of Crowned Cranes at Logan, which are not pinioned, bred again this year for the fourth time, nesting close to the site of former nests, but again the two young birds died after a short time. As this year there was no rain to affect them, it is most disappointing. The female laid two more eggs, and these have been placed under a hen and are not yet incubated. Their prospect of growing up is I fear remote, even if they hatch, as all food will have to be artificial and the weather cold, besides the fact that the hen will have some trouble to cover them after a few days. If Mr. McDouall had a small greenhouse available I should have been inclined to heat it slightly and let hen and young have it to run in and out of, and wire off a portion outside. One fears otherwise that wet wTeather and a chill will see the death of these birds. The food they pick up in the summer must be deficient of what the young need, and the only solution might be to enclose the nesting site and a couple of acres with netting and feed artificially from the start and not trust to nature any more. Some Notes on the Eggs of the Sudan Crowned Crane. 69 SOME NOTES ON THE EGGS OF THE SUDAN CROWNED CRANE. Balearica pavonina ceciliae. By Michael J. Nicoll. In the Autumn of 1910 a pair of Sudan Crowned Cranes made a nest in the Giza Zoological Gardens in which two eggs were deposited. As the birds seemed anxious to incubate, the eggs were not critically examined and measured although both Captain Flower and Mr. A. L. Butler noticed that they were strikingly different from the eggs of both the Grey and Demoiselle Cranes. At about the time when these eggs should have hatched both of them disappeared being probably taken by crows or rats. This year, however, a pair of Crowned Cranes have again nested and one egg was laid in the nest on 22 September and the next day another was found some little distance away in the long grass. As the birds showed no inclination to sit I put both eggs into an incubator. They proved to be unfertile. As the eggs of Balearica pavonina ceciliae have so far as we can ascertain never been described I take the opportunity of publish- ish these notes. The most remarkable feature about these eggs is that instead of being blotched with reddish-brown as are the eggs of the Grey Crane Grus grus and the Demoiselle Crane G. virgo they are white very faintly washed with greenish-blue. One, the larger, has a hard chalky coating so hard that it can only be removed with a sharp knife. Their measurements are as follows : — a. The egg taken from the nest Total length . 73 mm. Total breadth . 53 ,, b. The egg found aioay from the nest Total length . 75 mm. Total breadth . 55 ,, The great difference between the colour of the eggs of this Crowned Crane and those of the Grey Crane is most interesting, though it should be remembered that while the former is a resident in the Sudan the latter is a migrant and that both the general appearance and the habits of the two species are widely different. 70 Mr. Hubert D. Astley, SOME NOTEWORTHY EXHIBITS AT THE INTERNATIONAL CAGE BIRD SHOW. In spite of the distraction caused by the War, a really wonderfully fine lot of birds were brought together at the Horticultural Hall, Westminster, on the 26th November : Mr. A. Ezra’s exhibition of twTo Humming Birds causing a sensation, and verifying my prophecy made some time ago that such a thing would be possible. Moreover, except for the fact that the glass fronts to their cages had an outer protection of white-painted wire bars, which perhaps might have been removed since they obscured the view of the birds within, the manner in which the two cages had been prepared showed what intense care and forethought had been bestowed. The floors were covered with moss, whilst in each was arranged a group of Orchids, in front of which the Humming Birds occasionally hovered with rapidly-vibrating wings. A thermometer fastened to the hack inside showed the tem¬ perature varying from 75° to 80°, this heat being maintained by means of night-lights placed in a special receptacle beneath the trays. Mr. Ezra finds that these wonderful little birds should not be kept in warmth under 70° and preferably over. Their liquid food is the same as given to Sunbirds : but they take it on the wing, hovering. Both of the Humming Birds received an equal first prize, the diploma and silver medal being awarded to the Sporctdinus mcordi, a tiny insect-like looking Humming Bird of glittering emerald green, about which I have already written in our Magazine, with the hopes that later on we shall be able to publish a coloured illustration of this wonderful creature. The Garnet-throated Humming Bird (. Eulcimpis jugularis) seated on a hare twig projecting from among the orchids, sombre in colour until one caught the flash of intense garnet on his throat and breast, was also certainly worth going a long way to see. Mr. Ezra is to be congratulated upon his success. One is sure that such treasures mean constant care and trouble. Besides these two, he exhibited a dainty little white-eyebrowed Blue and White Fly¬ catcher, (Himalayan), a magnificent Malachite Sunbird, and the The International Cage Bird Show. 71 rarer greater double-collared Sunbird as well as a fine specimen of the Lesser Double-collared. Mr. Ezra’s lovely Minla, small Minivet, and Rufous-bellied Niltava, although these birds have appeared on the show-bench before, were none the less worth seeing. Lady Kathleen Pilkington sent a beautiful pair of Black- chinned Yuhinas, charming little Himalayan birds with perky crests, and also a lovely Blue-headed Tanager, strangely resembling the Rufous-bellied Niltava in colouring, though rather smaller in size. Mr. C. T. Maxwell showed a Red Sunbird (yellow rumped) in fine colour and condition, worthy of premier honours, but unfortun¬ ately having to compete against the Humming Birds, as well as the rarer Greater Double-collared Sunbird. Mrs. Algernon Bourke’s pair of Purple Sugar Birds was very good too. Miss M- Bousfield’s Festive Tanager and Mr. 0. J. Stone’s Necklace Tanager were both good birds, losing nothing in beauty by reason of their having been seen before. In the class for Starlings, Jays, etc., Mr. A. Silver exhibited a gorgeous pair of Purple-headed Glossy Starlings, which took first prize to Mr. J. Frostick’s Blue and Black Yucatan Jay, which received second. In this class there were exhibits of Chinese Rosy Starlings, Mrs. Thynne being awarded the premier honours of that group (3rd prize), her bird being decidedly a finer specimen and cleaner too perhaps than the others, which were two pairs. But all these birds deserved some attention, although as is often the case, all could not equally receive it. To notice other exhibits in detail, there is neither space nor time, birds such as Mr. A. Ezra’s King Paradise Bird, Mr. W. A. Shepherd’s American Blue Bird (an old favourite, now scarely ever seen) Dr. L. Lovell-Iveay’s pair of Hooded Siskins (incorrectly described as Columbian), Mr. VY. Frost’s Peter’s Spotted Fire Finch, Dr. Lovell-Keay’s Rainbow Bunting, and also Mr. C. T. Maxwell’s, etc., etc., besides many Grassfinches and Waxbills, familiar to aviculturists, but always charming Perhaps we should also specially notice Mr. A. Ezra’s pair of Himalayan Orange-headed Bullfinches, which won well, as they deserved to, since it was the first appearance of this species on the show bench. Amongst the British Birds there were many worth looking 72 Mr. D. Seth Smith, at and possessing, but there was no time to study them closely, and therefore I hope our members will not think so scanty a comment means a lack of appreciation, for in many points our native birds are hard to rival. HUBERT D. Astley. PARROTS AT THE HORTICULTURAL HALL. The London Cage Bird Association and the Foreign Bird Exhibitors’ League are much to be congratulated on their deter¬ mination to carry out their programme of holding their show, in spite of the general depression caused by the war, and the splendid way in which they were supported by aviculturists proves how much their confidence was justified. Our Editor has asked me to write a few notes on the Parrots exhibited. The class for Cockatoos and Macaws contained eight en¬ tries. The most interesting exhibit being one of the small Macaws, I think A. hahni, but these small Macaws, all of which are rare in captivity are not easy to remember off hand. This bird, which was shown by Miss Alfreda B. Smyth, took the first prize ; a Bare-eye coming second, and a very perfect Sulphur-crest third. The next class was for Greys AND AMAZONS ; the first prize going to a very nice Green-cheeked Amazon shown by Miss J. A. E. Smyth ; the second to Mr. Frostick for a very fine Double-fronted Amazon ; third and fourth to Mr. Allen Silver’s Salvin’s and Mealy Amazons respectively. Some good Blue-fronts and moderately good Greys made up a class of no less than seventeen entries. The third parrot class was for Lovebirds, PASSERINE, and BROTOGERYS PARRAKEETS, and contained fifteen entries. Miss Alfreda B. Smyth took the first prize with a very perfect pair of Rosy-faced Lovebirds, well shown in a nice roomy cage. A pair of Orange-flanked Parrakeets, sent by Dr. Lovell-Keays, took second prize, the third going' to Mr. C. T. Maxwell for a pair of Red-faced Lovebirds. Mr. Silver took fourth prize with a very nice pair of Passerines, and the same exhibitor took fifth with a pair of Mada¬ gascar Lovebirds. st entry in this class was a couple of exceptionally fine Parrots at the Horticultural Hall. 73 Red-faced Lovebirds, but unfortunately they were both cocks, so had to be passed. The All OTHER SPECIES class as usual contained some of the most interesting of the parrots, other than parrakeets, shown. The Rev. G. H. Ra-yner took the first prize with a very fine pair of Meyer’s Parrakeets, both of which showed a considerable amount of yellow on the head. Mr. Maxwell’s Black-headed Caique, a very fine specimen, came second ; and another pair of Meyer’s, shown by Miss Alfreda Smyth, third. These latter were not nearly so steady as Mr. Rayner’s pair, but it was interesting to compare them with his. Neither showed any trace of yellow on the head, which probably showed that they belonged to a distinct race. There are quite a number of local races of Meyer’s Parrots which differ in the amount of yellow on the head and wings ; this character, I believe, having nothing to do with sex and little to do with age- The rarest bird in this class was a Short-Tailed Parrot (5th prize) shown by Mrs. B. J. Moore, but it was not in show condition and had an overgrown upper mandible. Other good birds shown included Senegal Parrots, Eclectus and Red-vented Parrots. The class for Parrakeets of the Ring-necked group, Rosel- LAS, Redrumps, Cockatiels and CONURES, contained sixteen entries : the first prize going to a very perfect Malabar Parrakeet shown by Dr. Lovell-Iveays. This is a seldom imported species and a very beautiful one. The second prize went to a very fine Red- rump belonging to Miss Lydia Clare ; the third to a very nice Blossom-head shown by Mr. Frost. Mr. Silver sent an unusually fine Rosella, Mr. Erostick a very tame little Conure, which was probably G. aztec, but off hand it is difficult to identify some of these small Conures. The class for LORIES, LORIKEETS and HANGING PARROTS contained seven entries, the first prize going to Mr. C. T. Maxwell for a specimen of the very rare Red-fronted Lory, the first I re¬ member to have seen at a show. Mrs. B. J. Moore took the second prize with a nice Ceylonese Hanging Parrot ; the third to a very fine pair of Ceram Lories shown by Mr. W. S. Smith ; the fourth to Mi- Maxwell’s fine pair of Red-collared Lorikeets. Next came the class for Broadtails not previously men- 74 Dr. E. Hopkinson. tionecl. It only contained four entries : Mrs. McLean Morrison taking first prize with a good pair of Mealy Bosellas. Mr. Frostick second with a nice King Parrakeet ; Mr. Frost third with a Barnard, and Mr. A. J. Shipton fourth with a Yellow*-collared Parrakeet. Only two entries were forthcoming' for the last class, which was for the rarer Grass Parrakeets, Polytelis, and so forth. They were both valuable exhibits, a pair of Queen Alexandra’s Parrakeets sent by Miss Lydia Clare and a Bourke’s Parrakeet by Miss Alfreda Smyth. They took first and second prizes respectively. D. Seth-Smith. ENGLISH NAMES FOR THE PARROTS. By Dr. E. HOPKINSON. (■ Continued from page 47.) CONURE, any member of the genus Conuvus and its allies, Cyaolyseus, Pyrrhura, etc., all American. The following are English names which have been given to different species : AZTEC CONURE. Black-Faced Conure, see NANDAY. Black-Headed Conure. BLUE-CROWNED C. Blue-Naped Conure. Blue-Vented C. BLUE- WINGED C. Brown-Cheeked C. BROWN-EARED C. BROWN-THROATED C. CACTUS C. CAROLINA C. CHILIAN C. CUBAN C. DWARF C. Emerald C. GOLDEN C. GOLDEN-CROWNED C, GREEN C. Jendaya C. Lineolated Conure, a Bolborhynchus , not a true Conure. LUCIAN’S CONURE. MEXICAN C. English Names for the Parrots. 75 MOLINA’S C. N AND AY C. PATAGONIAN CONURE. GREATER PATAGONIAN C. LESSER PATAGONIAN C. Pearl C. PEARLY C. Pekin C., an obvious misprint for PETZ’ C. PETZ’ C. Red-Bellied Conure, used for both the RED-EARED and BROWN¬ EARED CONURES. Red-Collared Conure. RED-EARED C., applied to two species, Pyrrhura cruentata and haematotis. Red-Fronted C. Red-Headed C., usually = the RED-MASKED C., but sometimes used for PETZ’ Conure. RED-MASKED C. RED-THROATED C. ROCK C. ST. THOMAS’ C. SHARP-TAILED C. SUNHEAD C. WAGLER’S C. WEDDELL'S C. WHITE-EARED C. YELLOW C. Yellow-Breasted Conure. Yellow-Cheeked Conure. YELLOW-HEADED C. *Cook’s Cockatoo, a name of Latham’s for one of the BLACK COCKATOOS, or rather for two of them, as it is now considered to have referred to both the BANKSIAN BLACK and to LEACH'S COCKATOO (C. banksi and viridis). CORAL-BILLED PARROT. =Pionus corallinus. CORNELIA’S ECLECTUS. “ Corella,” common dealers’ name for the SLENDER-BILLED COCKA¬ TOO. Occasionally (but wrongly) applied to the BARE-EYED C. Variants : Corella Cockatoo, Corilla, Corilla Cockatoo. “ Corilla,” see Corella. *Coriphilus, Kuhl’s, see under KUHL’S LORY. * Counterfeit Parrot, see under AMAZON, BLUE-FRONTED. *Cowled Parrot, see HOODED PARROT. 76 Dr. E. Hopkinson, Coxen’s Fig-Parrakeet, the BLUE-FACED LORILET. ^Crackers, the. Obsolete name for the Parrots (Psittaciformes). *Creature, Blue-Headed, see under BLUE-HEADED. *Creature, Yellow-Headed, see under AMAZON, YELLOW-SHOULDER. ^Crested Cockatoo, Latham’s name for the GREATER SULPHUR- CRESTED C. Crested Ground-Parrakeet, see COCKATIEL. Crested Hawk-Parrot, the HAWK-HEADED PARROT. Crested Parrakeet, see COCKATIEL. *Crimson and Blue-Collared Parrot, see HAWK-HEADED P. Crimson-Bellied Parrakeet, a name for the BLUE-BONNET P. ^Crimson-Fronted Parrakeet, see MUSKY LORIKEET. Crimson Lory, (i) Latham’s name for the CERAM ECLECTUS. (2) An occasional name for the CHATTERING LORY. “ Crimson-Rumped Lorikeet,” an occasional dealers’ name for the VERNAL HANGING PARRAKEET. “ Crimson-Wing,” popular abbreviation of CRIMSON-WINGED PARRA¬ KEET. Crimson-Winged Lory, a name used by Gould for a variety of the CRIMSON-WINGED PARRAKEET. CRIMSON-WINGED PARRAKEET. = Ptistes erythropterus, the Crimson- Winged Parrot of Latham. “ Red-Winged Lory,” Australian vernacular. Also popularly known as the Blood-Winged and Red- Winged Parrakeet, and the abbreviations, “ Bloodwing,” " Crim¬ son-Wing.” The Crimson-Winged P. of Gould was his Pt. coccine- opterus, now included in erythropterus. Crimson-Winged Parrot, see above. ^Crowded Parrot, a name used by Latham, probably for the HOODED PARROT. ’"Crowned Cockatoo, see HAWK-HEADED PARROT. Cuba Amazon, see WHITE-FRONTED A., under AMAZON. Cuba Parrot, ditto. CUBAN CONURE. = Conurus euops. The *Guiane Green Parrakeet and *Long-Tailed Green Parrakeet of Latham. *Curassow-Parrakeet, see CACTUS CONURE. “ Cutthroat Parrakeet,” one of the dealers’ names for BARRABAND’S PARRAKEET. *Damask Parrot, see LEVAILLANT’S PARROT. Dampier Cockatoo, the WESTERN SLENDER-BILLED COCKATOO.- Dasyptilus, see PESQUET’S PARROT. DERBYAN PARRAKEET . — Palaeornis derbyana. DIADEMED AMAZON, see under AMAZON. Domingo Amazon, St., see under AMAZON, SALLE’S. DOUBLE-FRONTED AMAZON, see under AMAZON. English Names for the parrots. 77 *Double Inseparable, old popular name for the ROSY-FACED LOVE¬ BIRD. *Double-Ringed Parrakeet, see MAURITIUS RINGNECKED P. DUCORPS’ COCKATOO. — Cacatua ducorpsi, of the Solomon Islands. DUFRESNE’S AMAZON, see under Amazon. “ Dulang,” an Australian native name for PENNANT’S PARRAKEET. “ Dumdum,” the native name in Senegal for the SENEGAL PARROT. DUSKY PARROT, (i) =Pionus sordidus, the name first used for this species by Edwards and Latham ; it is also sometimes known as the Sordid Parrot ; (2) P. fuscus, the LITTLE DUSKY PARROT (Edwards, Latham) also often bears this name, and also shares the popular name “ Violet Parrot ” with its near ally, P. chalcopterus, the BRONZE¬ WINGED PARROT. Dwarf-Cockatoo, see PIGMY PARROT. DWARF CONURE, Conurus nanus, of Jamaica ; *Brown-Throated Parrakeet, Var. (Latham) ; * Yellow-Bellied Paroquet (Gosse). Dwarf Parrakeet, an occasional book name for any of the “ American Lovebirds ” or Parrotlets (Psittacula) . Eastern Blossom-Headed Paroquet, see under BLOSSOM-HEADED P„ BURMESE. *Eastern Parrot, a name of Latham’s which probably referred to the male WESTERMANN’S ECLECTUS. ECLECTUS, strictly a member of the genus Eclectus, but also commonly applied to many of the Tanygnathi. English names are : BLUE-CROWNED ECLECTUS (q.v.) Tanygnathus luzoniensis. CERAM ECLECTUS, q.v. CORNELIA’S ECLECTUS. =E. corneliae. Gilolo Eclectus, an occasional name for the GRAND E. GRAND ECLECTUS, E. roratus, the Grand Lory of Latham, and probably his Violet Lory, and *Gueby Parrot, Var. A. Other names used are Halmahera Eclectus or Parrot, Gilolo Eclectus or Parrot, while the popular dealers’ name, " Eclectus Lory,” usually means this species, though it may be applied to any Eclectus. GREAT-BILLED ECLECTUS, Tanygnathus megalorhynchus, the Great-Billed Parrot and *Grisled Parrot of Latham. Other book names are : Great-Billed Parrakeet, *Grizzled Parrot, and *Black-Shouldered Parrot, the two latter practically obsolete. “ Green Eclectus,” the popular name for the male RED-SIDED ECLECTUS. Halmahera Eclectus, see GRAND E., above. Linnaean E., see RED-SIDED E. MULLER’S ECLECTUS. = Tanygnathus muelleri, of the Celebes. Other names, Muller’s Great-Billed Parrakeet, Muller’s 78 English Names for the Parrots. Parrakeet, Muller’s Parrot, White-Billed Parrot. “ Cacatu idui,” native name. New Guinea Eclectus, a dealers’ name for the RED-SIDED ECLECTUS. RED-SIDED ECLECTUS. =E. pectoralis, strictly applicable to the male only, while the name Linnaean Eclectus (with the variant, Linnaean Lory) belongs to the other sex. The male also bears (or has borne) the following other names : *Green and Red Chinese Parrot, *New Guinea Green Parrot (Latham), *Green and Red Parrot from China (Edwards), Red-Sided Parrot, Red-Sided Green Lory, Green Eclectus, the last a common popular name. Other names in frequent use are New Guinea Parrot, New Guinea Eclectus. “ Abacay,” “ Calangay,” “ Kalangi,” are native names. RIEDEL’S ECLECTUS, E. riedeli. WESTERMANN’S ECLECTUS. = E. westermanni, the male of which was probably that meant by Latham’s Eastern Parrot. “ Eclectus Lory,” a dealers’ name for any true Eclectus ; most com¬ monly used for the RED-SIDED. ELEGANT GRASS-PA RRAKEET (Gould). —Neophema elegans. "Ele¬ gant Parrakeet,” occasionally “ Elegant Turquoisine ” of English dealers ; “ Grass-Parrakeet,” “ Ground-Parrakeet,” Australian vernacular. " Elegant Parrakeet,” a popular name for the above, and also often used for its ally, the BLUE-BANDED GRASS-PARRAKEET as well. “ Elegant Turquoisine,” see ELEGANT GRASS-PARRAKEET. Emerald Conure, a name for the CHTLTAN CONURE, from Latham’s name, Emerald Parrot. Emerald Parrot, see above. ESSLING’S PARROT, PRINCE OF, Nestor esslingi, a rare species of KAKA. ^Ethiopian Parrot, an obsolete book name for the RED-FACED LOVE¬ BIRD. Everett’s Parrot, Tanygnathus everetti, allied to MULLER’S " ECLEC¬ TUS.” * Falcon-Breasted Parrakeet, see BARNARD’S P. FESTIVE AMAZON, see under AMAZON. Festive Parrot. Fig-Parrakeet, see LORILET. Coxen’s Fig-Parrakeet, another name for the BLUE-FACED LORILET. Sir Wm. Macleay’s Fig-P., the RED-FACED LORILET. To be continued). Obituary. 79 OBITUARY. We regret to announce the death, on the 12th of November, of Sir WALTER Gilbey at Elsenham Hall, who had been a member of the Avicultural Society since 1907. Well known as a great lover of horses, he was also fond of birds, of which he had some rare species. He found time to be a connoisseur of art, of old furniture, silver, and china. To the last he was slight and straight. He was wont to dress in the style of a country squire of the early nineteenth century. He was eighty-three when he passed away. Several of Sir Walter’s rare birds were received at the London Zoological Gardens a few weeks before his death, including a Hunstein’s Paradise Bird. CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC. THE NOCTURNAL FROLICS OF STORMY PETRELS AND MANX SHEARWATERS. The Editor finds a letter in his editorial drawer written by a lady to him on the 28th of May, in which she gives an interesting account of how she and four companions camped out on an island off one of the coasts of England. She wrote : “ We camped out one night just to see what the birds were up to. We reached the island about 5 p.m. and pitched our tents. Soon after dark the Stormy Petrels began to come out, and by 10 p.m. thousands of them were flying about in all directions. They were rather like great moths. One hit one of the party on the head. They flew quite close to us, coming in and out from under the stones and making a jolly sort of buzzy noise. Very soon after the Stormy Petrels began to fly about, out came the Shearwaters. Thousands of them ! They make a weird harsh cry as they fly around, and they keep it up till the first sign of dawn ; then all is quiet- We turned into our tents at about 10.30 p.m., but it was impossible to sleep ; the Shearwaters were much too noisy and they kept flopping up against our tents and scrambling up and down them, but we did not go to the Island for a good night’s rest ! Two of us turned out at 3.30 a.m. and walked to the head of the island. It loas lovely, with just the first signs of dawn, and the sun rose at 4.30, such a glorious cloudless morning. We would have stayed another night if it had not been for the very heavy dews, which came through our tents and dripped down on us. There was a large puddle on each side, and one would have thought it had been pouring with rain. 80 Correspondence. FOOD FOR TANAGERS IN CAPTIVITY. SIR, — Do you think you could ask some one who has had successful experiences in keeping Tanagers to write on the subject ? I have always found these birds a difficulty somehow, but on the other hand I have been successful in keeping two or three in quite an unorthodox way. For instance, a pair of Crimson Crowned Tanagers in a large aviary with a mixed lot of Finches, Cowbirds, Buntings (Hair-crested), Cornbirds, etc. These Tanagers used to have sop, fruit, and insectivorous food, but when placed in their present quarters they took to seed and now eat little else ; certainly no sop or insectivorous food, although no doubt they find a few insects. They seem to thrive on seed diet, looking better than when fed in the usually accepted way for this family. I am yours, etc., E. J. BROOK. **#•*• * Dr. Butler kindly writes as follows, in answer to Mr. Brook’s request : — ON FEEDING TANAGERS. I feel somewhat diffident in replying to so experienced an aviculturist as Mr. Brook, because I have only kept fourteen examples and five species, but as our Editor has asked me to do so I will give my experience for what it is worth. Undoubtedly those species which approach the typical finches most nearly (and which may perhaps belong to the Fringillidce ) do extremely well upon a seed diet. The species of Saltator eat seed freely and doubtless could do without soft food. I should not, however, expect to keep Euplionia, Calliste, Tanagra or Rliamphocoelus upon a seed-diet.* My second example of Tanagra ornata died during its autumn moult this year ; it was one of a pair (or two) sent to me by our editor in the winter of 1903-4, and therefore had been in my possession nearly eleven years. My two male Scarlet Tanagers were purchased in the summer of 1897 and both are still in good health after nearly seventeen and a half years. Of course Rliamphocoelus brazilius is one of the most easily kept of the Tanagers, but I think mine is a record even for that species. The food which I give consists of “ Cekto ” mixed with an equal quantity of powdered chicken-meal, two hard-boiled eggs passed through a potato-masher and double the quantity of breadcrumbs ; banana, ripe pear or orange and grapes when obtainable ; insects or their grubs occasionally, and spiders. Upon this diet my Tanagers have done well and it is only during the moulting-season that they give the least cause for anxiety. A. G. BUTLER. Mrs. Reid writes that a pair of Brazilian Hangnests ( Icterus ) have eggs in her aviary at Funchal, Madeira, and that the birds seem to be taking matters seriously. * For the benefit of members to whom these names are an unknown tongue, we may mention that Euphonia is represented by the Violet Tanager : Calliste , by the Superb, etc. : and Rhamphoccelus , by the Scarlet Tanager. Dr. Butler gives a description of their food, etc., in his book “ Foreign Finches in Captivity.’' — Ed. Noticks to Mkmbkrs —(Continued from page n. of cover.) NEW MEMBER. Mr. John Wilkinson, Tlie Grange, Kirkandbright, N.B. CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION. Mr. R. Marww, 115, Manchester Road, Denton, Lancs, Proposed by Dr. A. G. BuTLER. ILLUSTRATION FUND. Dr. L. Lovell-Keays .. Capt. Bernard E. Potter Mr. F. Moerscliell .. Mr. Ernest Valentine Mrs. Reid .. Mr. H. L. Sich Mr. W. H. Browning Mr. H. D. Astley (Ed.) Mr. A. Ezra Mr. W. B. Gibbins .. (2nd instalment ) £ s. d. 0 10 6 0 II 0 0 4 0 0 10 0 2 0 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 0 10 0 N.B. —The Society is most grateful for the above donations, more especially coming as they do at a time when money is much needed in con¬ nection with the war. We hope other members will kindly follow the example set, it only in sending in quite small sums, or else the illustra¬ tions, the production of which is costly, will have to be very considerably curtailed.— Ed. MEMBERS’ PRIVATE SALE AND EXCHANGE COLUMN. The charge for pr ivate advertisements is sixpence for eighteen words or LESS, and one penny for every additional three words or less. Trade advertisements are not allowed in this column. Dealers who are members , wishing to advet tise, should apply to the Publisher for terms. Advertisements must reach the Editor on or before the 26th of the month. The Council reserve the right op refusing any advertisement they may consider undesirable. WANTS. The charge for members' advertisements under this heading is four PENCE FOR TWELVE WORDS or under, and one penny for every additional three words or less. Wanted.— Onz Mandarin drake, one Garganey Teal drake, one Japanese Teal duck. State price to ALBERT Pam, Wormleybury, Broxbourne. WEST, NEWMAN & GO., LITHOGRAPHIC, CH ROMO- LITHOGRAPHIC, AND LETTERPRESS. PRINTERS, 54, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, E.C. PRINTERS and PUBLISHERS of Natural History Books and General Printers. Lithographers for various Government and other Museums, and for learned Societies in London, India, South Africa, &c. Original drawings are accurately reproduced by Lithography or Photo-Lithography, either in colours or monotone, or by line and half-tone blocks. Coloured plates of Birds, Insects and Animals a speciality. TROWER & CO., WHOLESALE SEED MERCHANTS and BIRD FOOD SPECIALISTS, 436,438 & 442, CALEDONIAN ROAD, LONDON, _ _ _ _ _ N . EXTRA LARGE SPANISH CANARY SEED. CHOICE GERMAN SUMMER RAPE SEED Finest Selected Seeds for all kinds of Cage or Aviary Birds British, Foreign, and Canaries, As supplied by us to the leading Fanciers and Exhibitors at the Crystal Palace and other Shows. PRICE LIST. SAMPLES FREE. “ CECTO/' the best Insectivorous Food on the Market, \ /« per lb Hnann postpaid 1/3- Giound Silk Worm Pupae, Mealworms, Auts’ Eggs, Dried Flies, etc “EGBISCO,” the finest Egg and Biscuit Food yet made. 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/- Tins CONTENTS. AVICULTURAL MAGAZ I N E . The Kose-Breasted Grosbeak (with Coloured Plate), by HUBERT D. ASTLEY ... 81 Aviary Notes in 1914, by BEENAED C. THOMASSET ... ... ... 84 Eeason in Birds, by Abthub G. Butlee, Ph.D. ... ... ... 86 Birds of Paradise on Little Tobago (West Indies), per 0. MlLLSUM ... 88 Our Pilfering, Chatterbox Friend, the Magpie, by FELIX J. KOCH ... 92 English Names for the Parrots, by Dr. E. HOPKINSON ... ... 95 Obituary : The Hoable. VERE DOUGLAS BOSCA WEN ... . 102 Correspondence : — The Kingfisher ... ... ... ... ... ... 103 Third Series. Vol. VI. No. 3. The price of this Number is 1/3- JANUARY, —1915.— NOTE — A new volume commences every November All Subscriptions should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. WEST. NEWMAN &, Co.. 54, Hatton Garden. E.C. AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Persons wishing to join the AviCUl/rURAL Society are requested to communicate with either of the Hon. Secretaries or the Editor. The Magazine can also be had from the Publishers by NON-MEMBERS at a Subscription of 15/- per annum. 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BOUND COPIES OE THE “AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE.” The following can be obtained from the Publishers at the prices given below. Postage 6d. per volume extra. Vol. II., 6/- to members ; 8/6 to the public. Vols, V. to VII., 10/6 each to members ; 12/6 each to the public. Vol. VIII., 14/- to members ; 17/6 to the public. New Series — Vols. I. to IV., (sets only) net to members ; ^5 to the public. ,, Vols. II. to VII., 16/- each to members; 21/- ,, ,, Third Series — Vol. I. to V., 16/- ,, 21/- „ ,, Current Monthly Numbers 1/3 each (except in special cases, such as the Number containing the List of Members, Index, etc., when the Com¬ mittee may increase the price), by post 1/4 ; for back numbers a higher price is charged according to circumstances. Vols. I., III. & IV., are out of print. Second-hand copies sometimes reach the Publishers, to whom application should be made. Btrfc^Xore. A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Edited by Frank M. Chapman. EACH VOLUME CONTAINS— About 400 pages, with 12 full-page colored plates of our own birds, and many photographs from nature. Descriptions of experiences with living birds in their haunts, and help¬ ful articles on how to study birds. Migration tables, showing when birds maybe expected at many places throughout the country. A list of prominent ornithologists who will help you in your study of birds. Bird Censuses by numerous observers. Reviews of books and of magazine articles relating to birds. Editorials on current questions in bird study. A School Department. An Audubon Society Department. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION .. 5/- D. APPLETON & Co., 25 Bkdford Strkkt, Covrnt Gardkn, London. Pp. 142, Ci.oth, Dkmy Svo., Pricec 5/- net; Postage: 4d. PRACTICAL - - BIRD-KEEPING. BEING REPRINTS FROM “THE AYICU LTURAL MAGAZINE,” 1911-12. EDITED BY J L. BONHOTE, M.A., E.L.S., F.Z.S. A Manual intended as a practical help to those who find both pleasure and profit from the keeping of wild birds in confinement. Contributed to by specialists in each class of birds described. With One Coloured Plate and Sixteen Uncoloured. London: WEST, NEWMAN dc Co., 54 Hatton Garden, E.C. CROSS’S MENAGERIE, LIVERPOOL. PET ANIMALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. i Ludio Monkey ; r Diana Monkey ; i Patas Monkey; i Chimpanzee; i Red Baboon ; 25 Dogface Balloons; 3 Capuchin Monkeys; 1 .Sacred Baboon ; 2 Mandrills; 10 Rhesus Monkeys; 2 Black and White Lemurs; 6 Biown Lemurs ; 1 Grey Lemur ; 2 Agoutis ; 1 Coati-Mundi ; 2 Australian Rat Kangaroos ; 12 Wallabies ; 20 Red Squirrels ; 1 African Civet ; 2 Leopards ; 2 Lions ; 1 pair and young Llama at foot ; 5 Indian Buffaloes ; 1 Spanish Jack Donkey ; 1 Hog Deer; 1 Blackbuck ; 5 Bears ; 2 Dingos ; I Wolf ; 6 K111 ns; 4 Rheas ; 4 Cereopsis Geese ; 3 Blackneck Swans ; 2 Canada Geese ; to Hgyptian Nile Geese ; 2 Snow Geese ; 2 Barhead Geese ; 2 Crown Cranes; 2 Sarus Cianes ; 6 Demoiselle Cranes; 1 Iceland Falcon ; 6 little Owls; 1 Burrowing Owl ; r horned Indian Fish Owl; r Redbill Tree Duck; 20 Sheldrakes ; 100 other ornamental Waterfowl ; 1 marvellous talking Grey Parrot ; r talking Amazon Parrot ; 1 talking Yellow-billed Pionus ; 2 Red and Blue Macaws ; 2 Cuban Connies ; too Lavenderhead Lovebiids ; 3 Redfaced Lovebirds ; 10 Cockateils ; 2 Adelaides Broadtails ; I Bauer’s Parrakeet; 2 Gobi-fronted Connies; 6 Canarywing Connies; i pair Kittle Macaws; 4 Lemon-crest Cockatoos; 2 Bare-eved Cockatoos; 3 Red- collared Lorikeets; 1 Alexandrine Parrakeet; 2 Blue Red-legged Cuban Thrushes ; 1 Mexican Sorry Thrush ; White Java Sparrows ; Grey Java Sparrows ; Zebra Finches, etc. ; Zebra Doves ; African Turtle Doves ; F'antail Pigeons; Tumblers; Nuns; Ornamental Peafowl; Pheasants; Quail ; Crocodiles ; Alligators ; Lizards, etc. Wanted to Purchase, SURPLUS ACCLIMATISED SPECIMENS, BIRDS, REPTILES, OR ANIMALS “CROSS,” Otterspool House, Aigburth, Liverpool. Cables and Telegrams : “ Cross, Liverpool.” National ’Phone ; 260 Lark Lane, Liverpool. THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Upper Figure, Male; Lower Figure, Female) Order— Passeres Family— Fringillid-e Genus — Zamelodia Species — Ludoviciana National Association of Audubon Societies THE 81 Aviceltural Magazine, BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Third Series. — Vol. VI. — No. 3. — All rights reserved. JANUARY, 1915. THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. ( Hechjmeles ludovicianus) . By Hubert D. Astley. An account of mine was published in the Magazine in Sept¬ ember, 1911, Vol. II., 3rd Series, pp. 333, etc., of a pair of these Grosbeaks which nested in my bird-room, but as this species has not been illustrated I am taking advantage of the courtesy of the Editor of Bird Lore to have a coloured plate reproduced and to write a little more about one of the handsomest of the Grosbeak family. Indeed, the male can hold bis own amongst a collection of many species when in his breeding plumage, with his mixture of black, white, and crimson. The great ornithologist, Audubon, has written of the Bose¬ breasted Grosbeak, as follows : — - “ One year, in the month of August, I was trudging along the “ shores of the Mohawk River, when night overtook me. Being “little acquainted with that part of the country, I resolved to camp “ where I was, the evening was calm and beautiful, the sky sparkled “with stars, which were reflected by the smooth waters, and the “ deep shade of the rocks and trees of the opposite shore fell on the “bosom of the stream, while gently from afar came on the ear the “ muttering sound of the cataract.” “ My little fire was soon lighted under a rock, and spreading “out my scanty stock of provisions, I reclined on my grassy couch ... I closed my eyes and was passing away into the world “ of dreaming existence, when suddenly there burst on my soul the 82 Mr. Hubert D. Astley, “ serenade of the Rose-breasted bird; so rich, so mellow, so loud in “ the stillness of the night, that sleep fled from my eyelids. Never “ did I enjoy music more : it thrilled through my heart, and sur- “ rounded me with an atmosphere of bliss.” “ I have frequently observed this beautiful species early in “the month of March, in the lower parts of Louisiana, making its “ way eastward ; and when residing at Henderson in Kentucky, and “ in Cincinnati in Ohio, I have noticed the same circumstance. At “ this early period it passes at a considerable height in the air, and “ now and then alights on the tops of the tallest trees of the forest, “as if to rest awhile. While on the wing, it utters a clear note, but “ when perched it remains silent, in an upright and rather stiff “attitude. It is then easily approached. I have followed its “migrations into Pennsylvania, New York, and other Eastern States, “through the British provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, “ as far as Newfoundland, where many breed, but I saw none in “ Labrador. It is never seen in the maritime parts of Georgia, or “ those of the Carolinas, but some have been procured in the moun- “ tainous portions of those States. I have found them rather plenti- “ ful in the early part of May, along the steep banks of the Schuylkil “ River, twenty or thirty miles from Philadelphia, and observed that “at that season they fed mostly on the buds of the trees, their “ tender blossoms, and upon insects which they catch on the wing, “ making short sallies for the purpose.” “ The most western place in which I found the nest of this “ species was within a few miles of Cincinnati on the Ohio. It was “placed in the upright forks of a low bush, and differed so much in “ its composition from those which I had seen in the Eastern States “ that it greatly resembled the nest of the Blue Grosbeak. The “ young, three in number, were ready to fly. The parents fed them “ on the soft grains of wheat, which they procured in a neighbouring “ field, and often searched for insects in the crannies of the bark of “ trees, on which they alighted sideways in the manner of sparrows. “ This was in the end of July. Generally, however, the nest of the “ Rose-breasted Grosbeak is placed on the top branches of an alder “ bush, near water, and usually on the borders of meadows or “ alluvial grounds.” on the Bose-brensted Grosbeak. 83 “It is composed of the dried twigs of trees, mixed with a few “ leaves and the bark of vines, and is lined with fibrous roots and “ horse-hair.” Audubon goes on to write — “ I am indebted to my friend, “ John Bachman for the following information respecting this inter- “ esting Grosbeak. One spring I shot at a beautiful male of this “species in the state of New York. [When will man learn to be more merciful. The United States of America are now reaping the fruits of many, many years of promisQuous and selfish slaughter, e.c/., The Passenger Pigeon. — Ed.] “ It was wounded, Bachman “ continued, in one foot only, and although I could not perceive any “ other injury afterwards, it fell from the tree to the ground, and “ before it recovered itself, I secured it. Not having a cage at hand, “ I let it fly in the room which I made my study, Before an hour “ elapsed, it appeared as if disposed to eat : it refused corn and “ wheat, but fed heartily on bread dipped in milk. The next day it “ was nearly quite gentle, and began to examine the foot injured by “ the shot, which was much swollen and quite black. It began to “ bite off its foot at the wounded part, and soon succeeded in cutting “ it right across. It healed in a few days, and the bird used the “ mutilated leg almost as well as the other, perching and resting “ upon it. I procured a cage for it, to which it immediately became “ reconciled. It ate all kinds of food, but preferred Indian corn and “ hempseed. It appeared fonder of insects than birds of that genus “ are supposed to be, and ate grasshoppers and crickets with peculiar “relish. ... It frequently escaped from its cage, but never “ exhibited the least desire to leave me, for it invariably returned to “ some portion of the house at the approach of night.” “ It’s song continued about six weeks during summer, and “about two in the autumn.” Mr. Frank M. Chapman in his book on the “ Birds of Eastern North America,” writes : — “ There is no mistaking the black, white and rose costume of “ the Red-breasted Grosbeak, but the identity of his more modestly “ attired mate may long remain an open question. So little does “ she resemble him, that she might pass for an over-grown Sparrow “ with a rather conspicuous white stripe over the eye.” 84 Mr. Bernard C. Thomasset, “ There is,” adds this author, “ an exquisite purity in the “ joyous carol of the Grosbeak ; his song tells of all the gladness of “a May morning; I have heard few happier strains of bird music.” Tins is the truth. The song of this bird somewhat resembles that of the English Blackbird ; the Ouzel with its orange bill ; but I think the key is higher and the tone sharper and more soprano. I do not mean to say it is superior, for to my mind the song of the Blackbird is as beautiful a song as can be heard, and none is more mellow, more sonorous. But that of the Bose-breasted Grosbeak is very joyous, very uplifting. When I first heard it last year coming from my aviaries, it was a still and sunny day in February, and the notes rang out clearly and sharply in the crisp air. Great favourites of mine are the Bose-breasted Grosbeaks, difficult to obtain now in England, since their exportation is forbidden, and wisely so, by the authorities in the United States. In the autumn the plumage of the male is dulled, the brilliant pointed patch of cardinal-rose on the upper breast fading almost away, and the sharply defined black with the white markings being suffused with brown, and broken. Tbe immature male resembles the adult female, except that her under wing-coverts are orange , his being rose-red. The eggs of this species .90 x .69, are from three to five in number, pale blue with numerous olive-brown or rufous-brown markings. AVIARY NOTES IN 1914. By Bernard C. Thomasset. My aviary was only built, or rather adapted, in 1913, for the shelter sheds were then pig-sties. It is of modest size and is in some ways only a make-shift structure. It consists of two shelters each 10ft. x 8ft. each with a flight. 12ft. x 8ft. It faces south, backing on to a large farm building. Unfortunately the shelters are rather low, only 8ft. high at the back and 6ft. at the eaves. Ashmansworth stands nearly 800 feet above the sea, on Aviary Notes in 1914. 85 the top of the Hampshire Downs and we are subject to furious gales and a good deal of cloud and mist, especially in winter. One would think it a trying climate for foreign birds, but on the whole breeding results have been good. A pair of Long-tailed Grassfinches purchased in the summer of 1913 have fully reared seventeen young ones in a year, in four broods. Gouldian Finches, a Red-faced cock and a Black-faced hen, have also done well. Turned out in the summer of 1913, they * remained in the aviary until the middle of last January. They were then brought into the house and spent the next four months in a large cage in a sitting room. There they moulted, and when turned out in May were in perfect plumage. They went to nest almost at once and reared six fine young birds ; this was followed by a second brood of five, and later by a third brood of two — all being reared. The cock bird is a model father and took entire charge of the young ones when they left the nest. While the young Goulds are in the nest, the parents consume quantities of seeding grass. The Long-tails, on the other hand, seem to rear their chicks entirely on dry seed. My Brush Bronzewing Pigeons have brought up three young ones. The hen is apt to drop her eggs from a perch or on the ground and quite a number have been thus spoilt. Diamond Doves have had continual nests but bad luck has pursued them. They were harried by the cock Bronzewing, and when at length a line pair of young ones left the nest, these were killed by that spiteful bird. Since they were removed to an adjoining compartment, they have reared one bird, and now have two more in the nest. Senegal Doves. This pair of birds is very timid and they desert nest after nest. They reared one young one until it could fly and then left it to starve. The only other pair of birds consists of two Green Singing Finches. They made no attempt at nesting. [±You. 1914.] 86 Di\ A. G. Butler, REASON IN BIRDS. By Arthur G. Butler, Pb.D. We who keep living birds notice many instances of their reasoning' powers, not only in their capacity for learning tricks for the gratification of their, owners ; or, in the case of talking birds, of recognizing infallibly every member of a household by his name ; but in the more natural power of adapting themselves to circumstances in the construction of their nests and in learning by observation the method by which the doors of their cages may be opened and acting upon the knowledge obtained to the annoyance of their owners. It used to be asserted that man differed from other members of the Animal Kingdom in his possession of reason, all others being guided by instinct ; but when one asks oneself what instinct is, one is forced to the conclusion that it is neither more nor less than inherited experience acquired through many generations of ancestors, who have had by reasoning and experiment to solve difficulties. As with the different races of mankind, birds are by no means equally gifted in their power of reasoning : consequently I suspect that there are many birds which could not be taught, like some of the small finches and parrots, to laboriously pull up their food and water in order to eat and drink. By the way, whenever I have seen an unfortunate Redpoll confined in a cage measuring perhaps 10 inches by 8 in floor-space and yet obliged to work for its living, it has always struck me as adding insult to injury. At the same time if birds were incapable of reasoning they would never be able to learn these futile tricks. Once more, if Parrots were unable to reason, they would never be able to comprehend the practical meaning of certain sentences, such as ‘ Give me a bit ” or “ Scratch her poll ” as they undoubtedly do ; and they would certainly make mistakes in addressing the members of a household, as they undoubtedly don’t. I am not at all certain that we don’t very greatly underrate the intelligence of parrots as regards the comprehension of the things they say : their remarks are often most startlingly appropriate. I have elsewhere pointed out how some of my birds, for obvious reasons, have entirely altered their mode of nidification, on Reason in Birds. 87 Goldfinches and others having chosen to build in a Hartz-cage, because thus they had only to repel frontal attacks from other birds in the aviary, whereas in a bush they would have had to be on the alert at all points ; and of course we well know how many finches have acquired the habit of building in boxes, whereas in their wild state they were accustomed to building in a bush or tree ; but then finches do not seem to be quite so conservative as other birds in their methods of nidification since our common Sparrow is equally content to build his orthodox bag'-like nest in a tree or merely to line a hole in a bank, wall or building, with straw and feathers : and a pair of Greenfinches which I caught nested without hesitation in a square Canary nest-box hung on the wires of their aviary. This year, however, I was rather astonished by the behaviour of my female Hangnest (I discovered its sex by its dropping its eggs to smash on the floor of its ornamental aviary) : seeing that it was apparently restlessly searching for something, I supplied it with some long strips of bast, in the hope that it would construct a pendulous nest from the same and that I might be able to thereby secure perfect examples of its eggs for my cabinet. Well, at first everything looked propitious, it took a long strip of bast and hung it over a branch of fir (the top of a fir tree is suspended from the top of the aviary) ; it twisted this about for a time, then pulled it out and started afresh : presently, however, it seemed to change its mind and carried the strip into a nest-box (cigar-box type), and after this every strip was carried into that box and there the bird settled down, remaining in the box incubating nothing sometimes for hours at a time. As we well know how many of the Old — and some of the New — World Starlings habitually build in holes ; the question came into my mind as to whether all Starlings originally nested in this manner and whether it would be possible to breed them all in this way now. Of course the reasoning powTers of the Starlings are very highly developed : I have pointed out previously that my older Hangnest, after watching me shut and fasten the door of his cage by turning a hook over into an eye, presently came down, passed his bill through the wire-netting lifted the hook over, pushed open the door and gave me twrnnty minutes hard work with a net before he could 88 Birds of Paradise on Little Tobago (West Indies). be replaced : this he did on two occasions and his disgust wras great when he attempted it a third time and discovered that I had added a second fastening to the door which he was unable to reach. This year my younger Hang'nest let herself out of her little aviary in the same way and gave me some trouble : the hook of one of the doors had become slack and I had to bend it so that it closed with a spring and thus she was unable to lift it as before. Now a bird which can watch its owner when he closes the door of its cage and say to itself “ 0, that’s the trick is it? I’ll do that presently and escape ” is not a creature quite incapable of reasoning ; and even those, if there be any in these days, who believe that all created things are as they were at the beginning of the world, could hardly assert that it acted from “blind instinct” — a silly expression because instinct is never blind. BIRDS OF PARADISE ON LITTLE TOBAGO (WEST INDIES). In November, 1913, Third Series, Yol, V., No. 1 we published an account, with photographs, by Mr. Collingwood Ingram, and some additional notes by his father, Sir William Ingram, of the Birds of Paradise which were imported by Sir William and turned out on the island of Little Tobago. Mr. O. Millsum has kindly sent notes of daily observations made later on by Robert Herold, who is engaged to watch the progress of the Apodas, and to protect them in any manner possible. It will be remembered, by the way, that Mr. Millsum was for some little while, up to two years ago, at Everberg in Belgium ; where he tended the splendid collection of rare birds belonging to Monsieur Robert Pauwels, this collection having been entirely brought together under Mr. Millsum ’s direct supervision. There is not much doubt that where once Monsieur Pauwel’s aviaries stood, destruction and desolation, as is the case over nearly the whole of that ill-fated little country, reigns. Mr. Millsum knows Louvain well, since it is only a few miles from Everberg, where he had under his care nine species of Paradise Birds of Paradise on Little Tobago ( West Indies). 89 Birds, comprising some twenty-five to thirty specimens. Anyone who knows Mr. Millsum knows also that they received constant and unremitting attention, for there is no aviculturist who is more keenly devoted to birds than he. DAILY OBSERVATIONS AND REPORT ON LITTLE TOBAGO, by Bobert Herold, Caretaker, Sent by 0. Millsum. August 1st, 1914. In Speyside. ,, 2nd. Cannot get boatmen on account of holiday. ,, 3rd. Arrive at Little Tobago at 6.40 a.m. Resuming of work, viz. clearing and planting of new paw paw ground. Heard loud calls from Apoda Hill and North Hill. Saw7 two female Apodas flying S.W. Saw two pair at feeding place, one young at Broadway. Heard calls from King Edward Road. Afternoon. Went to North Hill and North Point. Saw one pair top of North Hill, Heard call below slope of North Hil1 Went to King Edward Road, heard two calls from Waterhole. Saw female Apoda. At Broadwray one male loudly calling at evening from Apoda Hill and feeding place. August 4th. Weather dry. Work at clearing paw paw ground completed. Calls at early morning from Apoda Hill, North Hill and flat. One pair and one female at feeding place. Afternoon. Went to Apoda Hill and Waterhole. Saw two females at Apoda Hill. Calls from South slope. Saw one male Apoda at Waterhole. Calls from top of Waterhole Hill. One female at feeding place, one pair at Broadway. Call from Mahoe Gully and King Edward Road. Calls from Apoda Hill at evening. Two females flying N.S., one female behind kitchen. August 5th. Weather dry. Shot large Hawk at early morn. Calls from Apoda Hill and North Hill. Heard one call from north side of Alexandra Hill. Saw tw7o females top of Waterhole. Call from Broadway, one female at feeding place, two calls from end of Waterhole. 90 Birds of Paradise on Little Tobaga (West Indies ). Afternoon. Went to Guinea Point. Saw one female at King Edward Road, one female at Broadway. Call from Palm Grove and south slope of Apoda Hill. At evening two females flying N.S., two females flying over landing place S.E. Loud calls from Apoda Hill. August 6th. Weather very bad, cannot go out, birds silent. ,, 7th. Weather clear. Loud calls from Apoda Hill, North Hill and fiat. Went to Guinea Point. Saw one female at feeding place, one pair at Broadway, one male near by Dancing. Calls from East Road. Shot one Fowl (hen) and two half grown chicks. August 8th. Weather very rainy. Birds silent during morning. Loud calls at evening from Apoda Hill. Saw two females flying N.S. One small shark in bay. August 9th. Weather very clear. Loud calls from several points, also saw several males and females at North Hill. Apoda Hill, Waterhole and Broadway Road, one female in tree close by. Similar reports continue, but Mr. MlLLSUM quotes : — REPORT IN GENERAL. There is no change in the lives of the Apodas, they are as well as ever. In rainy weather they keep rather silent, but when it is fine they are heard all over the island. I have kept hidden half¬ way up trees, which I have climbed and which Apodas frequent, to make sure of the right shade of colour of head and throat of females, and I can say now with certainty that it is deep metallic indigo blue. All other parts of the body are brown, except at the end of belly, towards tail, a light greyish pink. I have received the colours from Mr. Brash and I shall try to colour the sketches of Apodas the proper shades. I shall forward sketches via New York. Fowls are seen again now and then. I have shot three, also a shark in the bay. All Hawks I have seen I have shot, they are very few and they are all strangers. Mr. Millsum also sends an abstract of a letter written to Sir William Ingram. When Mr. Brash visited the island he saw several Apodas, Birch of Paradise on Little Tobaga ( West Indies). 91 viz., four females in one tree, two females flying close by when leaving' for another place, one male Apoda flying towards Alexandra Road, and we heard several calls from different directions. Sitting in the gallery of the house he saw a large male passing North-South below house and a female later on. He also saw a female sitting at a long' distance but before he could bear the glasses on it it disappeared. There can he no mistake at all between male and female Apodas. The male is, as you said, a larger bird than the female, and can be distinguished from a long distance even when flying, by its yellow colour at the back’ of its head. The female is all brown, but around the eyes and hack of head, also part of throat there is a very deep colour which I take for very dark indigo blue. It may be a very dark purple brown. The female bird is certainly smaller and appears more slick. I shall write to-day to Mr. Brash for a few tubes of colour for myself, and then I will try to send you a coloured picture of male and female. I shall try to draw a little sketch now. There are certainly two distinct colours in a female Apoda, but it is impossible to make a mistake as to the sex of the birds. I am very sorry Mr. Brash had no chance to view a male bird at close distance. Both males he sawT were in flight. As to the number of the different sexes, I can state that there are six males, ten females, one young, sex unknown. These are the numbers I can vouch for. There may be two or three more, but there are certainly no less. It is impossible to say that there are exactly such a number of each sex on the island as they are never altogether to be seen and counted. I have done all that is possible to get a clear estimate, and what I have stated is the minimum, as I can run no chances in such an important matter. If the birds were not so restless and would keep together, it would not be so difficult, but they are such a disagreeable lot of birds and never keep up friendship with each other. So they are sometimes in pairs, mostly single and never in greater numbers than four or five, and those are rare occasions. I have tried to explain matters as well as I can, but hope soon to send you sketches in colour, which will explain things better. 92 Mr. Felix J. Koch, OUR PILFERING, CHATTERBOX FRIEND, THE MAGPIE. CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE THIEF OF THE BIRD- WORLD AND HIS DEPREDATIONS. By Felix J. Koch. We were standing before a cage of large, black birds in the great City Park Zoo, out at Denver, watching the happy, chattering creatures, seemingly having the “time of their lives,” while they flitted from bough to bough in the trees of their run, or circled round some nests they were building. Jack Roosa had just been commenting how lovely the birds were — a foot and a half in length at least : head, neck, back and upper tail-coverts a jet black, while on the throat a stripe of grayish- white appeared, and there was the purest of white on the scapulars. In addition, the wing'-coverts played a fine shiny blue, such as the purple-grackle will show in the sun-light. The birds appeared so well groomed, so immaculate, little wonder Roosa was impressed. More than that, the entire flock of them seemed so solicitious about that nest. It was built as high up in the tree as they could conveniently get ; withal that, in the wild state, sometimes the birds will desert high trees for hedges — and outside there were sharp, thorny sticks, to keep out all intruders. Inside, however, the mother-bird had a downy bed of dry grass and roots, and, lest the rain pour in or the wind blow down, she was now preparing to cover this over with an intricate roof, making her entrance then at the side. When this was completed she would lay her six or seven eggs inside it. “ Beauty is what beauty does ! ” a voice remarked behind him, as the boy concluded, “ Evidently you don’t know in whose presence you are at this moment ? ” Jack flushed, wondering and puzzled : and we, — well, we had to admit we weren’t so certain, either. The attendant threw some food to the birds : then scenting the chance of a “ tip,” perhaps, went on : — Once upon a time — long, long ago — a humble serving-maid held a position in the home of a rich and powerful family. The girl had not held her place long enough to establish her reputation com- on our Pilfering, Chatterbox Friend, the Magpie. 93 pletely with her mistress, when, one day, a gold bracelet was missing . ” At once we recalled the story .... in every school-reader.” Of course the maid was accused and she was condemned to be executed — as thieves were in those days — in the public square. A crowd assembled to witness the grim deed, the hangman placed a noose about the poor girl’s neck (who even here protested her innocence) . . when, of a sudden, a bolt of lightning from the darkening skies rent a statue on the square and as it fell. . . ” Oh, I know now . . Perce interrupted, “ of course! They found a Magpie’s shattered nest and in it the missing bracelet.” Yes, that’s Mr. Magpie, and lie’s as wicked a thief to-day as he was in the centuries past. More than that, he’s not at all careful of his language.” One traveller, here last summer, told of a Magpie out before a place of business in Seward, Alaska, who keeps calling aloud : — Maggie’s a pretty bird ; a right pretty bird ! ” till a crowd collects, and then it rounds off with an oath of a blasphemous nature. Jack Eoosa levelled his camera to take a picture of the Magpies, and the keeper, slipping out a coin into his pocket, grate¬ fully, drew a wallet from his inside coat pocket and produced a long pauer. Here’s something may interest you,” he said, as he pro¬ ceeded to read aloud much as follows : — The Magpie,” says Montagu,” is a great enemy to the husbandman and the preserver of game, but has cunning enough to evade their wrath. No animal food comes amiss to its carnivorous appetite, young poultry, eggs, young lambs, and even weakly sheep it will attempt to destroy, by first plucking out their eyes. The young of hares, rabbits and feathered game share the same fate ; fish, carrion, insects, fruit, and lastly, grain, when they can get nothing else. It is an artful noisy bird, proclaiming aloud any apparent danger and thereby giving notice to its associates. Neither the fox nor other wild animal can appear without being observed and 94 Our Pilfering, Chatterbox Friend, the Magpie. haunted ; even the fowler is frequently spoiled of his sport, for all other birds seem to know the alarming chatter of the Magpie. “ This bird is easily tamed and chatters to those who feed him, imitates human voices and performs many amusing tricks. Like many of the Crow family, it has a strange desire to pilfer and secrete small, shining objects, especially pieces of money, and in this way is extremely mischievous when allowed to go about the house. “The Magpie is found throughout Europe,” (we remembered one, a pet, in a hotel court at Sara, on the East Adriatic), “ and is constantly seen in the meadows and fields of England, France, Germany and Italy. It is also abundant in the United States, though it is confined to the western regions, that is from Texas northward, through Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and the British dominions, to latitude 58. Some naturalists suppose this must be a distinct species, as, by a strange instinct, it remains fixed in the unsettled territories of the West; while in Europe it seems to haunt the abodes of man. It has, however, the same size, markings, structure and habits as the foreign Magpie, and is, therefore, supposed to be of the same species. Travellers in the west are sometimes very much annoyed with them, as they will often penetrate their tents and snatch the meat from the dishes, and if a horse chance to have a sore back, they will descend upon it and attempt to make a meal of the living flesh ! ” That’s your thing' of beauty, Jack,” we answered, teasing, as the man concluded. “ I don’t care . . . ,” Jack had his answer. “I guess I know a pretty bird when I see one. Anyhow, here’s for another snap shot of the birds,” and while the keeper took out a favourite in the flock, let it perch on his finger and chatter at him. Jack secured the unique picture of a real Magpie’s nest in an aviary. Where’s Ethel? Nellie! Mother’s in the kitchen !” then, sub-rosa, plain and distinct as any human voice might be : “ Maggie, how’s that cold ? ” the famous bird of the Denver Zoo chattered. After this he coughed, scolded and began anew till the keeper set his tongue at rest with some coveted tit-bit or other from his pockets. English Names for the Parrots. 95 ENGLISH NAMES FOR THE PARROTS. By Dr. E. HOPKINSON. (' Continued from page 78.) Fiji Parrakeet, applied to two species of Fijian Parrakeets : (i) the SHINING PARRAKEET ; (2) the TABUAN PARRAKEET. FINSCH'S AMAZON. Fire-Winged Parrakeet, an occasionally used name for the ORANGE¬ WINGED PARRAKEET ( Brotogerys pyrrho pterus) . *First Black-Capped Lory, Edwards’ name for the THREE-COLOURED LORY. •FORSTEN’S LORIKEET, Trichoglossus forsteni. Funereal Cockatoo, see BLACK COCKATOO. Fura mato,” native name in Brazil for some of the Conures, more par¬ ticularly for the RED-EARED and WHITE-EARED CONURES. “ Galah,” “ Galah Cockatoo,” see ROSE-BREASTED COCKATOO. Ganga Cockatoo, the GANG-GANG COCKATOO. “ Gang-Gang,” Australian vernacular. GANG-GANG COCKATOO, Callocephalum galeatum ; also sometimes known as the Ganga C. Older names, Red-Crowned Parrot (Latham), and Helmet Cockatoo. Australian vernacular, “ Gang-Gang.” " Garuba,” see GOLDEN CONURE. *Geringore, an obsolete book name for some of the BLACK COCKATOOS. *Stellated Geringore, the WESTERN BLACK C. *Gerini’s Parrot, see under AMAZON, RED-THROATED. Gilolo Eclectus. Gilolo Parrot, see under Eclectus, GRAND. *Gingi Parrot, see under ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET, CINGALESE. GLAUCOUS MACAW .=Anodorhynchus glaucus, one of the Hyacinthine Macaws. “ Gnik-gnik,” South American native name for some of the Green Parra¬ keets of that region, such as the RED-EARED CONURE and ALL¬ GREEN PARRAKEET. GOFFIN’S COCKATOO, Cacatua goffini. GOLDEN CONL^RE, Conurus guarouba, sometimes known as the Queen of Bavaria’s Parrakeet. Latham knew it under the two names, ^Brazilian Yellow Parrot and *Yellow Macaw-Parrot. Native names (Brazil) are “ Garuba,” “ Guarajouba.” ^Golden Parrot, a name used by Latham to describe a yellow variety of the rare RED-FACED PARROT ( Geoffroyus personatus ). GOLDEN-BACKED HANGING PARRAKEET. =Loviculus chrysonotus. GOLDEN-CROWNED CONURE, Conurus aureus, the Golden-Crowned Parrakeet of Edwards, and Red and Blue-Headed Parrakeet 96 Dr. E. Hopkinson, and Buff-Fronted Parrakeet of Latham. Dealers, names : “ Yellow-Breasted Cokure,” “ Sunhead Conure,” and “ Half- Moon Parrakeet.” The native name, “ Jendaya,” is common to this and other allies. Golden-Crowned Hanging Parrakeet, see CEYLONESE HANGING P. Golden-Crowned New Zealand Parrakeet, see next. GOLDEN-CROWNED PARRAKEET. (i) See GOLDEN-CROWNED CONURE; (2 ) = Cyanovhamphus auriceps, of New Zealand. Other names are Golden-Crowned New Zealand Parrakeet, Golden- Headed Parrakeet, Yellow-Fronted Parrot (usual name in N.Z.) ; ^Pacific Parrot, Var. C., and ? Buff-Fronted Parrot (Latham). Maori name, “ Kakariki.” Golden-Fronted Parrakeet. = Brotogerys tuipara (“ Tuipara,” a native name). It is sometimes known as the Tuipara Parrakeet. Other names, Red-Fronted Parrakeet (Latham) ; Cayenne Parrakeet (? Latham). GOLDEN-HEADED CONURE. = Conurus auricapillus. Golden-Headed Parakeet, see GOLDEN-CROWNED PARRAKEET (2). GOLDEN-NAPED AMAZON, see under AMAZON. G OLDEN -SHOULDERED PARRAKEET. = Psephotus chrysopterygius, sometimes incorrectly called the Paradise Parrakeet. GOLDEN-WINGED PARRAKEET, Edwards’ name for Brotogerys chryso- sema: Also used for B. chrysopterus as well. *Goliath Aratoo, an early name for the GREAT BLACK COCKATOO, see under COCKATOO. GRAND ECLECTUS. Grand Lory, Grand Lory, Var. A., see ECLECTUS. Grand VAZA, see VAZA PARROT, GREATER. GRASS-PARRAKEET, (1) any member of the Australian genus N eophema ; (2) a generally used name for the BUDGERIGAR (q.v.), also popu¬ larly known as “ Zebra Grass-P.,” “ Warbling Grass-P.,” and “ Australian Grass-P.” The Grass-Parrakeets (N eophema) are seven in number and bear the following English names : BLUE-BANDED GRASS-PARRAKEET. BOURKE’S GRASS-PARRAKEET. ELEGANT GRASS-PARRAKEET. ORANGE-BELLIED GRASS-PARRAKEET, N . chrsogastra, the Orange-Bellied Parrot of Latham ; also called Orange- Bellied Parrakeet. ROCK GRASS-PARRAKEET. = N. petvophila ; “ Rock Parra¬ keet ” in Australia. English Names for the Parrots. 97 SPLENDID GRASS-PARRAKEET. = N. splendida ; also known as the Splendid Parrakeet, or the Scarlet-Chested Grass- Parrakeet. TURQUOISINE GRASS-PARRAKEET. Grass-Parrakeet, Crested, see COCKATIEL. Great Alexandrine Parrakeet, see CINGALESE A. P., under Alexan¬ drine. *Great Blew and Yellow Parrot, Macheo or Cockatoon, see BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW. GREAT BLACK COCKATOO, see under Cockatoo. Great Green Macaw, the MILITARY MACAW. Great Maccaw, see BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW. Great Palm Cockatoo, see GREAT BLACK C., under Cockatoo. Great Vaza. Great White Cockatoo, (i) Latham’s name for the GREATER WHITE- CRESTED C., see under Cockatoo. (2) Sometimes also popularly applied to the GREATER SULPHUR-CRESTED C. Great Yellow-Crested Cockatoo, see GREATER SULPHUR-CRESTED C., under Sulphur-Crested. GREAT-BILLED ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET, see ALEXANDRINE. GREAT-BILLED BLACK COCKATOO (Gould ) . = Calyptorhynchus macro- rhynchus, also known as the Great-Billed C. Great-Billed C., see above. GREAT-BILLED ECLECTUS, see under ECLECTUS. Great-Billed Parrakeet, the GREAT-BILLED ECLECTUS. Great-Billed Parrakeet, Muller’s. = MULLER’S ECLECTUS. Great-Billed Parrot. = GREAT-BILLED ECLECTUS. Greater Cockatoo, see SALMON-CRESTED C. GREATER PATAGONIAN CONURE, sec PATAGONIAN CONURE. Greater Red-Crested Cockatoo, see SALMON-CRESTED C. GREATER SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO, see under SULPHUR- CRESTED. * GREATER WHITE-CRESTED COCKATOO, see under COCKATOO. GREATER VAZA PARROT, see VAZA. Green and Blue Macaw, the SEVERE MACAW. *Green and Red Chinese Parrot, see ECLECTUS, RED-SIDED. *Green and Red Indian Parrakeet, Smallest, see CEYLONESE HANG¬ ING PARRAKEET. *Green and Red Parrot from China, see ECLECTUS, RED-SIDED. *Green and Yellow Parrot from Barbadoes, see AMAZON, YELLOW¬ SHOULDERED. GREEN CONURE. — Conurus leucophthalmus , the *Pavuan Parrakeet of Latham (also spelt Pavouane ; sometimes Pavouane Parrot). 98 Dr. E. Hopkinson, South American native names : “ Pavouane,” “ Maracana,.” " Nen- daya,” and “ Araguaby.” Green Eclectus, see under ECLECTUS, RED-SIDED. Green Ground-Parrakeet, see GROUND PARRAKEET. Green Macaw ; both the MILITARY and SEVERE MACAWS are some¬ times thus designated. Green Maccaw, Brazilian, see SEVERE MACAW. Green Macaw, Small, the NOBLE MACAW. Green Parrakeet, see ALL-GREEN PARRAKEET. *Green Parrakeet, Guiane, see CUBAN CONURE. “ Green Parrot.” (i) Tasmanian vernacular lor the YELLOW-BELLIED PARRAKEET. (2) A common popular name for an AMAZON. *Green Parrot from the West Indies, Edwards’ name for the BLUE- FRONTED AMAZON. *Green Parrot, Lesser, Edwards’ name for the YELLOW-CHEEKED A. *Green Parrot, Little, Edwards’ name for the ACTIVE AMAZON. * Green Parrot, Manila, see BLUE-CROWNED ECLECTUS. *Green Parrot, Mealy (Latham), the MEALY AMAZON. *Green Parrot, New Guinea, one of Latham’s names for the male RED¬ SIDED ECLECTUS, see under Eclectus. *Green Parrot, West Indian, see under AMAZON, BLUE-pRONTED. GREEN-CHEEKED AMAZON. = A . viridigena. Greenleek,” “ Greenleek Parrakeet,” Australian vernacular for BARRABAND’S PARRAKEET. GREEN-NAPED LORIKEET. = Trichoglossus cyanogrammus, also called the Green-Naped Lory. One of the species to which Latham’s name * Red-Breasted Lory belongs. Green-Naped Lory, see above. GREEN-TAILED LORY ,=Lorius chloromrcus ; see under PURPLE- CAPPED LORY (5). , GREEN-WINGED MACAW. = Ara Chloroptera, the Red and Blue Macaw of Latham ; also known as the Red and Yellow Macaw. Native names, “ Aracanga,” “ Araracanga.” *Grey Cockatoo, one of Latham’s names for the GREAT BLACK COCKA¬ TOO, see under COCKATOO. GREY PARROT, Psittacus erythacus. Early names are : *Red and White Parrot (Latham) ; *Cinereous Parrot (Latham) ; * Ash-Coloured Parrot (and Vars. A., B., & C.) ; *Hoary Parrot. Sometimes known as the Coast Grey Parrot, or Red-Tailed Grey Parrot. Common popular names are “ Poll,” " Polly,” ” Poll Parrot,” and older ones (probably originally native) “ Jacko,” “ Jaco,” Jako.” Obsolete English names (for this bird specially, but also including other Parrots) *Popinjay, *Popingay (and other variants) ; English Names for the Parrots. 99 *Psittake, a purely book name. The variety with more or less red mottling is commonly known as a “ King Parrot,” and was described by Edwards under the name, *Ash-Coloured and Red Parrot. Grey Parrot, Coast. Grey Parrot, Red-Tailed, see above. Grey-Breasted Parrakeet, the QUAKER PARRAKEET. Grey-Headed Lovebird, Grey-Headed Parrakeet, the MADAGASCAR LOVEBIRD, see under LOVEBIRD. Grey-Headed Parrot, an early book name for the SENEGAL PARROT. *Grisled Parrot. ^Grizzled Parrot, see under ECLECTUS, GREAT-BILLED. GROUND-PARRAKEET. = Pezo^oras terrestris, of Australia, the Ground Parrot of Latham. Other book names : Green Ground Parra¬ keet, Long-Toed Ground Parrakeet, *Black Spotted Parrakeet. Popular names in Australia are “ Ground Parrakeet,” “ Swamp Parrakeet.” (2) a vernacular name for the ELEGANT GRASS_ PARRAKEET in parts of Australia. (3) Book name to include the two Australian genera Pezoporus and Geopsittacus, the GROUND PARRAKEET and NIGHT PARRAKEET. Ground Pararkeet, Crested, see COCKATIEL. Ground Parrakeet, Green, see GROUND PARRAKEET. Ground Parrakeet, Long-Toed, see GROUND PARRAKEET. Ground Parrot (i) Latham’s name for the GROUND PARRAKEET. (2) New Zealand popular name for the OWL-PARROT. “ Guarajouba,” see GOLDEN CONURE. GUATEMALAN AMAZON. = A. guatemalae. *Gueby Lory, see under RED LORY (6 and 7). *Gueby Lory, Var. A., see under RED LORY (7). *Gueby Parrot, see GRAND ECLECTUS, under ECLECTUS. *Guery Lory, see under RED LORY (6). Guiana Lovebird, the GUIANA PARROTLET. GUIANA PARROTLET, Psittacula guianensis, one of the American “Lovebirds.” The Guiana Lovbeird. ? = Latham’s Blue-Winged Parrakeet, which, however, may have referred to the PASSERINE PARRAKEET. *Guiane Green Parrakeet, see CUBAN CONURE. GUILDING’S AMAZON. =A. guildingi. *Guinea Parrakeet, *Red-Headed Guinea Parrakeet (Latham), the RED-FACED LOVEBIRD, see under LOVEBIRD. ^Guinea Parrot, *Red-Headed Guinea Parrot, ditto. *Guiney Sparrow (Edwards), the RED-FACED LOVEBIRD. HAHN’S MACAW, Ara Hahni, the *Pavouane Parrot, Var. A., of Latham. 100 Dr. E. Hopkinson; “ Half-Moon Parrakeet,” a dealers’ name for the GOLDEN-CROWNED CONURE (q.v.). Halmahera Eclectus. Halmahera Parrot, see under ECLECTUS, RED-SIDED. HANGING PARRAKEET, a bird of the genus Loriculus. BLUE-CROWNED HANGING PARRAKEET. CEYLONESE HANGING PARRAKEET. Chrome-Headed H. P., an occasional name for the CEYLONESE H. P. GOLDEN-BACKED HANGING P. = L. chrysonotus. Golden-Crowned H. P., the CEYLONESE HANGING P. Indian H. P„ the VERNAL HANGING PARRAKEET, see below. JAVAN HANGING PARRAKEET, L. pusillus, also known as the Yellow-Throated H. P. The *Philippe Parrot, Var. A., of Latham. PHILIPPINE HANGING PARRAKEET. =L. philippensis . The ♦Philippine Parrakeet and *Luzonian Parrakeet of Latham. RED-FRONTED HANGING PARRAKEET =L. stigmatus. Cele- bean native name, “ Tintis.” Red-Naped Hanging P.? = SCLATER’S H. P. Schlectendal’s H. P., see SCLATER’S H. P. SCLATER’S H. P. = L. sclateri. Also Sclater’s Parrotlet, SCHLEC¬ TENDAL’S H. P„ and ? = Red-Naped H. P. Spring H. P., see VERNAL H. P. VERNAL HANGING PARRAKEET. = L. vernalis. Indian Hang¬ ing Parrakeet. The Vernal Parrakeet of Latham. Other names, Spring Hanging Parrakeet, Indian Loriquet, Red- Rumped Lorikeet, Red-Rumped Dwarf-Parrot. Dealers’ names : “ Crimson-Rumped Lorikeet,” “ Red-Tailed Lorikeet,” " Red-Throated Lorikeet.” Yellow-Throated H. P., see JAVAN H. P., above. Hanging Parrot, a HANGING PARRAKEET. Hawk-Parrot, the HAWK-HEADED PARROT. Hawk-Parrot, Crested, ditto. Hawk-Headed Caique, the HAWK-HEADED PARROT. HAWK-HEADED PARROT (Edwards, Latham ). = Deroptyus accipi- trinus. Also known as the Hawk-Headed Caique, Hawk-Parrot, Crested Hawk-Parrot, Earlier names were, *Cockatoo of Guyane, *Hooded Parrot, *Crowned Cockatoo (Latham), ♦Ruff- Necked Parrot (Latham), Crimson and Blue-Collared Parrot. Helmet Cockatoo, see GANG-GANG COCKATOO. ♦Hoary Parrot, see GREY PARROT. HOODED PARROT (Latham) . =Pionopsittacus caica, of South America. Sometimes known as Caica Parrot. ? = Latham’s *Crowned English Names for the Parrots. 101 Parrot* (Cowled Parrot). (2) A name sometimes used for the HAWK-HEADED PARROT. *Hooded Parrot, Var. A. (Latham) ?=NANDAY CONURE. HORNED PARRAKEET, Nymphicus cornutus, the Horned Parrot of Latham. Horned Parrot, see above. ♦Howe’s Island, Parrot from, see AMBOINA PARROT. HYACINTHINE MACAW, any Macaw of the genus Anodorhynchus . Specifically A . hyacinthus. The other two members of the genus are LEAR’S and the GLAUCOUS MACAW. ILLIGER’S MACAW. =Ara maracana. ♦Illinois Parrakeet (Latham), see ST. THOMAS’ CONURE. Imperial Amazon, the AUGUST A., see under AMAZON. *Inca, an obsolete book name for LEADBEATER’S COCKATOO. Indian Hanging Parrakeet, the VERNAL H. P., see under HANGING P. Indian Loriquet, see HANGING PARRAKEET, VERNAL. *Indian Lory (? Indian Lory, Var. A.), a name of Latham’s which is considered to have applied to the BLUE-TAILED LORY. See under RED LORY (3). Indian Paroquet, Large, see ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET, NEPA¬ LESE. *Indian Parrakeet (or Paroquet), Smallest Green and Red, see CEY¬ LONESE HANGING PARRAKEET. *Indian Parrakeet, Red and Green, see CEYLONESE HANGING PARRAKEET. Indian Ring-Necked Parrakeet, the ROSE-RINGED PARRAKEET. INDO-BURMESE ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET, see under ALEXAN¬ DRINE. ♦Inseparable, an old book name for any LOVEBIRD. ♦Inseparable, African, the RED-FACED LOVEBIRD, see under LOVE¬ BIRD. ♦Inseparable, Double, the ROSY-FACED LOVEBIRD, see under LOVE¬ BIRD. ♦Inseparable, Madagascar, the MADAGASCAR LOVEBIRD, see under LOVEBIRD. ♦Jacatoo, an obsolete corruption of COCKATOO. “ Jacko,” “ Jaco,” “ Jako,” see GREY PARROT. Jamaica Black-Billed Green Parrot, see ACTIVE AMAZON. Jamaica Parrot, (i) One of Latham’s names for the ORANGE-WINGED AMAZON. (2) An alternative name for the RED-THROATED A. See under AMAZON. ♦Jarancra Lory, see RED-FRONTED LORY. JARDINE’S PARROT. = Poeocephalus gulielmi. 102 Obituary. Java Cockatoo, see under SULPHUR-BREASTED COCKATOO. Javan Alexandrine Parrakeet, see JAVAN PARRAKEET below. JAVAN HANGING PARRAKEET. JAVAN PARRAKEET (Shaw, Latham ). = Palaeornis alexandri. Also called Javan Alexandrine Parrakeet, Alexandrine Parrakeet, * Alexandrine Parrakeet, Var. E. (Latham), Javan Parrot (Latham), * Whiskered Parrot (Latham), *Moustachoe Parrakeet (Shaw). Common dealers’ names are : “ Jew Parrakeet,” “ Mous¬ tache Parrakeet,” “ Moustache Parrot,” and “ Malaccan Moustache Parrot.” Javan native name, “ Bettet.” Javan Parrot, see JAVAN PARRAKEET. “ Jendaya,” native name for the YELLOW-HEADED CONURE, also for the GOLDEN-CROWNED CONURE, and probably for other similar birds. As a popular English name, indicates the YELLOW-HEADED CONURE. To be continued). OBITUARY. BOSCAWEN. — Killed in action on the 29th of October, near Ypres, Second Lieutenant the Honble. Vere Douglas Boscawen, Coldstream Guards, third son of Viscount and Viscountess Falmouth, aged twenty four. It is with the deepest regret that we liave to record Mr. Vere Boscawen’s death on the battlefield. He was a member of our Society who always read the Magazine with the greatest interest, and his intense love of birds, and especially perhaps of Waterfowl, was a very real one. When he first went out to the war, having a free day before going to the fighting front, he employed his time in visiting some well-known resort of wildfowl in France, several miles away. His personality was full of a great charm, with a gaiety, simplicity, and gentleness of spirit out of the common. No one who knew him well could but feel for him strong affection. For some weeks it was hoped that he was wounded and a prisoner of the German army, and it was not until the second week of December that his death was known of. Correspondence. PLEASE NOTE! 103 Will members most kindly assist the Editor by supplying articles and notes, if they possibly can ? Members who have friends or relatives in Africa, India, etc. could perhaps obtain ‘ copy ’ from them. CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC. THE KINGFISHER. SIR, — I am sure many members of the Avicultural Society will wish that your interesting article in last month’s number of the Magazine had been carried a little further, and had indicated with more detail the methods and difficulties of keeping Kingfishers in captivity. I have never myself noted more than two instances of private individuals keeping them with any measure of success, One instance was that of a man who, after several efforts, netted in a long length of a natural stream well stocked with small fish, and kept a Kingfisher in the enclosure ; and in this case it is only in a limited sense that the Kingfisher could be said to be in captivity. The other instance I have in mind was recorded at length a few years ago in “ The Fishing Gazette ” where one of a pair of Kingfishers having been wantonly destroyed, a man took the young birds and fed them for a time by hand. His life during the period of rearing was apparently rendered more or less miserable by having to feed at intervals nearly all the 24 hours, and if I recollect rightly he had to provide 200 minnows a day. It seems quite impracticable for the ordinary individual to follow either of the above courses, and a possible solution of the difficulty to my mind would be if young Kingfishers could be hand- reared and got on to some sort of artificial food. I wonder if anyone has attempted this, and if so with what measure of success. It sounds very difficult, but after seeing Mr. Wormald’s famous hand- reared Snipe I should not despair. If success could be attained it would be worth a determined effort. There is one paragraph in your article respecting which I should like to offer with the greatest humility a mild friendly criticism, and that is where you say “ If the Kingfishers do prey upon very small trout, and as a rule these birds “are to be found in the smaller backwaters where minnows abound and form “their food, cannot some be spared for these lovely creatures?” To cast any doubt on the destructiveness of Kingfishers to trout is to my mind from a bird-lover’s point of view adopting a position which cannot be defended and giving the enemy an opportunity to blaspheme. Overwhelming evidence is constantly being furnished from trout hatcheries and elsewhere as to the destructiveness of Kingfishers to trout fry, and under natural conditions King- 104 Correspondence. fishers are habitually to be found on the small tributary streams of larger rivers, which are just the places where trout go to spawn and where the fry are for some months quite defenceless. If Kingfishers only fed on larger trout they would not be so bad. I venture to think that a safer ground of argument for preservation of Kingfishers is that one has to choose between conflicting forms of life, and that those who prefer Kingfishers to trout will let the Kingfishers do their worst, but that it must be recognised that both Kingfishers and trout cannot happily exist together. The fact that Kinfishers are often found near trout streams does not conflict with this statement, because under present conditions Kingfishers are kept down to a very small numbers or enormous numbers of trout have to be supplied artifically to make up for depredations. There are a great many areas in England where dace, minnows, etc., are found in abundance and no trout exist, and those areas will support any number of Kingfishers. As regards the destruction of the birds for purposes of stuffing or for ladies’ hats, surely the true ground of attack is (a; that in the words of an Eastern proverb “ A live dog is better than a dead lion,” and (b) that it is uneconomic to destroy so great a proportion of the breeding stock, which is already severely limited by the advance of civilization. C. BARNBY SMITH. A- % * I was unable to indicate with more detail the best methods for keeping Kingfishers in captivity, since I have never attempted it. Of course Mr. Barnby Smith is correct in stating that trout fry are found in the small tributary streams of larger rivers, since the adult fish use them for spawning, but in a natural state of things a sufficient number must eventually grow up to fall a prey to man instead of to the Kingfishers, setting aside the question of minnows. When I first went to live in Berkshire, with a goodly portion of the Kennet flowing through the property, the trout-fishing, had not been preserved on a long reach of the river near the house, yet one could always kill some good fish, in spite of three or four Herons and a sprinkling of King¬ fishers, not to mention Otters. In former days, before trout were artificially reared, when Kingfishers and other fish-eating birds were in greater abundance, there must surely have always been trout, enough and to spare. The truth is mankind is extraordinarily greedy and tenacious of what it considers are its rights. There is oftentimes too much of the spirit which strives to acquire and hold on to what it looks upon as having a claim to possess, which spirit we see fully brought to bear in all its horrors by the German nation in this wicked war. The English are, to the Germans, above all others, the King¬ fishers who dare to trespass on their rights of full possession. They are not satisfied with sufficient trout, they must have all ! ! HUBERT D. ASTLEY. — ED. Noticks to Mkmbkrs — (Continued from page n. of cover.) NEW MEMBER. Mr. R. Marlow, 115, Manchester Road, Denton, Lancs. CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION. Mr. Walter G. Pkrcival, Nanga, Cliania Bridge, Britisli East Africa. Proposed by Mr. R. I. Pocock. Mr. Edward Grkvilk Hkrbkrt, Bombay Burmali Trading Co., Bangkok ; and The Rectory, Hemingford Abbot, St. Ives, Hunts. Proposed by Mr. Ralph A. Holden. CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Mr. H. C. Martin, 147, Victoria Road, Old Chaulton, London, S.E. ILLUSTRATION FUND. - - £ s. d. Mr. C. F'. Leach .. .. .. . . o 10 o Mr. Janies E. Roth well .. .. .. o 10 o MEMBERS’ PRIVATE SALE AND EXCHANGE COLUMN. The charge for ptivate advertisements is sixpence for eighteen words or less, and one penny for every additional three words or less. Trade advertisements are not allowed in this column. Dealers zv ho are members, wishing to advet tise, should apply to the Publisher for terms. Advertisements must reach the Editor on or before the 26th of the month. The Council reset ve the right of refusing any advertisement they may consider undesirable. WANTS. 'The 'charge for members' advertisements under this heading is four pence for twelve words or under, and one penny for evety additional thi ee words or less. ARTICLES on birds for the Magazine.— Editor. WEST, NEWMAN & GO., LITHOGRAPHIC, CHROMO- LITHOGRAPHIC, AND LETTERPRESS PRINTERS, 54, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, E.C. PRINTERS and PUBLISHERS of Natural History Books and General Printers. Lithographers for various Government and other Museums, and for learned Societies in London, India, South Africa, &c. Original drawings are accurately reproduced by Lithography or Photo-Lithography, either in colours or monotone, or by line and half-tone blocks. Coloured plates of Birds, Insects and Animals a speciality. TROWER & CO.. WHOLESALE SEED MERCHANTS and BIRD FOOD SPECIALISTS, 436,438 & 442, CALEDONIAN ROAD, LONDON, _ _ _ _ _ IN . EXTRA LARGE SPANISH CANARY SEED. CHOICE GERMAN S U M M E R RAPE S E E I> Finest Selected Seeds for all kinds of Cage or Aviary Birds British. Foreign, and Canaries. As supplied by us to the leading Fanciers and Exhibitors at the Crystal Palace and* other Shows. PRICE LIST. SAMPLES FREE. “ CECTO,” Uie best Insectivorous Food on the Market, 1/- per lb - postpaid 1/3. Ground Silk Worm Pupae, Mealworms, Ants’ F.ggs, Dried Flies, etc “ EGBISCO,’ ’ the finest Egg and Biscuit F'ood vet made. Tins AVICULTURAL CONTENTS. My Humming Birds, and how I obtained them {with Coloured Plate), by A French Member of the Society ... 105 My Brown-Necked Parrot, by HUBERT D. ASTLEY ... ... ... 110 Five Nesting Failures and Follies, by C. BARNBY SMITH ... ... Ill Sun and Sugar Birds, by E. J. BROOK ... ... ... ... 115 Some Practical Remarks on Practical Aviculture, by L. LOVELL-KEAYS 118 Past Importations of Indian Pheasants, by WILLIAM JAMRACH... ... 12'6 English Names for the Parrots, by Dr. E. HOPKINSON ... ... 128 CORRESPONDENCE: — Blue-Bonnet Plucked Bare; The Kingfisher; Kingfishers in Freedom and Captivity ... ... ... 133 — 136 Third Series. The price of this FEBRUARY, Vol. VI. No. 4. Number is 1/3. —1915.— NOTE.— A new volume commences every November. All Subscriptions should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. WEST. NEWMAN &. Co., 54, Hatton Garden, E.C. AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Persons wishing to join the Avicue'TURAE Society are requested to communicate with either of the Hon. Secretaries or the Editor. Ijgg“ The Magazine can also he had from the Publishers by NON-MEMBERS at a Subscription of 15/- per annum. NOTICES TO MEMBERS. The Subscription to the Avicultural Society is 10/- per annum, due on the 1st of November in each year, and is payable in advance. The entrance fee is io/6. The Avicultural Magazine is sent free to members monthly. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year, on the payment of entrance fee and subscription. All MSS. for publication in the Magazine , Books foi Reviezu , and Private Advertisements should be addressed to the Editor, Hubert D. Asteey, Esq., Brinsop Court, Heieford. All Queties respecting Birds (except post mortem cases) should be addressed to the Honorary Correspondence Secretary, Dr. A. G. BUTEKR, 124, Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent. [Enclose stamp for reply\ All other correspondence , should be sent to the Honorary Business Secretary, Mr. T. H. Newman, “ Newlands,” Harrowdeue Road, Wembley, Middlesex. Any change of address should be at once notified to him. Dead Birds for post mortem examination should be sent to Prof. G. H. Woor.DRlUGE, Zoological Society, Regent’s Park, N.W. Advice is given, by post, by members of the Council to members of the Society, upon the. subjects connected with Foreign and British birds. All queries are to be addressed to the Hon. Correspondence Secretary and should contain a penny stamp. Those marked “ private ” will not be published. The Magazine is published by Messrs. West. Newman & Co. (54, Hatton Garden, E.C.) to whom all SUBSCRIPTIONS, orders for extra copies, back numbers and bound volumes (accompanied by remittance) should be addressed. Cases for binding the Magazine (in art cloth, with gold block on side, can be obtained from the Publishers, post free anil carefully packed, at 1/6 each ; or the Publishers will undei take the binding of the Volume for 2/6, plus 8d. for packing and postage. Members ate requested to state whether they want the wrappers and advertisements bound in at the end or not. BOUND COPIES OK THE “ AVICUI/FUKAE MAGAZINE.” The following can be obtained from the Publishers at the prices given below. Postage 6d. per volume extra. Vol. II., 6/- to members ; 8/6 to the public. Vols. V. to VII., 10/6 each to members; 12,6 each to the public. Vol. VIII., 14/- to members; 17/6 to the public. New Series — Vols. I. to IV., (sets only) net to members ; to the public. ,, Vols. II. to VII., 16/- each to members ; 21/- ,, ,, Third Series — Vol. I. to V., 16/- ,, ,, 21/- ,, ,, Current Monthly Numbers 1/3 each (except in special cases, such as the Number containing the I.ist of Members, Index, etc., when the Com¬ mittee may increase the price), bv post 1/4 ; for back numbers a higher price is charged according to circumstances. Vols. I., III. & IV., are out of print. Second-hand copies sometimes reach the Publishers, to whom application should be made. U6u'fc=sXore. A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Edited by Frank M. Chapman. EACH VOLUME CONTAINS— About 400 pages, with 12 full-page colored plates of our own birds, and many photographs from nature. Descriptions of experiences with living birds in their haunts, and help¬ ful articles on how to study birds. Migration tables, showing when birds may be expected at many places throughout the country. A list of prominent ornithologists who will help you in your study of birds. Bird Censuses by numerous observers. Reviews of books and of magazine articles relating to birds. Editorials on current questions in bird study. A School Department. An Audubon Societ)' Department. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION .. 5/- D. APPLETON & Co., 25 Bkuford Strkp;t, Covent Garden, London. Pp. 142, Ceoth, Demy Svo., Price 5/- net; Postage 4d. PRACTICAL- - BIRD-KEEPING. BEING REPRINTS FROM “THE AYICU LTUKAL MAGAZINE,” 1911-12. EDITED BY J L. BONHOTE, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. A Manual intended as a practical help to those who find both pleasure and profit from the keeping of wild birds in confinement. Contributed to by specialists in each class of birds described. With One Coloured Plate and Sixteen Uncoloured. London: WEST, NEWMAN & Co., 54 Hatton Garden, E.C. CROSS’S MENAGERIE, LIVERPOOL PET ANIMALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. i Ludio Monkey; i Diana Monkey ; I Patas Monkey; i Chimpanzee; i Red Baboon; 25 Dogface Baboons; 3 Capuchin Monkeys; 1 Sacred Baboon ; 2 Mandrills; 10 Rhesus Monkeys; 2 Black and White Lemurs; 6 Brown Lemurs ; 1 Grey Lemur ; 2 Agoutis ; 1 Coati-Mundi ; 2 Australian Rat Kangaroos ; 12 Wallabies ; 20 Red Squirrels ; 1 African Civet ; 2 Leopards ; 2 Lions ; I pair and young Llama at foot ; 5 Indian Buffaloes ; X Spanish Jack Donkey ; 1 Hog Deer ; 1 Blackbuck ; 5 Bears ; 2 Dingos ; I Wolf ; 6 Emus; 4 Rheas ; 4 Cereopsis Geese ; 3 Blackneck .Swans ; 2 Canada Geese ; to Egyptian Nile Geese ; 2 Snow Geese ; 2 Barhead Geese; 2 Crown Cranes ; 2 Sarus Cranes ; 6 Demoiselle Cranes ; I Iceland Falcon ; 6 little Owls ; 1 Burrowing Owl ; 1 horned Indian Fish Owl ; 1 Redbill Tree Duck ; 20 Sheldrakes ; 100 other ornamental Waterfowl ; x marvellous talking Grey Parrot ; 1 talking Amazon Parrot ; 1 talking Yellow-billed Pionus ; 2 Red and Blue Macaws ; 2 Cuban Connies ; 100 Lavenderhead Lovebirds ; 3 Redfaced Lovebirds ; 10 Cockateils ; 2 Adelaides Broadtails ; 1 Bauer’s Parrakeet ; 2 Gold-fronted Connies; 6 Canarywing Conures ; i pair Little Macaws ; 4 Lemon-crest Cockatoos ; 2 Bare-eyed Cockatoos ; 3 Red- collared Lorikeets; 1 Alexandrine Parrakeet; 2 Blue Red-legged Cuban Thrushes ; x Mexican Sorry Thrush ; White Java Sparrows ; Grey Java Sparrows ; Zebra Finches, etc. ; Zebra Doves ; African Turtle Doves ; Fantail Pigeons; Tumblers; Nuns; Ornamental Peafowl; Pheasants; Quail ; Crocodiles ; Alligators ; Lizards, etc. Wanted to Purchase, SURPLUS ACCLIMATISED SPECIMENS, BIRDS, REPTILES, OR ANIMALS “CROSS,” Otterspool House, Aigburth, Liverpool. Cables and Telegrams : “ Cross, Liverpool.” National ’Phone ; 260 Lark Lane, Liverpool. RICCORD’S HUMMING BIRD. (SPORADINUS RICCORDl). (From a living bird in the possession of Mr. A. Ezra). Roland Green, Del. Watford Engraving Co., Ltd., Sculp THE 105 Avicultural Magazine, BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Third Series. — Vol. VI. — No. 4. — All rights reserved. FEBRUARY, 1915. MY HUMMING BIRDS, AND HOW I OBTAINED THEM. By a French Member of the Society. November, 1914. .... And first of all I wish to say that I feel the time somewhat ill-chosen to write about my birds, — when this country still feels the tread of the German heel, and so many daily give their lives to save it, as well as dear old England, from further indignities. But our Editor received my promise of this little con¬ tribution of mine to his great and incessant work, as many months back as last April, — and the time has come to fulfil it at last. It was in February last we set out for the West Indies, intent on bringing back Humming-birds to Europe. Our success, or rather our luck with many species of African Sun-birds, had made us bolder, and preparations had not been spared to ensure, as we thought, a good number of Hummers being obtained in the islands wTe were to call at, in going and returning. I don’t propose to dwell here on the horrors of a journey that resolved itself into a succession of gales, varied, on board, by an epidemic of small-pox among the black soldiers bound for Martinique ; or on discomforts, personal to myself, that resulted from my occupation of cabins which were described as the best, yet turned out to be very much the worst for their stuffiness and noisy position. Then, in our eagerness to obtain the birds, we had not reckoned with such difficulties as the stupidity of officials, native slackness and lack of initiative ; and, of course, port upon port was passed, yet no Humming Birds appeared. “It 106 A French Member of the Society, was the wrong time of the year ” (it always is) ; or the people “ had thought it useless to procure birds that could not possibly live in captivity.” etc., etc. In short, our expedition looked exceedingly like a failure, until luck turned at last and brought better prospects. It was March 9th, 1914, our steamer rode at anchor off the little harbour of Basse-Terre, in the island of Guadeloupe, when at about 11 pan. I was roused from peaceful slumbers and informed that a cage full of Humming-birds had just been taken on the ship. They were in a bamboo cage, about half-a-dozen of them, in fairly good condition, being fortunately, freshly-caught birds, — most had been captured that very day. We discovered two species : Eulampis holosericeus and Eulampis jugularis* And gorgeous they looked under the glare of the electric lamps in the cabin, the latter especially, in their dress of purplish velvet, with a huge ruby shining at the throat and sapphire at the base of the tail ; their long, slender bodies and sickle-shaped wings, clinging, bat-like, to the sides of the cage, their tiny claws clasping its bars, wild terror reflected in their attitude and in their brilliant eyes. In less than ten minutes we had boiling water, and the syrup was offered them in little tin-feeders, similar to those used for my Sun-birds. Some would not look at it, but several, I noted with joy, soon decided that desirable food lessens most sufferings, and were speedily lapping it up, inserting their long, thin beaks into the small holes provided for the purpose in the lid of the tins. A note from the catcher, delivered with the birds, informed me that, as desired, a pair of Banana-Quits had been obtained and put in with the Hummers ; also that I must be careful to leave the latter in their company, as the quits would act as teachers “ to the hummers,” who, without their guidance, would not eat the food, and would assuredly starve themselves to death. This, however, proved to be one of the many ridiculous legends prevalent in the islands with regard to these birds : for their greed greatly exceeds their timidity which latter is apparent, not real, and vanishes incredibly soon, and they generally yield to the temptations of the syrup, if they are only held in the hand, whilst their beaks are dipped in the mixture. To * Mr, A. Ezra successfully exhibited E. jugularis and Sporadinus ricordi at the Cage Bird Show in the Horticultural Hall (London) in November 1914. My Humming Birds and how I obtained them. 107 return to the Quits, a strange thing regarding them was that, although the message mentioned two birds, only one was in the cage as it was hauled up from the small boat that conveyed it on board the liner. I thought that one must have in some most unaccountable manner effected its escape, — but early the next morn¬ ing, while the ship was steaming along the coast of the islands, on her way to the next port, the smoking-room steward caught another Quit as it flew into his bar and brought it to me. These two made up the pair, and thrive with me to this very day : but whether they were the two original ones, and the lost one, by calling to its mate, effectually enticed it over from the land while we were at anchor, or whether the second was a straggler of the wandering type, is a problem that can never be solved, though for reasons of romance I choose to cling to the former belief. And before I leave the subject of my Quits, I must state they are a new importation, quite unlike the common species ( Certhiola flaveola), and belong to a local variety known as Certhiola dominicana, — a trifle larger than the former, much darker on the head, and a more vivid orange on the chest, in the case of the male. They utter a shrill, hissing, drawn-in kind of cry, similar to the sound produced by locusts, and to my mind equally suggestive of sultry summer days of sun-baked lands. The morning following the happy advent of our first batch of Humming Birds saw us entering the palm-studded harbour of Pointe- a-Pitre, the capital of Guadeloupe. There, owing to the epidemic of small-pox I have mentioned, we were quarantined, and only stayed a few hours. But a second lot of Hummers came on board. Most of these had been caught some few days and fed according to the recipe given. Many had become soiled with the syrup and con¬ sequently looked seedy ; for a hummer, as everyone knows (or should know), depends more than any other bird on its wings. The physical misery and discomfort caused by inability to fly, even momentarily, means for this swift, impatient, gnat-like creature of the air, complete immobility and often death through fretting. However, the new arrivals were quickly cleaned, distributed amongst the various cages, and we found we had in all a little over twenty birds belonging to three species, thus making up the 108 A French Member of the Society, complete collection of the varieties that exist in the island. Of the third, Bellona exilis, the tiniest of all, only two or three specimens had been captured, and of these one survived and was successfully landed. A wonderful little fellow, hardly bigger than a bumble-bee, yet perfect in his minute size ; a little gem clad in lavender-greys and soft greens, with a huge helmet or topknot, flashing emerald and sapphire lights, always alert, perky, lively as a cricket on a summer’s day, he would buzz about in his little cage, hardly ever resting, even through the terrific storms that awaited us off the Spanish and French coasts. After his safe arrival and for many months he was my greatest joy, and excited the envy of all who came to see him. Alas ! a few weeks ago, the end came : he had not moulted out properly during the warm days, and having lost some wing-feathers, yet not produced the new ones in good time, had lost the power to fly, and died of no other apparent cause, early in the present month (November), after being in my possession over seven months. The first few days that followed our departure from Guadeloupe, homeward bound, were days of anxiety. Some of the Humming Birds took readily to the food and never gave any trouble ; but others had to be fed by hand, at regular intervals, before they made up their mind that captivity was not so bad after all and life worth living yet. This was really hard work : for hummers appear to need an enormous amount of nourishment, and the business of catching each in turn and patiently holding the little creature over the syrup until he began to sip it up, had to be unceasingly repeated. To make matters worse, we met strong trade-winds with heavy seas directly we sailed out of Pointe-a-Pitre. The big vessel pitched and rocked, causing her passengers no little discomfort ; then the cabin we had chosen specially for the birds,— a large, very light room with four windows, — from its high position on the bridge-deck, intensified each roll of the boat ; occasionally a Humming Bird would escape from our hands, and of all ordeals perhaps this was the worst. Imagine running, or rather tumbling, round and round a large room, full of furniture, cages and trunks, on a tossing ship, a cloth in one hand and cap in the other, — for we had no net, — after a bird for whom flying is no exertion whatever, and whose firm intention next to dodging the pursuer, is never to perch at all. Indeed, I don’t know GARNET-THROATED HUMMING BIRD. (eulampis jugularis). Roland Green, Del. Watford Engraving Co., Ltd., Sculp. My Humming Birds and how I obtained them. 109 how long' a Humming Bird can fly in wild life without alighting, but I do know that it is nothing for him to keep on the wing, under the above conditions, for half-an-hour and more. However, these and other difficulties counted as little against the joy of observing the little hummers’ progress. After two days, all without exception would eat from the feeder if the latter were just offered to them, — for such was the next step to actual hand-feeding, — and after less than a week all ate heartily and of their own accord. Of course, there were the usual losses inseparable from the importation of wild birds, the weaker ones dying in sad though speedy succession ; but on the whole more than half soon settled down and could be pronounced as saved. Meanwhile, we had reached and passed the Azores : the weather became colder each day, necessitating the constant use of the radiator in the room ; the wind and sea rose higher and higher, until, when a day off Santander, we encountered the worst storm of the journey, which went on steadily gaining' in violence for the final three or four days. Days of helpless, silent misery, during which the cages had to be lashed around the walls of the cabin, whilst the vessel heaved in and out of the mountainous seas, burying her nose among rollers that broke on our deck, over the bridge, with an infernal and incessant roar. But the little birds did not mind at all : in fact, they seemed not to notice the motion or noise ; they continued feeding', humming and buzzing through the storm quite unconcernedly. At last, about the second half of March, after a crossing of some ten days from Guadeloupe, we reached our port of destination. A motor, which awaited us at the docks, conveyed the cages, carefully wrapped up in thick flannels and warmed by several hot-water bottles, to a heated and reserved compartment in the train ; our troubles were over, and success achieved so far. (To be continued ). 110 My Brown-necked Parrot. MY BROWN-NECKED PARROT. Pceocephalus fuscicollis. By Hubert D. Astley. In the Avicultural Magazine of Feb., 1910, Dr. Hopkinson gave a most interesting account, accompanied by an excellent illustration of what someone was pleased to entitle as the Brown¬ necked Parroc, which someone must have been completely colour¬ blind. To begin with there is no brown about the bird at all, and secondly why “ brown-necked ” ? for the whole head and neck to the shoulders is of the same colour, a difficult colour to describe I admit ; but it is no more brown than it is blue or yellow ! I should venture to call it silvery-grey, suffused with dull rose pink, that is to say each dull pink feather seems to have a silvery grey edging. “ Silvery-headed ” would have been nearer the mark. But there it is, some birds have names which make one wonder whether those who christened them were not what is called “ ga-ga.” Now Dr. Hopkinson described this Parrot not only as difficult to keep alive but also as untractable, a biter and a screecher. Indeed any aviculturist after reading his most interesting article would undoubtedly say “ Thank you, no Brown-headed Parrot for me.” Have I found the exception to prove the rule ? Mr. Cross wrote to offer me one which he said was very tame and had evidently been made a pet of. Mike arrived on the 29th September, 1914, and was consequently, without much self-congratulation as to originality, christened after the archangel. And Mike is quite worthy of taking his place in St. Michael’s angelic hosts, for wings he has, and an angelic temper too. He’s never happy unless he can sit on my shoulder, delighting in being handled, and making no end of a fuss when in his cage until one takes him out. As yet he doesn’t talk, but he tries his very best, and can imitate the sound of kissing and other such canoodling noises ; but scream — never once have I heard him. And he’s a very gay spirit too, nothing morose, nothing stupid about Mike, with his dark brown eye full of intelligent expression. Five Nesting Failures and Follies. Ill Let me remind others, or inform them as the case may be, that he has for first cousins such things as the Grey Parrot, Jardine’s and Meyer’s, and that his native home is Africa, in the Gambia. As Dr. Hopkinson has told us, and as the illustration facing p. 107 of Yol. I., 1909 — 1910, will show you, this Parrot’s bill is abnormally large, which feature one grows accustomed to in time, ending by thinking that this fine development of the nasal organ lends dignity, and if he took snuff what a fine pinch he could put in, not that he couldn’t put that in anyhow. [Who was it, bye-the-bye, who on being offered a pinch of snuff by the Eegent, answered, “I thank your Eoyal Highness, but if “ the Almighty had intended me to take snuff, he would have “turned my nose up the other way.”] My Parrot, I suppose I must say Brown-necked Parrot, is a frugal eater, but makes no fuss about not being supplied with ground-nuts. He partakes of a Parrot mixture of various seeds, drinks water and eats apples. There is one of this species in the Parrot House of the London Zoological Society, and I remember seeing one in the Zoo at Amsterdam ; but they don’t grow on gooseberry bushes. By no means. FIVE NESTING FAILURES & FOLLIES. By C. Barnby Smith. There are some sins of which one never sincerely repents, and in my case one of these is the awful waste of time spent in watching game and marsh birds with nests or young. There is for me a fascination about this, quite out of all proportion to possible benefits derived for aviculture.* During the past season I have watched several interesting nesting failures in my garden, and give notes of five such. 1. A pair of my Cayenne Spur- winged Plover in March began to make that incessant chatter and posturing which indicate * Much knowledge would be lost to aviculturists without this prolonged and quiet watchfulness by lovers of wild life. — ED. 112 Mr. C. Barnby Smith desire to nest. I accordingly placed them in a small grass run apart from other birds, and they very soon made a small “ scrape ” for a nest quite close to where the gate of the run opened. I knew this would never succeed, and after some trouble induced them to adopt a better nesting site, where four eggs were laid. My hopes were then great, but, alas, a small rat managed to squeeze into the run and accounted for all the eggs. I shortly afterwards took out the parent birds and foolishly placed them in a run with some other non-nesting Cayenne Plover. The hen was killed within four hours, and the cock had to be taken out (a disreputable looking bleeding object) to recover in solitude. 2. My Glossy Ibis make some half serious attempts at nesting every summer, but so far it has always been a case of “ much cry and little wool.” I have provided them with a large nesting platform about four feet from the ground and consisting of wire netting (slightly dished) covered with birch twigs and rushes, and I always give fresh loose material each season. This season the nesting operations extended from mid-April to the end of July — both cock and hen continually moving the twigs and rushes and piling them into a little heap in one corner of the platform. They would often both seize the same twig and pull in opposite directions with small net result. At other times the cock would stand on the edge of the nest with his back feathers stiffly erected and with repeated bowings of the head and loud croaks call upon the hen bird to come and join him at the nest. Both cock and hen spent much time sitting on the nest, and in the end four eggs were laid at considerable intervals of time. One of the eggs (a soft one) was laid on the ground. The cock bird especially seemed wildly excited over the other three eggs, and (with curiously misplaced energy) would never allow them to remain in the nest, but repeatedly pushed them with his beak out of the nest, and occasionally, off the platform altogether. I tried replacing several of them, but without the least good result. The birds are in pei’fect health and quite tame. I much wish they were either less perverse or I understood better their normal nesting habits. I have asked a gentleman in the south of Spain if my methods could be improved to ensure the Ibis nesting better, but he says the nest provided he on Five Nesting Failures ancl Follies. 113 thinks should meet the case judging from the habits of wild Ibis nesting in his vicinity. 3. I keep one pair of Californian Quails, and the hen bird this spring laid over twenty eggs in one corner of the shelter shed. These were all taken away by me, and she immediately started a nest by a tuft of grass outside and laid eighteen more eggs. Six of these being removed, she sat closely on the other twelve eggs and hatched twelve healthy chicks, of which eight were safely reared. The pride of both parents in the young hatched wras intense. The hen could not easily brood such a large family, so the cock would constantly sit alongside and brood such chicks as failed to find room under the hen. He varied this peaceful domestic occupation by occasionally charging violently at my feet as I left the run. The habits of young Californian Quails are most pretty, and I do not think there are any more interesting small game birds, except perhaps young Chinese Quails, which it has never been my good fortune to see. 4. When I left home for Iceland early last June, I had what I hoped was a true pair of Australian Pectoral Rails nesting in a grass tuft in a small run. One bird was “ sitting like a stone ” on four eggs, and I hoped for good results. Unfortunately, a rat made an inroad during my absence and killed the sitting bird. On my return, I found that owing to this and other tragedies things had got rather mixed, and the surviving rail had been moved into a larger run (about 9 yards by 16 yards) where there were a lot of other Waders, including another Pectoral Rail. The surviving Rail was sitting closely in a tuft of grass on eggs believed by my man to be six in number. Thinking these eggs were certainly all clear, I somewhat stupidly had the bird frightened off the nest and gave instructions for the eggs to be put on a table in the potting shed to present to a schoolboy in due course. When the man went to the nest for the eggs only four were found, although six had previously been seen. As these Rails are always destroying their eggs, this was not surprising. The eggs were removed at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 14th July — at 2.45 p.m. the same day, my man heard a chick trying to break through the shell of one of the eggs removed. He at once took all four eggs back to the nest and then discovered 114 On Five Nesting Failures and Follies that the two missing eggs had previously been converted into two little balls of black fluff, and the old bird had taken these chicks back to the nest and was brooding them there. The four eggs were replaced in the nest, and the following morning two more chicks were hatched (the other two eggs being clear). The difficulty of feeding the chicks then commenced. In the first place, it was often most difficult even to find the parent birds, and when found the chicks for the first few days would scatter in all directions more often than not making frantic efforts to get through the f-in. mesh wire netting enclosing the run, and on various occasions I rescued chicks that had pushed through and failed to return. The parent birds would at my approach display the greatest agitation — the cock very slightly setting up his feathers and rushing off with loud “ clacks ” of indignation, whilst the hen with similar “clacks” and with lowered head and wings, and feathers on the back erected, would repeatedly charge at me, especially if a chick wTas heard to cry. It would be of great interest to have had a photograph of the hen Rail while charging She looked something like a Ruff in the breeding season, and the greatest possible contrast to the torpedo-shaped bird as I usually see her at other seasons, shrinking away through the grass at the slightest noise. The cock bird usually kept quite near the hen, but I never actually saw him brooding the chicks. For a fortnight I spent a good deal of time throwing crumbled hard-boiled egg, scalded gentles, finely chopped meat, poultry food and other dainties in open spaces where I hoped the Rails and not other birds would find them. It was most interesting when I could watch unseen to notice the hen bird coming out to fetch pieces of this food or catching flies with which to feed the young. I could always tell when the young were near, and I was unnoticed, by her constant low “ grunts ” calling them — a striking contrast to the angry “ clacks ” of one or both parents as soon as danger was suspected. One of the chicks died at the end of about a wreek and one when partly feathered. The other two flourished greatly, but just before getting feathered were the ugliest birds I ever saw in my life. The down with which they were hatched did not seem to have increased at all, and as the birds grew prodigiously they became straggling, black-skinned, semi-nude objects. On Sun and Sugar Birds. 115 I often failed to find one or other of them for a week or so at a time, and it was interesting to notice that the young birds and their parents made long tunnels in the coarse-growing grass all over the run, as though the place had been infested with rats. A system¬ atic hunt by several persons with sticks to poke in every tuft of grass was the only way of ascertaining what birds were there. The greatest care had to be exercised to avoid treading on the chicks. 5. I have written so often about the nesting of my Tree Partridges that I will now only add a short note as to a pair of these birds that spent the whole of last summer in vigorously making and pulling to pieces at least twenty nests, laying in several a few eggs which I took to the incubator. On the 13th August, the hen commenced to sit on four eggs in a nest deeply scooped out in the ground and so covered that she was, when sitting, almost invisible. She sat twenty-six days, and to my surprise then brought off four chicks. I have never previously known eggs of Tree Partridges take so long to hatch. When the hen bird finally brought off the chicks and I went to investigate, the cock came flying almost into my face from the other side of the run with a wild shriek and thereafter evinced the greatest excitement when I approached the hen and chicks and often made frantic efforts to lure me away. The weather for the first week was unusually cold and two chicks died. I put the other two with the parent birds into my sand- grouse shed (a wooden shed facing south with sand floor and glass shelter in front). They flourished well there, being fed on well cleaned gentles and small seeds. Of course, turf ground would have been more ideal, but then Tree Partridges should not hatch in September, and I had to do the best I could. SUN AND SUGAR BIRDS. By E. J. Brook. I have often thought that one of the most critical times of the year for small birds in aviaries with outdoor flights was late autumn and early winter. I have been greatly puzzled over this as cold could not be held accountable when the birds were shut into 116 Mr. E. J. Brook, warm quarters. Neither coulcl want of exercise hurt the birds when the compartments they were shut into were large and gave ample room for flight. Then, again, I have often been under the impression that this critical period was less noticeable one year than another with exactly the same class of birds. This year I have had considerable trouble with my smaller Sunbirds and Tanag'ers. These birds were in splendid condition when it became necessary to shut them in for fear of cold winds and heavy rain. I thought what a splendid store of health they had accumulated against a long winter. All the long summer and early autumn these birds had lived a life of practical freedom, feeding from the flowers that adorned the beds and pillars in the flights and the innumerable midges and other small insects. So much natural food did my Sunbirds get that they required very little artificial food for nearly four months. Then came the order to close the windows and shut up for the winter, and none too soon, for that very night the wind changed. The temperature fell and a much wanted rain came at last. Now, instead of the birds that up to this time had looked so well, continuing in this state of health, those that had not quite got over the moult looked dull and dry in their plumage, in fact, they were stuck in the moult I should say. I did all I could to mend matters but evidently the sudden change from a natural diet to an artificial one was too much for their constitutions and I lost some of them. The larger Sunbirds and those over the moult did not seem to suffer. From what I have seen of a large collection of Sunbirds kept in an indoor aviary and in cages and that never get out into the open, I am inclined to think that the smaller species will do best in large cages where they can take exercise and are kept on the same food all the year round. Kept in this way there is no sudden change from one mode of life and feeding to another, and they are therefore safer. While on this subject, I might mention my experience of the Sugar Birds. The Yellow-winged I have never had much trouble with and I have also found the Black-headed easy to keep, but the Purple has given a lot of trouble and so has the Blue ( D . cay ana). I think perhaps the Purple is inclined to get fat and possibly the on Sun ancl Sugar Birds. 117 Blues are the same, as they seem to be greedy birds. I have had a number of Yellow-wing's and nearly all have died of what I believe to be nothing but old age. The reason I think this, is that I have noticed as a rule those that have died have failed to go into eclipse plumage at the proper season for this change. When one of these birds has not made the seasonal change, it has, though perfectly healthy in appearance and continuing in brilliant plumage, died shortly before the next moult. I can only conclude that when they do not g'o into the eclipse plumage this is a sign that their period of usefulness is over and they are no longer wanted. I may mention that I do not think any of my Sugar birds have suffered from being suddenly deprived of their garden flight, but perhaps none have been in the moult at that time. Of all the vicious little brutes I have ever kept I think Sun- birds are the worst. Some of them will attack almost anything I believe. I have a hen Zeylonica that has seriously maimed Tanagers more than twice its size. I have now placed this little pest in a compartment with Peach-faced Lovebirds and I have seen the Lovebirds move from a branch where the Sunbird wanted to be. The Sunbirds nearly always injure each other with a vicious blow with the beak on the front of the skull causing a fracture or serious damage to the scalp. A fight begins without any warning and between birds that have lived for months in perfect peace and a hen or cock is quite as likely to attack one of the other sex as one of its own. Pairing seems to be a matter of selection on the part of the birds rather than a matter of chance. Probably age has a good deal to do with this. I have only had one pair that really paired and they were most affectionate and nested, but all other pairs that I have selected as likely to breed have lived in a sort of armed truce which has eventually ended in a fight. 118 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays, SOME PRACTICAL REMARKS ON PRACTICAL AVICULTURE. By Dr. L. Lovell-Keays. The title of my paper sounds rather comprehensive and I trust will prove not only so but also comprehensible. Although I have been interested in aviculture for just about twelve years, I have only taken it up seriously for about eighteen months. During that time certain facts (and I fear fancies) have impressed themselves on me and I feel, or at any rate hope, that committing them to writing may be of some interest, if not a little help, to others. I have had to learn so much by experience that I am sure others have had to learn by experience too, and I feel it is a pity that other beginners should also have to tread the beaten track of experience and have to learn by their own mistakes instead of profiting' by the mistakes of others. This is by way of introduction and apology for expressing my views at all in print. Please do not think I have not had a great deal of advice, a considerable amount of help and ever so much enjoyment from other and more experienced aviculturists. Among aviculturists there is a true bond of brother¬ hood, and by far my most interesting correspondence is my avicul- tural correspondence. But I have constructed aviaries of various types, kept birds of various sorts and had failures of varying kinds. If ever I build fresh aviaries I shall bear my past experiences in mind. I propose in this article, or series of articles, to deal, in the first place, with aviaries and their construction : in the second place with foods and their preparation ; and in the third place with birds and their reception and treatment. I do not intend to deal with either section at great length, and I fear many of my deductions will appear false, and I am sure many will disagree with me in some of the things I shall say. In aviculture, as in all other sciences, it is indeed a case of “ Quot homines tot sententicie” and I have no mandate from the Oracle at Delphi which could lead me to imagine I am infallible. For all my fallibilities I ask forgiveness, and for all my ignorance I crave indulgence. I have seen many aviaries, but I have yet to see the perfect Some Practical Remarks on Practical Aviculture. 119 one, and I certainly have yet to construct it. It is no concern of mine to give plans or elevations of aviaries here, but I wish to draw attention to certain obvious defects of my own. I have, I believe, what one may call twelve or fifteen aviaries, bird rooms, and so forth. Only one has a brick floor and is brick built as regards the shelter. It is quite unheated. It is lofty, well ventilated and well lighted. Moreover, it has an east window, and I take it that in the dreary half-lit days of winter, the early morning sun must bring cheer to the hearts of our feathered pets. I should like to have an east window in every aviary of mine. For it is in the winter our birds require most thought, for in the summer birds will do anywhere. My east window is double and measures three feet square. It is on a level with the main perching accommodation, and I put the food quite close to the window so that birds may get food as soon as dawn has arrived. The double window is to prevent too rapid irradation of heat. The air space between acts as a non-conductor and so prevents the draught that is inevitable even with a closed and perfectly fitting window. I have all my shelters whitewashed. It is lighter, cleaner, and shows the dirt, besides which the whiting is good for the birds. In this aviary there is a good sized door above which I have had a glass door fitted which opens inwards. This is the main entrance for the birds and can be easily closed from the outside by a piece of string without the aid of pulleys or other devices. The frame of the door is between the birds’ entrance and the door itself and birds are very fond of alighting on that before they make up their minds where they want to go, either on going in or out. Then this ledge is well protected from rain and I put sop or soft food on it during bad weather, for to move the food from right outside to right inside might cause a bird to die from being unable to find it. The door itself I have cut in half and had the upper part glazed for purposes of light. By having the door cut in half I can get in and out in severe weather without letting the birds out. It is not much of a stoop this 3ft. 6in. and I have never had a bird get past me yet. All the doors open inwards, you can push your way in and fill up the space with your body. In this aviary, I can and do drive in my birds every evening at sunset, or earlier if necessary during the winter. It takes three 120 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays nights to train the birds to go in — never more. “ Your birds must be very wonderful,” you say ; until you see this aviary and then you realise that when driven the birds must go in, because birds when frightened always fly to the top, and birds when driven always fly away from the driver. Ergo, if the entrance to the shelter is at the very top of the flight and in one corner, the birds have nowhere else to go. I have tried to drive birds in in other aviaries, and when thoroughly exasperated given it up as a bad job. In another aviary the flight is 8 feet high, and the shelter slopes down from a wall towards the flight and is only 6 feet 6 inches in height. The consequence is that the wire work has to be carried up from the top of the shelter to the level of the flight, and although this slopes it makes no difference, and when I drive or attempt to drive the birds in they merely cling to the wire-netting. It is only a little point, but it becomes important if you want to catch a bird up or to drive them in in very bad weather, and so on ; and to my mind an aviary in which you cannot easily drive the birds in is not perfect. As regards the floor of the shelter, I need hardly say that a cement floor well covered with sand is to be infinitely preferred to the ordinary earth or even brick floor, and where the extra cost is not of great moment, there should be no corners, but the floor should be sharply curved at the junction with the walls. This is the only way you can be sure of keeping your shelter free from dirt and its attendant satellite disease. The further advantage of cement floors is that you can exclude mice. It should not be within the province of this paper to warn my readers against the evils of draughts. And yet I have seen aviaries where one can see daylight at the eaves. Birds will roost in the eaves ; often people wonder that their birds get pneumonia, or in bad cases, won’t use the shelter at all. I encourage the birds to use the shelters for feeding in and nesting in. How often do we hear of nestlings being drowned out. But en passant, let me make a suggestion. In the inner flight, when you are expecting young to leave the nest, get some nice leafy boughs and put them in the flight several days before the young are expected. By that time the old birds will have got used to the presence of these boughs and have lost their inquisi- Some Practical Remarks on Practical Aviculture. L21 tiveness over them, and then when the quasi-helpless young birds leave the nest they will have some cover to hide in. I experienced the loss of a young bird the other day owing to the lack of cover in the shelter. Two Avadavats left the nest. One was stronger on the wing than the other, but both were attacked most unmercifully by Green Avadavats, other Red Avadavats, Bib Finches and several other small birds. The one that was able flew out into the flight where there is a superabundance of cover, but the other was not able to manage it, and the latter, although it had the protection of the shelter and its crop was quite full, was dead the next morning, bullied to death ; whereas the former is now fending for itself although we had frost on each night succeeding its plunge into the outer world. With regard to nesting accommodation, I can only make a passing remark and that is : — Don’t put them where they make obvious alighting places for birds coming in and going out, and don’t imagine birds prefer a dark dungeonlike sort of corner to nest in. My birds like to have the entrance to the nest in a good light and I have noticed that they nearly always prefer to use a nesting receptacle that faces the light rather than the reverse. There is one point about my main Finch aviary that I have repeatedly found invaluable and always found useful. The inner flight of my new Finch aviary is the same breadth as the outer flight, and the shelter is entered from the outer flight. The passage divides the two inner flights and merely consists of wire mesh partitions. In this aviary, which was built against a south brick wall, the roof slopes upwards to the back, and is thereabout 8 feet high. Against the wall at the back I have had fixed a kind of square tunnel, but with the front made of wire work and made so as to open outwards. I thus have an easy means of communication between flights A and B. At the same time it takes up no useful room, being overhead. By means of sliding shutters I can instantly clear the tunnel at either end, i.e., at HK or LM. The object of this is as follows : In the first place I can use either flight separately or as one large flight. Thus I can drive all the birds into flight A and clean or repair flight B, or I can keep flight A shut up and allow flight B to remain open to the outer flight, and so on. 122 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays, But the chief use of these sliding doors is to catch up parti¬ cular birds. Having ascertained that the particular bird I want is in the shelter, I close all the windows and find, perhaps, two dozen birds shut up. I roughly divide them into two flocks, one in flight A and the other in B. Then I close one or other of the sliding doors in my tunnel. The birds not wanted are let out into the flight to save them from being frightened. I then open the door leading from the inner flight to the passage and drive out some of the captives into the passage. If my bird is not there (and I endeavour to keep it in the flight as long as I can) I simply shut the door into the passage and open the door into the outer flight. By this means I eliminate the unwanted birds. If, however, the bird I want gets into the passage, I can always separate it from the others, and then pushing open the door between the passage and the inner //WV£7^ FLIGHTS A U i ~vy- < F 3 OUTER FLi 4ht ^flou/VP TLPiN H _ L Ah Flu^-h-t fas Sage FLIGHT A & 3 ad<^ eltvcttion. . flight, let the unwanted birds return to the inner flight. I am then in this position, the wanted bird is in the passage and all doors are shut. I let down the sliding door of the tunnel and allow the unwanted birds to escape if they like. I then catch up the bird I want by hand. It all sounds very complicated, but in reality it is quite easy and takes far less time than it takes to write a description of the method. I have never failed to catch any given bird within ten minutes, provided I can get it in the shelter to begin with. And in the winter, when one cannot have the birds out of doors at all, it is just as easy to single out a bird and catch it, but one has, of course, to slightly modify one’s plan of campaign. By this means one avoids rushing round the flight making wild dashes for the bird with a butterfly net. I have found it an inestimable boon on many occasions. Some Practical Remarks on Practical Aviculture. 123 I have still another use for my tunnel. I can, by fixing a lamp underneath it and covering the outside of the floor with sheet zinc, use my tunnel as a hot air chamber for ailing birds and many a bird’s life has been saved in that tunnel. These uses are not imaginary or illusory. They have been thoroughly tested and proved absolutely reliable and practical. Athough this is one of my largest aviaries, I can catch birds more easily in this than in any other, simply because of this overhead communication between the two inner flights. As regards furnishing the shelters, last year I provided one with nice twiggy branches but bare, and the other with hazel boughs with the leaves on. The leaves were a great success and provided cover for the small birds, affording protection from bullies, and the birds relished the leaves as sheltering places to roost amongst. As regards vertical or horizontal branches, I rather incline to the latter, but I employ both kinds. Perches are taboo with me with certain exceptions. With reference to lighting the aviaries during the winter, I am inclined to think it is waste of light. The great majority of birds go to bed at sundown and rise at dawn and eat nothing between. I give it as my opinion, and therefore only for what that is worth, that birds suffer no hurt from the prolonged abstinence during the winter nights. The subject is too big to discuss in a paper of this kind, but I am prepared to back my opinion by facts. Many people are fearfully against ledges. I never could make out why, except that they get dirty. True, but they can be cleaned and kept so, and there is nothing a bird loves so much as a ledge. I suspect it rests the flexor muscles of their legs. I must leave the shelter or inner flight and pass on to the flight proper. The dimensions of this must depend largely upon the room you have, the money you are prepared to spend upon it, and upon individual tastes in general. A lofty flight has much to recommend it and everything from a bird’s point of view. It may, of course, double your cover, and you can grow decent trees and shrubs in it, but if you ever want to catch up a bird in a great lofty flight, the trouble then begins. My flights are practically 8 feet high throughout, and I find that a very convenient height. It gives 124 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays the birds room to fly over one’s head and so ease panic, and one can drive the birds towards a given point at this height. Nests are easy to get at and the cost is not too great. The moment you get over 8 feet you will find the cost increases almost “ in proportion to the square of the height ” as the mathematicians say. The supports of my aviaries are all chestnut poles, and the builder, a sound practical man, assures me that chestnut will last 15 or 16 years in the ground and far out-live oak or any of the fir tribe. Iron is of course much more durable but much more expensive. Creepers (such as Honeysuckle, Clematis, etc.), do not like metal to climb up. Metal is such a good conductor of heat that the plants experience and suffer from great variations of temperature, much to their detriment. Wood has this advantage too, and that is it is more picturesque. Moreover you can drive nails into it. Another point is that wood harbours insects, — an advantage it is impossible to over-rate. I have been asked what kind of evergreens birds prefer. I have tried most kinds and I find the most favourite kinds are the Retinosporas and the Kryptomerias amongst the conifers. Laurels, Privets, are useful too, but in every aviary I would see planted an Elder. They are full growing, afford good shelter and are quite impossible to kill. Apart from the insects the flowers attract, the tree itself generally teems with insect life, and the berries too are greedily eaten by numbers of birds. Then Wichuriana Roses such as Dorothy Perkins, Hiawatha, and the most vigorous of all, Evangeline, may be planted, besides Honey¬ suckles, Clematis, and so on to the fancy of the aviculturist. Certain plants I shall touch on when dealing with pods, but mention must be made of Docks Plantains, Milk or Sow Thistles, one or two of the Umbelliferae such as Cow Parsley, of the Com- positae as Michaelmas Daisy, and lastly of the Trumpet Honey¬ suckle (j Eccremocarpus Scccber). The dwarf perennial grasses or the so-called “ flowering grasses ” must certainly have a place, and the usual garden weeds such as Shepherd’s Purse, Groundsel, Chick- weed, and so forth. Lastly, in our flight we should all have a bird bath as designed and described by Mr. W. T. Page. Nothing adds such joy to the aviary or fascination for the aviarist as a properly constructed bird bath. They are simple shallow depressions in the Some Practical Bemarks on Practical Aviculture. 125 ground li inches deep in the centre and shelving away to nothing at the edges. The drain cock in mine is nothing more than the mouth and neck of a druggist’s wide mouth bottle and a bung fitted to it. Being glass it is clean and no fear of verdigris or metallic poison. The cost of the drain cock was of course to me nil. Before leaving our flight, I would draw attention to the absolute necessity of an entrance lobby. Ever so small will suffice. It prevents the loss of birds through escape, and if one does get out through a hole anywhere or by some unforeseen accident, it is usually easy to catch them in the lobby, and I have known several instances where stray birds have been caught in the lobby. Then one word as regards the doors. All outer doors leading to the lobby and the lobby door above, should be fitted with a powerful spring. I have found the vertical coil spring the most efficacious for outdoor work, and it is quite inexpensive. Those of our readers who read the writer’s articles on Cactus Conures will recollect the mention made of eaves. Eaves are a supplement to, and not a substitute for, a proper shelter. All birds are fond of eaves both for roosting and nesting. Wherever I have a wooden partition between two aviaries there you will find a row of eaves and there you will find the birds sheltering during the wet and often roosting at night. In flights which are much exposed, it is a good plan to have a row of short boards along the top of the flight about 2 feet deep with eaves attached and under the eaves an assortment of branches. In such a case, each end of the eaves should be closed and so make a snug shelter for the birds. In my parrakeet aviaries I have hung perches from side to side the whole width, and at the far end of the flight, protected above and outside by match -boarding. This is by far the most favourite rest¬ ing place for the parrakeets, protecting them as it does from the hot sun, the prevailing winds (S.W.) and also of course from the rain. Transverse perches are almost a necessity for the Platycerci, if one is to have regard for their feet. Climbers and creepers are not possible in a parrakeet aviary. By the way, there appear to be two things parrakeets don’t destroy, and they are Stinging Nettles and the Common Bindweed. 126 Mr. William Jameach, With these few remarks on aviaries, utterly incomplete I know only too well, I hope later on to write something about Foods and their Preparation. PAST IMPORTATIONS OF INDIAN PHEASANTS. By William Jameach. [A letter addressed in French to M. A. GEOFFEOY SAINT-HlLAIRE, director of the Zoological Gardens of Paris, and translated by HUBERT D. ASTLEY.] London, 31 Oct., 1882. Deab SlB,- — You have asked me what is the number of Im- peyan Pheasants ( Lophophorus refulgent, ) and Tragopans (Geriornis satyr a ) which I have imported from India. I have consulted my notes and my memory, and I give you below the information that you wish for. In 1864, I sent from Calcutta by the Cape of Good Hope, 20 Impeyan Pheasants, seven birds having arrived alive after a voyage of 120 days. In 1865, by the same route, I sent 50 Impeyans ; all suc¬ cumbed. In 1866, still vi& the Cape of Good Hope, I sent 117 Impeyan Pheasants and Tragopans. All perished on the way. In 1867, my consignment wras sent by what is termed the land route, that is by railway from Calcutta to Bombay, by sea from Bombay to Suez, by rail from Suez to Alexandria, by sea from Alexandria to Marseilles, or Trieste, or direct to London. I sent 300 Impeyan Pheasants and Tragopans. Eleven birds arrived alive after forty-two days’ journey. In 1868, by the same route, I sent 285 Impeyan Pheasants and Tragopans ; of which 40 were landed alive. In 1869, my birds came by the Suez Canal, and since then all my consignments have followed this route. Out of 100 Impeyans and Tragopans which were sent, 40 arrived in good health. In 1870, out of 180 Impeyans and Tragopans, 16 arrived. on Past Importations of Indian Pheasants. 127 In 1871, out of 120, I received only 16. In 1872, out of 20 pairs of Impeyans, only four birds arrived. In 1873, out of 80 Impeyans and Tragopans, twelve only arrived alive. In 1874, 40 Impeyans were despatched. Thirty-one arrived in good condition, which I sold to you. In 1875, out of 80 Impeyans and Tragopans sent off, 70 arrived. In 1876, I had 40 Impeyans and 25 Tragopans put on board ship, of which 31 of the former and 21 of the latter arrived. In 1877, the 80 Impeyans and the 70 Tragopans sent off, all arrived alive. In 1878, out of 70 Impeyans and 50 Tragopans, I lost only six of the latter. In February, 1879, 60 Impeyans and 70 Tragopans were despatched, all of which arrived safely. In March of the same year, a fresh consignment of 40 Impeyans and 20 Tragopans were dispatched, none of which perished on the journey. The year 1880, was full of incidents. After almost insur¬ mountable difficulties I became possessed of the first Hastings’ Tragopans ( Geriornis hastinqii). All shooting having' been forbidden during the space of five years in the country under British rule where the Impeyans, Hast¬ ings’ Tragopans, Wallich’s and Pucrasian Pheasants, are met with ; I had to push my researches in the independent territories, and consequently at great distances from my ordinary centre of action. The captured birds reached Dharmsala (Punjab) after having being carried for many days on men’s backs through country covered with snow. Fourteen pairs, and twelve males of Hastings’ Tragopans, reached our aviaries. After three days journey by carriage they arrived at the nearest railway station, and after a week’s journey reached Calcutta. All these birds came to Europe safely and in good condition. At the same time I imported 32 pairs of Pucrasian Pheasants and two Wallich Pheasants. M. Yekemans, the Director of the Antwerp Zoological Gar- 128 Dr. E. Hopkinson, dens, took ten pairs of Pucras Pheasants ; the others going to various amateur aviculturists. I could not look after all the cap¬ tured birds, for there were more than I had room for, and also, I had left behind one of my men, who came on a month later with 60 pairs of Impeyans, 90 Trag'opans ( Satyra ), 24 pairs of Polyplectrons ( Chinquis ) and 7 male Sumatran Pheasants ( Euplocamus ignitus) which were the first to be brought over. My man arrived with 54 pairs Impeyans, 67 Tragopans (Satyra), 18 pairs of Polyplectron chinquis, and five male Sumatran Eire-tailed Pheasants. Prince Dhuleep Sing, residing in England, took the greater number of the Impeyans ; which, I am told, were turned out in the Maharajah’s coverts. In that same year, 1880, I was able to im¬ port ten Elliott’s Pheasants, four males and two females, seven Argus Pheasants and four pairs of Euplocamus pyronotus. (To be continued.) ENGLISH NAMES FOR THE PARROTS. By Dr. E. HOPKINSON. ( Continued from page 102.) Jendaya Conure, the YELLOW-HEADED CONURE. “ Jendaya Parrakeet,” a popular alternative for Jendaya Conure. Jerryang,” native name for the LITTLE LORIKEET. " Jew Parrakeet,” see JAVAN PARRAKEET. " Joa,” native name for several of the New Guinea LORILETS. “ Jobo,” native name in Gambia for the SENEGAL PARROT. “ Joey ” (3), Australian dealers’ name for the ROSELLA PARRAKEET. (2) An occasional English dealers’ name for the COCKATIEL. * Jonquil Parrakeet, see BLOSSOM-HEADED PARRAKEET. Julang,” a native name of PENNANT’S PARRAKEET. " Julu-up,” see BLACK-TAILED PARRAKEET. Jurnalero,” native name in Peru for the MERCENARY AMAZON. Kagula,” a Fijian name for the MASKED PARRAKEET. KAKA,” primarily the Maori name for Nestor meridionalis , of New Zealand, now used as the common name for this bird, and also (2) in the plural (the KAKAS) for any member of the genus Nestor (some¬ times Anglicised as the Nestors), which contains six species, the two best known being the KEA (q.v.), and the KAKA, or KAKA PARROT, English Names for the Parrots. 129 known as " Brown Parrot ” in New Zealand, its other book names are : Common Kara, Southern Brown Parrot (Latham), Southern Nestor. “ Kaka-korako ” is the full Maori name. The other species are : N. septentrionalis, the NORTHERN NESTOR ; N. esslingi, the PRINCE OF ESSLING’S PARROT ; N. productus, PHILIP ISLAND PARROT (Gould) ; *Wilson’s Parrakeet (Latham) ; N. norfolcensis, the LONG-BILLED PARROT of Latham. The last two are extinct. (3) “ Kara ” is also the Fijian name of the TABUAN and MASKED PARRAKEETS. KARA, Common. Kara, Mountain, see KEA. “ Kara-roraro,” see KAIvA. KAKA Parrot. " Karapo,” Maori name of the OWL-PARROT. “ Karariri ” (also spelt Kaririri), Maori name for the NEW ZEALAND PARRAKEET and for the GOLDEN-CROWNED PARRAKEET (2). “ Kaririri,” same as “ Karariri.” Kalangi,” see under ECLECTUS, RED-SIDED. ” KEA,” the Maori name for Nestor notabilis, one of the best known KAKAS, Now commonly used for this species, the “ Mountain Parrot ” (N.Z. vernacular). Other book names are : Ivea Parrot, Mountain Kara, Mountain Nestor. Kea Parrot, the KEA. Kelinry,” North- American Indian name for the CAROLINA CONURE. Kelli-relli,” native name in Gambia for the AFRICAN RING-NECKED PARRAKEET. Kessi-ressi,” Guiana native name for the YELLOW CONURE. King Amazon,” dealers’ name for one of the rarer Amazons, such as the DIADEMED A. King Lory, the KING PARROT. King Parrareet, another name for the KING PARROT. (2) An oc¬ casional old dealers’ name for the TURQUOISINE PARRAKEET. KING PARROT (1 )—Aprosmictus cyanopygius, also called the King Lory and King Parrareet, while the hen is sometimes popularly known as “ Queen Parrot.” The Australian native name is “ Wellat,” Old book names are : *Scarlet and Green Parrot, Vars. A. & B. (Latham) ; *Tabuan Parrot, Var. A. ( = male), Var. B. ( = young hen), also Latham’s. (2) Australian vernacular for the PILEATED PARRAKEET. (3) Popular name for that variety of the GREY PARROT which shows more or less mottling of red in its plumage. “ Ku-gula,” Fijian name of the SHINING PARRAKEET. *Kuhl’s Coriphilus. = KUHL’S LORY. 130 Dr. E. Hopkinson, KUHL’S LORY. = Vinia Kuhli, a near relative of the SAMOAN LORY. Sometimes called *Ruby Lory and * Kuhl’s Coriphilus. “ Kula,” Fijian name for the SOLITARY LORY. “ Labu girawa,” Cingalese name for the CINGALESE ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET. *Lace-Winged Parrot, see BLUE-CROWNED ECLECTUS. Lady Lory, a book name used occasionally for both the THREE- COLOURED LORY and PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. LA PETRE’S AMAZON. =A. pretrei. Large Andaman Paroquet, see under ALEXANDRINE, GREAT¬ BILLED. Large Burmese Paroquet, see under ALEXANDRINE, INDO- BURMESE. Large Ceylonese Paroquet, see under ALEXANDRINE, CINGALESE. " Laura,” Creole name in British Guiana for any Parrot. LAYARD’S PARRAKEET. = Palaeornis calthorpae, one of the RING- NECKS. LEACH’S COCKATOO. = Calyptorhynchus viridis, one of the BLACK COCKATOOS. Described by Latham under the names, *Solander’s C., *Cook’s C. (q.v.), and *Banksian Cockatoo, Vars. A. & B. “ Carat,” the Australian native name. LEADBEATER’S COCKATOO. = Cacatua leadbeateri. Australian ver¬ naculars, “ Major Mitchell ” and " Pink Cockatoo ” ; " Wee Juggler ” of Australian dealers. Old book names : *Inca, *Tri- colour-Crested Cockatoo. LEAR’S MACAW . — Anodovhynchus lean, one of the Hyacinthine Macaws. *Least Green and Blue Parrakeet (Edwards), see Passerine Parra- keet. ‘‘ Lemon-Crested Cockatoo,” a commonly used popular name for the GREATER SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO ; more rarely for the CITRON-CRESTED C. *Lesser Green Parrot, see under AMAZON, YELLOW-CHEEKED. Lesser Red-Fronted Parrakeet, see under NEW ZEALAND PARRA¬ KEET. LESSER SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO, see under SULPHUR- CRESTED. LESSER VAZA PARROT, see VAZA. Lesser White Cockatoo, another name (originally Edwards’) for the LESSER SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO. Levaillant’s Amazon, the DOUBLE-FRONTED A., see under AMAZON. LEVAILLANT’S PARROT (Latham ).=Poeocephalus robustus. Other names : Robust Parrot (Latham), * Damask Parrot, *Levaillant’s PlONUS. * Levaillant’s Pionus, see above. English Names for the Parrots. 131 Lincoln, see Port Lincoln. *Lineated Parrakeet, a name of Latham’s, probably = the PALM LORI¬ KEET ( Hypocharmosyna palmarum ) . Lineolated Conure, see LINEOLATED PARRAKEET. LINEOLATED PARRAKEET. =Bolborhynchus lineolatus. Sometimes popularly (but incorrectly) called the Lineolated Conure. Linnaean Eclectus. Linnaean Lory, occasional book names for the female RED-SIDED ECLECTUS, see under ECLECTUS. Little Alexandrine Parrakeet, see MAURITIUS RING-NECKED P. LITTLE DUSKY PARROT, see DUSKY PARROT. Little Green Parrot, see ACTIVE AMAZON. LITTLE LORIKEET. = G/osso^sRtocMS pusillus. *Small Parrikeet (Latham). Australian native name, “ J err yang.” Little Malayan Parrot, the BLUE-RUMPED PARRAKEET. * Little Red-Headed Parrakeet, see under LOVEBIRD, RED-FACED. Long-Billed Cockatoo, see SLENDER-BILLED C. Long-Billed Cockatoo, Western, see under SLENDER-BILLED C. Long-Billed White Cockatoo, see SLENDER-BILLED C. *Long-Billed Parrot, the PHILIP ISLAND PARROT, see under KAKA. *Long-Nosed Cockatoo, the SLENDER-BILLED C. Long-Tailed Alexandrine Parrakeet, see Malaccan Parrakeet. *Long-Tailed Green Parrakeet, Var. A., see CUBAN CONURE. *Long-Tailed Green Parrot, see ROSE-RINGED PARRAKEET. Long-Tailed Parrakeet, another commonly used name for the MALACCAN PARRAKEET. Long-Tailed Scarlet Lory, see RED LORY. Long-Toed Ground Parrakeet, the GROUND PARRAKEET. LORIKEET. Properly a long-tailed member of the family Loriidae, as opposed to the short-tailed LORIES, but not by any means always strictly used. Occasionally too in popular parlance the name is also applied to other Parrots not belonging to the Loriidae (see list). Another spelling is Loriquet. The following is a list of English names, those not belonging to the family Loriidae being enclosed in brackets. BLACK-THROATED LORIKEET. Blue-Bellied Lorikeet, see SWAINSON’S LORIKEET. BLUE-FACED LORIKEET. BLUE-HEADED LORIKEET. Brush-Tongued Lorikeets, see under B. [Ceylonese Loriquet, see CEYLONESE HANGING PARRA¬ KEET] . [Crimson-Rumped Lorikeet, an occasional dealers’ name for the VERNAL HANGING PARRAKEET], 132 Dr. E. Hopkinson, FORSTEN’S LORIKEET. GREEN-NAPED LORIKEET. [Indian Loriquet. THE VERNAL HANGING PARRAKEET is sometimes thus designated]. LITTLE LORIKEET. MASSENA’S LORIKEET. = TripBpglossus Massena. MITCHELL’S LORIKEET. = T. mitchelli. Musk Lorikeet, the MUSKY L. MUSKY LORIKEET. ORNAMENTAL LORIKEET. Ornamented Lorikeet. Ornate Lorikeet, see ORNAMENTAL L. PALM LORIKEET. PERFECT LORIKEET. =Psitteuteles euteles. Porphyry-Crowned Lorikeet, see Purple-Crowned Lorikeet. PURPLE CROWNED LORIKEET. —Glossopsittacus porphyvo- cephalus, called by Gould the Porphyry-Crowned Lorikeet. RED-COLLARED LORKIEET. = Trichoglossus rubritorques, a close ally of SWAINSON’S LORIKEET. Latham’s *Blue-Bellied Parrot, Var. C. may have meant this species. Red-Crowned Lorikeet, the VARIED LORIKEET. [Red-Rumped Lorikeet, an old name for, and sometimes still popularly applied to, the VERNAL HANGING PARRAKEET], SCALY-BREASTED LORIKEET. SWAINSON’S LORIKEET. [“ Swift Lorikeet,” Gould’s name and Australian vernacular for the SWIFT PARRAKEET], TAHITI LORIKEET. Violet Lorikeet, see under RED LORY (7). VARIED LORIKEET. = Ptilosclera versicolor ; also called the Red- Crowned Lorikeet. WEBER’S LORIKEET. =Psitteuteles weberi. YELLOWISH-GREEN LORIKEET. = Trichoglossus flavicans. LORI LET, book name for a bird of the family Cyclopsittacidae, from New Guinea and neighbourhood. Also known as FIG-PARRAKEETS, and the native name for some species (of which about twenty are known), is “ Joa.” The names of the two Australian species are : BLUE-FACED LORILET, or Coxen’s Fig-Parrakeet. — Cyclop- sittacus coxeni. RED-FACED LORILET, C. maccoyi ; Sir Wm. Macleay’s Fig- Parrakeet. Loriquet. another spelling of LORIKEET. “ Loro,” popular name in South America for the QUAKER PARRAKEET, English Names for the Parrots. 133 the RED-MASKED CONURE, and other green Parrakeets of that part of the world. ( Cf . “ Laura,” above). LORY (occasional obsolete variants, *Luri, *Lury, *Loury), a member of the family Loriidae, which contains 14 genera from New Guinea, Australia, and the Malay Islands. They are generally divided into LORIES and LORIKEETS, the former short- tailed, the latter long¬ tailed, but this distinction is not always strictly followed in their nomenclature. (2) The name is also often (but incorrectly) popularly used for other kinds of Parrots ; these are enclosed in brackets in the following list of English names : [Australian Lory, an old name for PENNANT’S PARRAKEET], [Beautiful Lory (Latham), ditto]. BLACK LORY. ♦Black-Capped Lory, and *First Black-Capped Lory, see THREE- COLOURED LORY. ♦Second Black-Capped Lory, see PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. [“ Black-Tailed Lory,” see BLACK-TAILED PARRAKEET], Blue-Breasted Lory, (i) An occasional book name for the BLUE¬ TAILED LORY ; [(2) A name of Latham’s ?=the female CERAM ECLECTUS], BLUE-CHEEKED LORY. Blue-Diademed Lory, the BLUE-TAILED LOR\r, see under RED LORY (3). ♦Blue-Fringed Lory, see RED LORY. BLUE-NAPED LORY. — Lorius cyanauchen. Blue-Necked Lory, the BLUE-STREAKED LORY. BLUE-STREAKED LORAr, see under RED LORY (2). Blue-Striped Lory, the BLUE-STREAKED LORY. Blue-Tailed Lory, see under B. To be continued). CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC. BLUE -BONNET PLUCKED BARE. Miss Drummond writes : — Dear Sir,— If you are able to help me as to curing a female Blue Bonnet Parrakeet of feather plucking, I shall be more than grateful. I have the bird in a cage, as in the aviary she was always tumbling about, and I thought she would kill herself. She is now exactly like a plucked bird ready for roasting, the skin very red : but she is as cheerful and full of fun and life as ever. 134 Correspondence. She has Fellowes’ Syrup in her water always ; no hemp in the seed mix¬ ture, but a little Sunflower seed, and also some sopped biscuit and water, in which I was advised to put a few drops of Cod Liver Oil, but that ended the sop, so I have put a little salt butter in it, which she loves, and a bit of butter on toast is a delight. Spray millet she likes, and she eats well, Sometimes a little powdered sulphur is dusted over her skin, but it does not seem to be beneficial. % 3? The following reply has been sent to Miss Drummond : I am afraid that there is no certain remedy for feather-plucking in parrots, It is generally brought about by dryness and irritation of the skin consequent upon indigestion due to incorrect feeding, though in a few instances it results from the presence of parasites. Sometimes, if treated when it first starts and before it has become a habit, correct feeding and a little of Dinneford’s Fluid Magnesia in the drinking-water for a few days have a beneficial resnlt ; as also turning the bird loose in a densely planted aviary where its attention is diverted to the destruction of trees and shrubs ; but a parrot or parrakeet in a cage, having little to occupy its mind beyond its food, cannot be cured of a bad habit of this nature. In his excellent work on the Parrakeets my friend Mr. Seth- Smith says of the Blue-Bonnets and their near relatives — “ Canary-seed should be the staple food of these birds in captivity, and to this should be added millet, hemp and oats, the last two sparingly, and an abundance of green food during the summer months is essential. The present writer has kept three species for years, and is strongly opposed to soft food, such as bread and milk, egg and bread, and so on, as a food for these birds, except when there are young birds to be fed, when stale bread, soaked in cold water and squeezed nearly dry is undoubtedly most bene¬ ficial, and aids the parents very considerably in their task of feeding their young.” Butter is undoubtedly bad for all kinds of parrots. A. G. BUTLER. THE KINGFISHER. SIR, — I don’t know if the small amount of experience I have had in keep¬ ing Kingfishers in captivity will prove of interest to your readers ; for I am bound to say that I did not meet with a great amount of success. The first attempt was when I was at Eton. I procured a young hand-reared one which I kept in an ordinary Blackbird’s cage. I used to feed him by hand on minnows which I partly caught myself and partly bought from Bembridge (the fishing-tackle man). I had him about three weeks, when my house-master strongly objected to the insanitary odour in my room, so I had to find other quarters for my bird. At that time I kept several terriers, white rats, and other small game at a cottage in Tangier Lane, Eton, which was out of bounds. It belonged to a man of the name of Jim Bailey, a stone-mason by trade {when he chose to work), who I afterwards started in a bird-shop in Eton. He took charge of the Kingfisher, and the bird lived in the Blackbird’s cage in perfect health for nine months and Correspondence. 135 then suicided himself by poking his head through the bars and hanging himself. He was fed practically entirely on minnows and got through about twenty a day. No doubt he would have eaten a hundred, but twenty seemed to do him very well, probably owing to the sedentary life he led. Occasionally, when minnows were scarce, he had strips of raw beef cut into the size of a minnow and dipped in water, The bottom of the cage was covered with saw dust and he had a flower pot saucer full of water at one end. During the whole of this time he was fed by hand, and it is to that I believe that I owe the success in keeping him. Since then I have more than once tried to keep Kingfishers in both cages and aviary : providing them with a vessel of water with live minnows in it. In each case the result was the same, viz., the bird killed himself by taking headers into the water after the fish. Unless the tank for the fish is deep enough this will always prove the stumbling block to keeping Kingfishers in captivity. The last one I tried was an exceedingly tame young bird, which Mr. Galloway, of Caversham, hand-reared for me. This bird I put in one of my out-door aviaries with one end roofed in. Along the front I placed a zinc tank about 4ft. long, ISins. wide and 5ins. deep. The bottom of this was covered with gravel and a number of minnows were kept in it. I arranged a small bough of a tree about a foot above the tank for the bird to sit on to catch his fish. This he would not do, but sat on another tree branch about 4ft. above the tank. From this he would watch the fish for a few moments and then take a violent header. In the end he broke his beak completely and died. From my experience, such as it is, I have come to the conclusion that it is possible to keep a Kingfisher in confinement either in a cage or an aviary, but in case of a cage the bird would always have to be hand-fed (about 20 to 25 minnows a day). In an aviary a tank would have to be provided, and the correct depth of the water and the height above it for the branch would have to be dis¬ covered, In a tank like this, far more minnows must be provided, and there would always be the trouble of the bird clearing up the lot in a short space of time and then having too long a fast afterwards. On the whole, I believe the cage would behest as requiring less fish, and no chance of the bird killing him¬ self by taking headers. At a pinch, a Kingfisher will do for a meal or two on strips of raw beef, and no doubt would do as' well on any large fresh ivater fish cut up into small pieces and dipped in water as upon minnows. All well, this summer I intend to have another attempt at keeping a King¬ fisher, and hope to let the readers of the Avicultural Magazine know of my success or failure. The old keeper of the Fish-house at the Zoo. has on several occasions tried to keep Kingfishers, but I believe none lived more than a few months. The last I saw was in the Waders’ Aviary near the Lions’ House. There was a com¬ paratively small zinc trough fixed to the wirework inside the aviary, about 8ft. from the ground. At intervals, the keeper used to put a few minnows into the tin and the bird at once flew across, seized one and flew off to the bough of a tree 136 Correspondence. at the other end of the enclosure, where he banged it on the head and eat it. In this case there was no place from which the bird could take a header, as he could only settle on the tin and snatch the fish. The objection to this to my mind is the difficulty there would be with a Kingfisher to get him to find this small tin in a large aviary. In any case the bird must be hand-reared. W. K. Temple. KINGFISHERS IN FREEDOM AND CAPTIVITY. Lady William Cecil (Baroness Amherst of Hackney) writes I have been much interested to read in the January Magazine the correspondence about Trout and Kingfishers. We had so many of both at Didlington (Norfolk) in the old days. My father used to annually breed a large quantity of trout for many years. They were turned out in the decoy ponds, in the lake and in the river (Wissey). They did very well and grew and increased continually; we used constantly to catch them up to several pounds. The Kingfishers did not seem to interfere at all with the Trout, at least not to any appreciable extent. In the banks of the lake they nested yearly, sometimes in the bank not 200 yards from the house, and they fished constantly in the lake (where we could watch them from the windows) either from the branches of the trees overhanging the water, or whenever they could, from the mast of our little sailing boat, which was anchored a short distance from the shore. We had a tame Kingfisher for some time, it had hurt its wing and so was caught. We kept it in a big Crystal Palace aviary, which it shared with some Cordon Bleus and various other little “ foreigners.” We gave it a bank of turf and a small stump to sit on, for, owing at first to its injured wing, it could not fly up to sit on the perches ; however, it soon recovered and sat on the perches now and then, though generally preferring the stump. We kept a large earthenware basin of water in the cage and it was stocked with fish, about six or eight atja time three or four times a day. The dear little bird soon became very tame and would perch on the rim of the bowl the moment we put in his fish. We gave him all sorts of small fry, and I think if he had any preference it was for small gudgeon. He remained in perfect plumage and did not mope at all. I am sorry to say some one gave him an extra supply of fish one morning and he ate thirteen at a sitting and never recovered the fatal feast- I believe he would have comfortably digested double that number had he been at libertjq but he had so little exercise in the cage and his food was too easily caught, so that his greediness was the cause of his death. We never allowed any Kingfishers to be killed at Didlington, and any places on the banks of the lake or any stream where there were nests, were always left undisturbed until the nestlings were ready to fly. Noticks to Members — (Continued from page n. of cover.) NEW MEMBERS. Mr. WaU'kr G. Prrcival, Nanga, Cliania Bridge, British East Africa. Mr. Edward GrevilE HkrbkkT, Bombay Burmaii Trading Co., Bangkok ; and The Rectory, Hemingford Abbot, St. Ives, Hunts. Miss F. M. Bari.ow-MassiCKS, The Mount Rotherham, becomes a Member instead of Mr. L. Barlow-Massicks. CANDIDATES FOR ERECTION. Mr. Kknnkth N. Woodward, r, Madison Avenue, New York, U.S A. Mr. O. C. Smith, 73, Audley Stieet, Reading. Proposed by Mr. Hubkrt I). AsTr.KY. Mr. Norman Smith, Kilcreggan, Bower Road. Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire. Proposed by Dr. Graham Rknshaw. ILLUSTRATION FUND. Dr. F'rank Penrose .. £ 0 s. 10 d. 0 Mrs. P. Sherbrooke . 0 10 0 Mr. FI. G. B. Meade- Waldo .. . . I 10 0 Miss Sybil Mundy .. . . I 0 0 MEMBERS’ PRIVATE SALE AND EXCHANGE COLUMN. The charge for pi ivate advertisements is sixpence for eighteen words or less, and one penny for every additional three 7vords or less. Trade advertisements are not allowed in this column. Dealers who are members , wishing to adver Use , should apply to the Publisher for terms . Advertisements must reach the Editor on or before the 26th of the month. The Council reserve the right of refusing any advertisement they may consider undesirable. Pair large Red and Bine Macaws, 8 gns. ; pair Rlack-headed Connres, 45/- ; pair Jendava, rather rough plumage. 40/- ; pair Quakers, 15/- ; cock Banded, 7/6; pair Chinese Geese, 15/- ; Common Peahen, 10/- P. W. Thorniley, Shooter’s Hill, Wen:., Salop. WANTS. The charge for members' advertisements under this heading is four pence for twelve words or under , and one penny for every additional three words or less. Wanted Javan Peahen. — P. W. Thorniley, Shooter’s Hill, Wem., Salop. “SOME NOTES ON THE EGGS OF THE SUDAN CROWNED CRANE.” These were sent to the Editor from Egypt, apparently for publication in the Magazine. The writer of these notes protests that they were copied without his consent or knowledge, although a member of the Society, and also that no acknowledgment was made to the Editor of the Cairo Scientific Journal, in which ublication the above notes originally appeared. The ‘faux pas’ was an innocent one on’ our part. We gladly give the kudos to the Editor of the C. S. J. regret- tingiif we inadvertently trespassed on his private grass. WEST, NEWMAN & GO., LITHOGRAPHIC, CHROMO-UTHOGRAPHIC, AND LETTER PRESS PRINTERS, 54, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, E.C. PRINTERS and PUBLISHERS of Natural History Books and General Printers. Lithographers for various Government and other Museums, and for learned Societies in London, India, South Africa, &c„ Original drawings are accurately reproduced by Lithograph}' or Photo-Lithographv, either in colours or monotone, or by line and half-tone blocks. Coloured plates of Birds, Insects and Animals a speciality. TROWER & CO., WHOLESALE SEED MERCHANTS and BIRD FOOD SPECIALISTS, 436,438 & 442, CALEDONIAN ROAD, LONDON, _ _ _ _ _ ^ _ _ N . EXTRA LARGE SPANISH CANARY SEED. CHOICE GERMAN SUMMER RAPE SEED Finest Selected Seeds for all kinds of Cage or Aviary Birds British, Foreign, and Canaries, As supplied by us to the leading Fanciers and Exhibitors at the Crystal Palace and other Shows. PRICE LIST. SAMPLES FREE. “CECTO,” the best Insectivorous Food on the Market, 1 /•< per lb postpaid 1/3. Giotuid Silk Worm Pupae, Mealworms, Ants’ Kggs, Dried Flies, etc ‘‘ EGBISCO ” ^ie fi"est Egg and Biscuit F'ood jet made. 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/- Tins CONTENTS. The Nightjar ( Illustrated j by P. F. M. GALLOWAY ... ... ... 137 The Kingfisher ( Illustrated ) and Snipe in Captivity, by Gerald E. Rattigan ... 189 The Kingfisher, by P. F. M. GALLOWAY... ... ... ... 147 My Humming Birds, ( Illustrated ) and how I obtained them (Concluded) , by A French Member of the society . . . 150 Mr. WILLIAM JAMRACH’S Past Importations of Indian Pheasants ... 157 Rare Birds in Continental Zoos (Illustrated) , by Graham Renshaw, M.D., F.R.S.E. ... 160 REVIEW A List of British Birds” ... ... ... ... 164 English Names for the Parrots, by Dr. E. HOPKINSON ... ... 165 CORRESPONDENCE: — The Kingfisher; “Do field voles if given to birds as food cause a wasting disease?” ... ... 167-168 Third Series. The price of this MARCH, Vol. VI. No. 5. Number is 1/3- — 1915. — AVICULTURAL MAGAZ I N E . ^ 'J / 1 ‘J ^ ^ • NOTE — A new volume commences every November. All Subscriptions should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. WEST. NEWMAN & Co.. 54, Hatton Garden, E.C AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Persons wishing to join the AVICULTURAL Society are requested to communicate with either of the Hon. Secretaries or the Editor. The Magazine can also be had from the Publishers by NON-MEMBERS at a Subscription of 15/- per annum. NOTICES TO MEMBERS. The Subscription to the Avicultural Society is 10/- per annum, due on the ist of November in each year, and is payable in advance. The entrance fee is io/6. The Avicultural Magazine is sent free to members monthly. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year, on the payment of entrance fee and subscription. 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Reviews of books and of magazine articles relating to birds. Editorials on current questions in bird study. A School Department. An Audubon Society Department. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION .. 5/- D. APPLETON & Co., 25 Bkdford Strkkt, Covknt Gakdkn, London. Pp. 142, Cloth, Dkmy Svo., Prick 5/- nkt; Postagk 4d. PRACTICAL - BIRD-KEEPING. BEING REPRINTS FROM “THE AVICU LTUKAL MAGAZINE,” 1911-12. EDITED BY J L. BONIIOTE, M.A., E.L.S., E.Z.S. A Manual intended as a practical help to those who find both pleasure and profit from the keeping of wild birds in confinement. Contributed to by specialists in each class of birds described. With One Coloured Plate and Sixteen Uncoloured. London: WEST, NEWMAN & Co.. 54 Hatton Garden, E.C. CROSS’S MENAGERIE, EIVERP00L. PET ANIMALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. I Ludio Monkey; I Diana Monkey ; r Patas Monkey; i Chimpanzee; i Red Baboon; 25 Dogface Baboons; 3 Capuchin Monkeys; 1 Sacred Baboon ; 2 Mandrills; 10 Rhesus Monkeys; 2 Black and White Lemurs; 6 Biown Lemurs ; I Grey Lemur ; 2 Agoutis ; 1 Coati-Mundi ; 2 Australian Rat Kangaroos ; 12 Wallabies ; 20 Red Squirrels ; 1 African Civet ; 2 Leopards ; 2 Lions ; 1 pair and young Llama at foot ; 5 Indian Buffaloes ; I Spanish Jack Donkey ; j Hog Deer ; 1 Blackbuck ; 5 Bears ; 2 Dingos ; I Wolf ; 6 Hums; 4 Rheas ; 4 Cereopsis Geese ; 3 Blackneck .Swans ; 2 Canada Geese ; to Egyptian Nile Geese ; 2 Snow Geese ; 2 Barhead Geese ; 2 Crown Cranes; 2 Sarus Cranes ; 6 Demoiselle Cranes; I Iceland Falcon ; 6 little Owls ; 1 Burrowing Owl ; 1 horned Indian Fish Owl ; t Redbill Tree Duck; 20 Sheldrakes ; 100 other ornamental Waterfowl ; t marvellous talking Grey Parrot ; 1 talking Amazon Parrot ; 1 talking Yellow-billed Pionus ; 2 Red and Blue Macaws ; 2 Cuban Connies ; 100 Lavenderhead Lovebirds ; 3 Redfaced Lovebirds ; 10 Cockateils ; 2 Adelaides Broadtails ; 1 Bauer’s Parrakeet ; 2 Gold-fronted Couures ; 6 Canarywing Connies; i pair Little Macaws; 4 Lemon-crest Cockatoos; 2 Bare-eyed Cockatoos; 3 Red- collared Lorikeets; 1 Alexandrine Parrakeet; 2 Blue Red-legged Cuban Thrushes ; r Mexican Sorry Thrush ; White Java Sparrows ; Grey Java Sparrows; Zebra Finches, etc.; Zebra Doves; African Turtle Doves; Fantail Pigeons; Tumblers; Nuns; Ornamental Peafowl; Pheasants; Quail; Crocodiles; Alligators; Liz mils, etc. Wanted to Purchase, SURPLUS ACCLIMATISED SPECIMENS, BIRDS, REPTILES, OR ANIMALS < t CROSS 1 Otterspool House, Aighurth, Liverpool. Cables and Telegrams : “ Cross, Liverpool.” National ’Phone ; 260 Lark Lane, Liverpool. The Avicultural Magazine. THE NIGHTJAR ( Caprimulgus europeeus) . Photo by H. Willford. THE 137 Avicultural Magazine, BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Third Series. — Vol. VI. — No. 5. — All rights reserved. MARCH, 1915. THE NIGHTJAR. (Gaprimulgus Europeans). By P. L. M. Galloway. This curious bird seldom arrives in England until the first week in May. I have generally noticed it about the second or third of the month and on a few occasions by the 30th of April. It loves to bask in the sunshine during daytime, and in its haunt on a common amongst scrub and furze, I haye seen it on a bare piece of ground in the sun looking more like a small log of weather¬ beaten wood with the bark on, than a bird ; and have been able to quietly walk up to within a few feet of it, when suddenly it darted up over my head and away over the common. During the fine warm summer evenings, I have spent several pleasant hours in the Nightjar’s favourite haunt, sitting smoking my pipe and waiting for the bird to emerge from his hiding place, and as soon as the dusk came on, out he would come and glide past me silently backwards and forwards, then alight on a low bough, arrange himself lengthwise with the bough and at once commence his jarring notes. The flight of this species is for the most part silent. The male bird wTill fly off the bough and glide along without moving the wings, then suddenly with his tail twisted sideways and clapping his wings together rather sharply over his back, he will utter a note several times like Koip, Koip, Koip, and then perhaps alight again on a branch and carry on his peculiar jarring notes for some little time. They take their food (which consists of moths large and small, Cockchafers, Dorbeetles, and other night flying insects) on the wing. As soon as daylight approaches they hide away until 138 The Nightjar. evening, although in the height of the breeding season the male bird may be seen on a bough jarring away for a time and even venture to hawk about on the wing. The bill is very small and the mouth enormous. One might say, without exaggerating, that when the mouth opens, the head is split in half. The tongue is very small, heart-shaped, and is situated a long way down the mouth. The eyes are very large and prominent, being quite as large as the round black head of an ordinary hat pin used by ladies. Legs, feet and toes very small. The female is much browner and paler in colour than the male and without the oval white spots on the flights and outer tail feathers. The young are generally hatched early in July, and I have also found them during the early part of August. The female, if flushed during the nesting season, will flutter along the ground for many yards, holding the head well up, often with mouth open and appearing as if one wing and both her legs were broken. If the observer returns to the spot where he first flushed her, there on a bare piece of ground, surrounded more or less by small bushes, he will see two oval eggs, which in colour look like veined marble, or resemble at first sight two nice shaped pebbles, or if there are young, he will have the satisfaction of looking upon two of the ugliest little creatures in bird life he could possibly find. The young at first have the skin of a dark purplish shade covered with greyish and straw-coloured hairy down, the head is flat on top, the eye-balls bulge out of their sockets and the nostrils greatly protrude. As the young grow they look yery ugly until the soft downy feathers grow and fill up the cavity around the eyes and nostrils. As soon as the young begin to feather, they will run from the spot where they were hatched and may be found squatting on the ground about a couple of yards away. After a day or two they will run a few yards to another fresh bit of ground and so on until they are able to fly. There are six dark stiff bristles along the edge of the upper mandibles. These appear to act as a barrier to a struggling moth or other insect when captured. The Nightjar takes its food into its mouth and swallows it straight away, but supposing a large moth was captured at the side of the mouth, these bristles prevent the struggling insect from escaping, the bird will draw its head near to its breast, and the moment the insect The Kingfisher and Snipe in Captivity. 139 ceases to struggle the bird will instantly give a jerk and gulp the insect down, making quite a noise with the mouth. I reared a Nightjar some years ago, taking it at the age of four or five days ; it lived in perfect condition just over five years, was of course, being hand-reared, exceedingly tame, and was really a most interesting pet. The bird was allowed to fly about the room for a certain time during the evening. He would allow me to handle him freely without showing any fear. He took very little food* during the day, and spent most of his daylight in attending to his toilet and dozing. If I placed him in the sunshine, he would jump off his log (which served as a perch) and lie on the floor of his cage, spread his long wings out and bask in the heat. He never bathed, but would dust himself in sand like a fowl. THE KINGFISHER AND SNIPE IN CAPTIVITY. By Gerald E. Rattigan. Having read Mr. Barnby Smith’s letter on the Kingfisher in the current issue of the Avicultural Magazine, and noticing shortly afterwards the request of the Editor for copy, I am prompted to give my experiences, such as they have been, in the keeping of these birds, which I hope may be of some interest. I bought my first Kingfisher and the only one with which I was at all successful in or about November, 1910. I kept it for the first three or four wTeeks that it was in my possession in a large cage specially constructed for it, with a small tank let into it in which minnows and other small fish could be placed. For the first few days it was fed solely on minnows, then finding this form of diet wTas a bit too expensive, “ I was living in London at the time, where the supply of suitable small fish is limited and none too cheap what there is of it,” so I tried desperately hard to get it on to some form of soft food. Every possible form of insectile mixture was offered it, as well as egg and bread and all kinds of other things, and to try and make them attractive I placed in the dishes * We take it that Mr. Galloway fed his Nightjar on “ Life,” mealworms, moths, etc. — ED. 140 Mr. Gerald E. Rattigan, containing the various foods, both live minnows, minnows chopped in half, and minnows chopped up very small and mixed in with the food ; nothing, however, proved of the slightest avail in inducing it even to try any of the mixtures. The live minnows and the minnows cut in half were carefully picked out and devoured, but the minced minnow was not touched. At length I gave up the attempt in despair. However, I wTas more successful in another direction, for I succeeded eventually in getting my bird to partake of mealworms and he finally grew very partial to these invaluable insects, but curiously enough he would only eat them if placed with his allowance of fish in the water, and would take no notice of them if placed in the soft food dish or on the floor of his cage. After keeping it caged up for the period mentioned, I turned it out into an aviary. I first of all intended having a small pond made for it, but finding this rather too expensive a business, I had perforce to be content with a large earthenwrare sink as a substitute. This I at first only half filled with water, fearing the tragedy that eventually overtook it. To be more explicit, what I feared was that, its wings being stiff from want of exercise for so long a time, it might after a plunge into the water be unable to circumvent the slippery sides of the sink, and so be drowned. Finding, however, that various other inmates of the aviary, notably a Shama, were beginning to take an unhealthy, “for my pocket,” interest in the fish, and were robbing the unfortunate Kingfisher of practically all his lawful prey, I, in order to save him as much as possible from the effects of their ravages, took to filling up the sink to the brim, and by filling it almost to overflowing, I thought that if he did, as I feared, chance to fall in, he could easily get out again. All went well for a day or two, but one afternoon on entering the aviary to renew the supply of fish and mealworms, I found the Kingfisher floating quite dead on the surface of the water. The water in the tank had been splashed out a bit, no doubt by the Kingfisher in his efforts to catch the fish, and had fallen to a depth of about an inch below the rim. All the fish had gone, so I imagine it was in effecting the capture of the last one that he met his fate. It is possible, of course, that he may have hit his head on the Kingfisher and Snipe in Captivity. 141 on the bottom of the sink when plunging in after a fish, but this I think is hardly likely, and it is more probable that his plumage being saturated by frequent immersions in the water, he was at length unable to rise out of it, and failing to negotiate the inch or so of the slippery sides of the sink rising out of the water, he was at length drowned. I don’t know when I have ever regretted the loss of any bird more ; he had become so tame and was in every way a most intelligent and engaging creature. My two other subsequent attempts to keep this species were, I regret to say, failures ; but this I think was more my fault than my misfortune, at all events in the second case it was my fault, the first can hardly count as an attempt at all, for the bird was as good as dead when I received it, and succumbed a few hours after its arrival. The second bird, however, arrived in fine condition and very much alive ; too much so perhaps, for it was as wild as a hawk. Instead of caging it up as I should have done, and as on the former occasion gradually accustoming it to a life in captivity, I foolishly allowed it to fly loose in a large aviary with the natural result that it dashed itself about all over the aviary and against the wire netting. Thinking that it would gradually quieten down, I left it to its own devices after supplying it with a quantity of fish. Although it survived two or three days, the end was inevitable, as for one thing it hardly ate anything, if indeed it ate at all, and never ceased, so long as I watched it, from dashing against its prison bars. It was also probably on account of this wildness which disturbed the other birds, that it was unmercifully mobbed by the whole crowd ; the Eed-crested Cardinals I then had in the aviary as usual leading the attack (by the way, how anyone, as they frequently do, can affirm that these birds are quite harmless in a mixed series, passes my understanding). It is true enough that they will leave severely alone any bird which is strong and bold enough to stand up to them, but let that bird be worsted in a fight with one of its fellows or another species and be chased by the victor, and every Eed-crested Cardinal will join in the pursuit and continue it till they have run down and battered the panic-stricken creature to death. Again, introduce a strange bird into their aviary and they will immediately make a demonstration against it, and should it display any signs of panic 142 Mr. Gerald E. Rattigan, at their manoeuvres, fiercely attack it. Zebra Finches and other small birds they will relentlessly pursue and endeavour to catch them in the air. I am certain, in fact, that they are never really happy unless chasing something, and one can see by their every movement, by the excited raising of their crests and continual utterance of their call notes, for all the world like a pack of hounds in full cry, how keenly they are enjoying their chase. I have referred above particularly to the Red-crested variety, although in my experience, the Yellow-billed and Pope Cardinals are bad enough as regards chasing and injuring small Finches, though the mere spirit of the chase does not appear to enter into them in quite the same manner. The Virginian or Red Cardinals I have found the least dangerous, and with the exception of one old cock who, after leading a most exemplary existence, suddenly run amok and did a good deal of mischief, I have never had any trouble with them, and no bird to my knowledge has ever been injured in any way by them. The safest Cardinal in a mixed company after the Virginian, I have found to be the Green. This species always appears to me to bear much the same relationship to the other birds in the aviary that a stout and dignified policeman does to the small boy. They are invariably devoted to their mates and their young', and in this respect at all events, compare very favour¬ ably with many human parents, and interfere as little as possible in the affairs of their neighbours, “ another quality that is very much lacking in many humans which they might with advantage cultivate,” unless they themselves or their young are interfered with, when both parents will attack the aggressor with the utmost determination and pugnacity. It was, I think, because of their meddlesome ways, especially during the breeding season, when they are wont to drive all the other inmates of an aviary about and generally create a disturbance, without it is true doing any actual damage to life or limb, that all my Green Cardinals took such a violent dislike to all members of the Hyphcmtornis species of Weaver, that it became utterly impossible to keep the two species together in the same aviary. The whole family of Cardinals would mob and very soon, if given a chance, literally batter to pieces any Weaver of this species introduced into their aviary. These The Avicultural Magazine. KINGFISHER (Alcedo ispida). Photo by J. H. Syrrionds. on the Kingfisher and Snipe in Captivity. 143 Cardinals simply will not tolerate any disturbance in their division, and in the event of any unseemly brawls or quarrels, constitute themselves into a kind of police force, part the combatants and punish with promptness and severity the bird they deem the offender. They are in fact without rival as keepers of the peace. At the same time, I have kept and bred them in an aviary contain¬ ing the smallest Finches without having the least cause to regret my temerity. It must be understood that what I have written above refers only to staid old birds in their second or third season, and not to flighty young birds in their first season, who, it must be confessed, are often prone to do mischief out of pure exuberance of spirits and the joy of living. These youngsters are for this reason not altogether dependable or safe companions for small or defenceless species. I fear I have allowed myself to be carried very far away from the real subject of these notes. I should like, however, as I have touched on this subject, to give my experience, such as it is, of the behaviour of different species in a mixed series, and to indicate those which I have found dangerous or otherwise. This I will do hereafter, if our Editor thinks it will be of sufficient general interest. In the meantime to return to the subject of the Kingfisher; from my first experience, I do not think it would be a difficult matter to keep them in captivity under suitable conditions. Of course, the method “ par excellence ” of keeping them, would be in an aviary with a small stream running through it. This stream could be blocked at its entrance to and exit from the aviary with fine gauze, through which the water could pass without letting out the minnows, etc., with which it would be an easy matter to stock it. If necessary, the stream could be dammed to form small pools and a fair-sized bank of sand or loose earth built up on one or both sides of it, in which it is more than likely the birds would go to nest. Failing these more or less ideal conditions, the most suitable plan I should think, would be to construct a fair-sized cement pool in the aviary with a deep and a shallow end. Before turning the birds into either description of aviary, it would be most necessary that they should have been made fairly tame, as otherwise the venture would be foredoomed to almost certain 144 Mr. Gerald E. Rattigan, disaster. Hand-reared birds would be, of course, the most suitable, and it might be possible to induce these to partake of some form of fish meal or insectile mixture. I doubt, however, from my own experience, whether an adult caught bird, however tame it might become, would ever take to this diet. I believe I am correct in stating that partial success has been met with at the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, in the breeding of the closely-allied Sacred Kingfisher, the birds, according to the information I received from one of the keepers, went to nest in a log nest box of the design generally constructed for the use of Parrakeets. I do not think that any young were actually hatched out, but perhaps Mr. Seth- Smith would kindly give us the details, which would ceitainly be of great interest. Should I succeed in obtaining a pair, I mean to have another try at keeping, and if possible, breeding these birds this year. I trust this correspondence may prompt other members who may have kept Kingfishers to give us the benefit of their experiences, for no more charming a bird could well grace an aviary. I do not think they require the enormous amount of fish “per diem” that Mr. Barnby Smith seems to imply. My bird, at all events, was strictly limited to ten minnows in the morning and ten again after lunch, with roughly twenty or thirty mealworms added. If an unlimited supply of fish were given, I think it would harm rather than benefit the birds, as they are greedy creatures and would be sure to devour many more than was good for them. My bird, during the six or seven weeks he was in my possession, until his sudden death, never looked sick or sorry, so the treatment I gave him cannot have disagreed with him to any great extent. The Snipe is yet another bird that appears to be badly neglected by aviculturists. Why this should be so, I cannot imagine, as it is a delightful bird for an aviary, and from the experience of it that I shall describe below, I should say not at all difficult to keep, even under seemingly most adverse conditions. I have nevertheless looked in vain to see a representative of the species even in the waders’ aviary at Regent’s Park, where the conditions for keeping them would be pretty nearly ideal, and where many of what I should imagine must be far more difficult subjects are kept in beautiful trim. on the Kingfisher and Snipe in Captivity. 145 The subject of these notes was found by one of my dog's in a marsh about half-a-mile from this house, on the 20th May, 1914. It was evidently some days old when discovered, for it fluttered away from the dog and flew a distance of some forty or fifty yards when it collided with a railway arch and collapsed into the road, where I picked it up and brought it back home. I placed it in a large cage, almost a small aviary, 6ft. x 4ft. x 6ft., and supplied it with a diet of worms and mealworms. These I placed in a tin pan filled with moss and water. The little thing was very timid and shy for the first few days, but began to feed within an hour after it was placed in the cage, and when I saw it from my window eagerly probing away in the moss and fishing out the worms I felt that half the battle was won. And so it proved to be, for I never had any more anxiety concerning its welfare from then on, till it met with the accident that proved its undoing some three months later. After it had taken so readily to the worm (earth) and mealworm diet, I gradually got it on to a good insectile mixture, “Galloway’s,” which by the way I can thoroughly recommend to anyone on the look out for a first-rate food of this nature, by placing some of the worms in a dish containing the “ soft ” food. By this means it was very quickly induced to sample and form a liking for this artificial diet, and a fortnight or so after it was caught became so tame that it would take mealworms out of my fingers. When it had become thoroughly tame, I turned it into my large aviary, where though it unfortunately lost some of its tameness, it throve exceedingly and waxed fat and prosperous looking. For fear that it might injure itself when first turned into the aviary, I had cut the flight feathers of one wing, but they must have grown again more rapidly than I expected, for on entering the aviary one morning, I found the poor little bird with one leg hanging and looking the picture of misery. I fear it must have essayed a nocturnal flight and have gone full tilt into the wire netting, probably getting its claws entangled in it and so have come to grief. I did all I could for it, but it was of no avail, and from that time forward it began to grow more and more mopy and listless, and when it finally died about ten days later, proved on examination to be nothing more than skin and bone. One rather 146 On the Kingfisher and Snipe in Captivity. curious thing it used to do when supplied with its dish of “ soft ” food, was to take a portion of it in its bill and rush off with it to the water vessels, where it would moisten the food in the water before swallowing it. It would then carry water back in its bill and empty it into the “ soft ” food dish. This performance it would repeat several times till it had made the food into a very sloppy mess, when it would proceed to devour it with much gusto. I eventually was forced to supply it with a separate dish of “soft” food, as by these manoeuvres it rendered the main supply quite unfit for my Landrails and other “ soft ” food eaters. It struck me, however, that the bird showed wonderful intelligence in the manner it obviously thought matters out, and having decided that the food was not prepared to its liking, gave a pleasing display of sound reasoning power in effecting a remedy. Another proof to my mind that birds are by no means so much guided by blind unreasoning instinct as some good people fondly imagine. In conclusion, I would like to say that I think it is the greatest pity that two such charming species as the foregoing appear to have been so sadly neglected by aviculturists. In the case of the Kingfisher there is admittedly some excuse for this neglect, for unless one is conveniently near a river or lake where an unlimited supply of minnows or similar small fish can be obtained, it is, as I have good reason to know, a pretty expensive business to provide for its wants. In the case of the Snipe, however, this does not apply, and it requires no special conditions, as far as my experience goes, to keep it in perfect health. Even in my large aviary it had to be content with a grass run, and all through a pretty dry summer, all it was provided with in the shape of its natural surroundings, was a fair-sized earthenware dish filled with moss and water, and yet it throve well. It used to get through a surprising amount of earthworms, and these, together with about twenty mealworms and the “ soft ” food mentioned, was all that I supplied it with in the way of food. Whilst living in London, I kept a Sandpiper in a similar manner, which lived in my aviaries there for over two years, and was still in perfect health when it was set upon and killed by a cock Golden Pheasant. This was an adult caught bird which I The Kingfisher. 147 purchased from Mr. Frost, who had just received it at the time from one of his catchers. It was so wild when I received it that I had to clip the flights of one wing in order to prevent it dashing itself to bits against the sides of the aviary. However, it soon settled down and became fairly tame in a few weeks, and eventually so far overcame its natural shyness that it would take mealworms, etc., from my fingers with the greatest boldness. All of which goes to prove that some species, at all events, of the smaller waders, are by no means difficult to keep in captivity, and will thrive well even under conditions differing widely from those obtaining in their natural state. THE KINGFISHER. By P. F. M. Galloway. Having read the interesting notes on the Kingfisher by our Editor and others in the Avicultural Magazine, and also the letter from Mr. C. Barnby Smith, asking for information relating to keep¬ ing the Kingfisher in captivity, I should like to say I have kept this handsome bird in perfect health. I have kept the adult Kingfisher for two years, and no doubt should have been able to keep it much longer, but for the fact that during a very severe spell of frost whilst I was away from home it died. I may say I left it in charge of a servant who, seeing that there were several small fish in its large water tin, thought things were all right, but it did not occur to her that the poor bird could not get at the fish, owing to the water tin being frozen over. My advice is never leave birds in charge of anyone, unless it is someone who takes the same amount of interest in them as you do yourself. The Kingfisher is a very interesting bird to keep, but live fish it must have. I have also hand-reared it and kept it, but it is an exceedingly dirty bird in a cage, owing to the nature of its food ; and if kept in a cage, the cage should be three feet long, fourteen inches deep and sixteen to eighteen inches high. At one end a vessel made of zinc, 2i inches deep, 3i inches wide, to hold live fish, should be made to slide into the cage and should be the width of the cage from back to front. Level with the top of this vessel a 148 Mr. P. F. M. Galloway, perch should be placed and one near the other end of the cage. The bird will fly from the farthest perch and settle on the perch by the tank, thrust its head into the water and fetch out a fish, give it two or three sharp knocks on the peich to wake it up and bolt it headfirst ; but supposing there was no perch level with the edge of the tank, the bird would fly straight into the tank and throw the water all over the place. I will just show a rough sketch of the cage I have mentioned. The Kingfisher will thrive if fed upon minnows, small bleak or small roach, but minnows seem to be one of its favourite foods. When small live fish could not be obtained for a time, I found mine would eat whitebait ; I used to get these from the fishmonger. Those that are burst and soft should be rejected and only the firmest fish used. I also used to try him with small narrow cut pieces of raw beef ; he would eat these when hungry, but never seemed so fit and well as when fed upon live fish. If a Kingfisher was fed, say for a week, on dead fish or raw meat, he would begin to look soft and out of condition, but just give him a few minnows and they act like magic on him, in a very short space of time you would pull him round and he would he as bright and sleek as possible again. It is a curious thing, that when this bird is out of health and on the Kingfisher. 149 he jumps into his water vessel, he never seems to get properly dry. but when fit and well he could dive into a bucket of water and out again on the edge of the pail and look as if he had never been under water. Mine was very tame and I used to put a few minnows in a bucket occasionally and carry him on my finger and place him on the edge of the bucket, he would sit bobbing his head up and down for a time, and when he had a chance of getting a fish, he would shoot in under and out again like a flash and give himself a shake and was quite dry ; sometimes he brought our a fish and sometimes missed it. It is of course natural for these birds to dive, and I am certain a tame Kingfisher requires this exercise. I consider a Kingfisher is not a difficult bird to keep in health, so long as live fish can be got for it, but there are times, for instance when the river is in flood, when fish cannot be found ; at other times brooks in winter may become frozen over, and in winter when the river is muddy it is almost impossible to find small fish. Then, again, in the close season the fish cannot be had, but there is a way of overcoming this difficulty of food supply, and this is the way I should advise anyone to proceed who wishes to keep a Kingfisher in perfect trim in captivity. First of all, the ideal place for him would be to net over a small pond, but everyone is not blessed with a small pond on his premises. However, the next best thing is to make a pond 18 inches deep ; it need not be wide, but it should be as long as the purse will admit, so that the bird can get a straight flight, and of course wired over. At one end a bank could be formed of earth and sand beaten firm, in this bank a hole should be scooped out about two feet through ; outside the hole a dead bough could be fixed, where the bird could perch on before entering the hole, in which place it would be sure to roost. On the top of the bank an inch of concrete could be placed, and over this a thin coating of cement ; this would allow the heavy rains to run off and keep the bank fairly dry, a few turfs could be put on top and hide the cement. A few feet from the bank some large branches could be fixed so as to hang over the artificial brook, and another set of branches arranged the same way the other end ; better and more natural still would be to place the heads of small dead pollards in place of the boughs, but no other 150 A French Member of the Society, perching places should be provided, the idea being to allow the bird to fly from one pollard to the other ; minnows and other small fish could be placed in the water. A small round pond could be made, near a sloping piece of ground if possible, so that the surface water would run into it after a shower, a narrow gutter being dug out for the purpose. In this small pond fish could be stored, to be used at times when they could not be obtained, as previously mentioned. If it was desired, a few rushes could be placed here and there on the edges of this artificial brook, which would give a finishing touch and a pretty effect to the whole. In such an aviary a Kingfisher would undoubtedly thrive, and it is just possible that a pair might be induced to breed there. A cage such as I have described would be kept to place the Kingfisher in during severe frosty weather, because the brook would freeze over, and when the weather became milder the bird could be put out into the brook aviary again. MY HUMMING BIRDS, AND HOW I OBTAINED THEM. By a French Member of the Society. (Concluded from page 109). Soon after their arrival home, the Hummers were divided up amongst the cages and aviaries (indoors) described in my last article. I wished to learn by study which of the two modes of confinement better met their wants. Some three or four were therefore let out in several large cages, each lighted by a powerful electric lamp, which, on dark days, was kept burning from early morning to about seven p.m. Fires and a radiator kept the temperature up to 20° centrigrade ( i.e . 68° Fahrenheit) : and under these conditions most of the birds soon settled down to their new life and prospered. A fresh tail adorned the tiny Bellona exilis, and I noted with satisfac¬ tion that several of the Garnet-throated Humming Birds, whose beaks had been broken at the tip, were fast growing a new upper mandible. Next to the lamented Bellona, these latter were, and My Mumming Birds and how I obtained them. 151 are still, by far the most lively. Eulampis holosericeus appears to be, in captivity at least, rather a sluggish creature ; too fond, when not actually engaged in fighting, of sitting for hours on the same favourite twig. But one forgot the sea-voyage, with all its miseries, when watching the Garnets and their marvellous flight, their evolu¬ tions in space, bacJcivards, forwards, sideways, all occupied by that loud whirring noise which reminds me always of a miniature aero¬ plane. At first their activity seemed confined to the early morning hours or late afternoons, when they were incessantly on the wing, circling round and round or hovering perfectly still in mid-air, suspended, as it were, by some invisible thread ; but the periods of intensified energy gradually lengthened out, and now, except for a short spell towards noon, they all but live in the air. No doubt in their own land the tremendous mid-day heat enforces a protracted rest, and the natural instinct to seek repose until the hours of twilight needed those many months to adapt themselves to modified conditions. To encourage hovering, I soon discarded all tin feeders for open glass ones. All very healthy Humming Birds prefer to take their food in this manner, buzzing over the little pot that contains 152 A French Member of the Society, it, as in nature they do over flowers. Their diet is practically that of my Sunbirds : the usual mixture of Mellins’ Food, honey and condensed milk, made perhaps a trifle weaker ; then a variety of fruit, such as sweet grapes and oranges and very soft, ripe pears. Flowers I have not found yet to really suit their taste, though many have been tried. They scorned Madonna Lilies, Tiger Lilies and Tuberoses, after just probing the blossoms a few times ; Honeysuckle was more appreciated, as well as some other flowers of the tubular type, provided they were not white : red seems to be a favourite shade and to at once arrest their attention. For many months it was impossible to get a single one of the Hummers to eat insects. I tried the most tempting green fly, and those tiny Coleoptera that abound in the spring amongst shrubs and in meadow's, without the slightest success. It was, I think, last September, the windows being wide open in the bird-room on a sunny day. that I observed some of the Garnets in the aviary snapping at something in the air : and the act was repeated many times in a minute. Snap, snap, went the beak, as the bird hummed, whirred, twisted, and turned about in space, performing gnat-like, a veritable dance in the air, and each time the shining garnet-throat glistened and moved as for the operation of swallowing. So minute was the prey that it took me a long time to actually catch and study it : tiny insects called, I believe, September flies. I have not once seen my Hummers take insects in any other way except on the wing ; and although all in my aviary would crowd round me, buzzing about my head and body like a swarm of bees, and feeding from the hand that held the syrup-pot, none ever consented to touch live prey if this were offered them, and not actually caught by them¬ selves in the manner described. On this point my experience differs from Mr. Ezra’s. The Eulampis jugularis he had from me, does not so far care for insects ; but he has another species — a charming little bird obtained from Cuba — Sporadinus ricordi, whose portrait appeared in the February magazine as the coloured frontispiece, and this bird from the very first showed himself most eager for green fly, which he picks up anyhow and anywhere, from the plant, the bars or floor of his cage, or in the air, indifferently. However individuals and species may display their peculiarities, my Humming Birds and how I obtained them. 153 that Hummers in nature are very largely insectivorous, while the nectar extracted from flowers acts either as a simple digestive, or as necessary complement to the more solid food, is a fact which, both from the general knowledge of those who studied them in the wild, and from my own much more restricted experience, remains no more open to doubt than is their amazing ability to fly in every conceivable direction or attitude, be it sideways or backwards, with as much ease and grace as they show when hovering, with tremu¬ lous wings, over an object they wish to probe. Early last July the Hummers began to drop feathers and moult. They sat clumsily and laboriously engaged in the act of scratching, for a Hummer cannot rest on one leg, and it takes him all his time to keep his balance if he must use one foot for other purposes but that of clutching his support. The moult, as I ex¬ pected, proved rather slow, only now can I fairly say, it is over at last (November) ; and the rich reflections of the birds’ plumage showing up more brilliantly than ever, as well as their greater vivacity and slimmer, tighter shape, are sufficient signs that they suffered no ill-effects from that trying time. Only the tiny Bellona exilis succumbed after heroic efforts : the little fellow wanted ever so much to live the short spell allotted him by nature, and I cannot yet bear to think of his death. It was just after the moult that the Hummers declared war on each other, and, in fact, on every bird in the room, thus proving that animal life is not, after all, so very unlike our own, which after evolving from its early stages, now seems inclined to revert to conditions apparently held as ideal by certain rulers and nations of the present day. Whether an increase of vitality, attributable to a successful dropping of the old garb and assuming of the new plumage brought out the old fighting instinct amongst the Humming Birds, which so far had only appeared at intervals, and so to speak lay dormant ; or whether the season coincided with their breeding-time, it is not for me to decide, as I am wholly ignorant of their habits in the wild state ; but it is quite certain that about the middle of October it became impossible to continue keeping the Hummers together or with any other birds whatever. All day they were “ at it ” ! all day the furious “ skrip, skrip,” which seems their only call, 154 A French Member of the Society, sounded through the room as an incessant war cry. Each Hummer wanted the whole of his own tree or branch, all the feeders, or rather, the whole of the two large aviaries, entirely to himself. Two of my little green Hummers I foolishly failed to catch and rescue in good time, and, although they had been the most pugna¬ cious, they speedily died from worry, consequent upon the unnatural strain of a life wholly devoted to warfare. Soon the small Sunbirds sharing the aviary with the Hummers began to look less cheerful. Ethopyga nepalensis had to snatch hasty and miserable meals at moments when the foe’s watch was slightly relaxed; (Ethopyga saturata stopped his pretty warbles. Then I saw something must be done and without delay. In one single afternoon my two aviaries were torn down from walls they had adorned for over a year : an invasion of tables, stands, tripods, cages of all sizes filled the room, each single bird was captured and given a separate house all to himself, and peace at last reigned supreme. It is difficult to describe a Hummer’s fighting methods. He does not use his beak for such a purpose, nearly to the same extent as other birds, on account of its extreme fragility. His great plan is to knock down the enemy by violent and repeated assaults, darting at him again and again with the speed and force of a small catapult ; indeed such is the impetus that the blow would be enough to stun if not to kill a bird much bigger than himself. Screaming, shaking their heads and bodies, with tails spread out in the shape of a fan, all are symptoms of rage and signals of imminent fighting. Match¬ ing is never considered : a Garnet-throated Humming Bird, — a creature about equal in size to the common Wren — thinks nothing at all of going for a Double-collared Sunbird, nor is the latter very likely to “ stand up ” to him. The fury of the attack, also the loud hizz of the wonderful wings, which these birds can and do intensify at will, generally succeed in cowing most occupants of the place, and even now this impish rage has not abated. Two of my strongest Garnets, who inhabit twin cages in close vicinity on the same shelf, spend their time in swearing and shaking at one another behind the bars, whirring and buzzing about with that peculiar flip-flap of the wing, which in their world is paramount to a challenge in ours. ,my Humming Birds and how I obtained them. 155 To wind up, — now that an experience of nearly nine months with Humming Birds has at last proved them to be capable of thriving in Europe — just a few hints to avieulturists who may, I hope, feel tempted to obtain these charming little creatures of Tropical lands. People have asked me if there is a secret by means of which they can be persuaded to live in our bleak country. Indeed I know of no such thing, and, although we succeeded with a certain syrup and along certain lines in acclimatising some Humming Birds, it is no reason why equal or even greater success should not be achieved by different methods. But if the roads leading to the desired goal may be many, some are bound to spell failure. The following are a few hints : Don’t crowd the birds together on the journey; above all don’t let them become messed up with the fluid. Upon arrival at destination, beware of aviaries. No matter how large these may be, the Hummers will sooner or later set about making life intoler¬ able for themselves and other inmates. Besides this, it is all but impossible in an aviary, while fairly easy in a cage, to prevent the Hummers from clinging to the wires, especially at bed-time ; the result being a sad wreck of the lovely tail-feathers. Don’t invest in enormous cages, the birds don’t require them, so long as each is kept strictly alone From his own particular mode of flight a Humming Bird will take and enjoy almost as much exercise in a restricted space as in a huge cage. A contrivance two feet long, two feet high, one foot and a half broad would comfortably accommodate any middle-sized Hummer. Let your birds of course have as much sun as possible, and be sure to spray them daily with tepid water, unless you provide them each with a small green plant, which, when wetted, they will use as a bath. Don’t furnish the cages with twiggy branches, or the Hummers while buzzing in and out of them will fray the tips of their long wings. A few, a very few, natural perches of varying thickness are far more preferable. These need always to be thin, out of all proportion to the dimension of the occupant ; for in the Humming Birds, after centuries of a life spent in the air, the legs and feet have become reduced to such minute size, weakened or atrophied, as it were, by lack of use (as in the Swifts) that they can actually not turn themselves about on a twig, or move along it, without the help of their wings. Don’t let the temperature drop 156 My Humming Birds and how I obtained them. below 17° centrigrade or pneumonia may follow. Damp heat is the best. Don't wait for a bird to hide his head under the wing before you make up your mind he is ill and needs nursing. You might well wait for ever. A Hummer cannot indulge in that attitude be it to seek sleep or prepare for death.. The following is a list of the various species of Sunbirds and Humming Birds now occupying my bird-room. Owing to lack of space, all hens have long ago been discarded as undesirables, as well as some Sugar-birds and Zosterops. Humming Birds. Eulampis jugularis Eulampis liolosericeus Guadeloupe. Sunbirds. JEthopyga seherice A. nepalensis A. saturata Arachnechthra zeylonica A. asiatica Cinnyris chalybceus C. afer G. amethystinus . . . G. mariquensis Antlirobaphes violacea Nectarinia famosa Transvaal. South Africa. South Africa. Himalayas. Himalayas. India. South Africa. Various. Gerthiola dominicana Ixulus flavicollis Guadeloupe. India. Past Importations of Indian Pheasants. 157 MR. W. JAMRACH'S PAST IMPORTA¬ TIONS OF INDIAN PHEASANTS. (Translated from the French by H. D. Astley). {Continued from page 128). In 1881, I received 20 pairs of Impeyan Pheasants, 7 pairs of Tragopans ( Satyra ), 18 Polyplectron chinquis, 9 Euplocamus erythr ophthalmus, 7 Argus and 2 hen Elliot’s Pheasants. During the snowy season the number of the birds captured was very meagre, but on the other hand the voyage was very successful, for not one of the Impeyan Pheasants and Tragopans succumbed. In 1882, I left Calcutta with 43 pairs of Impeyan Pheasants, 18 Tragopans (Satyra), one male Elliot Pheasant, six Vieillots’ Euplocamus, four E. ignitus, three male Polyplectron bicalcaratum, one Polyplectron chinquis, three pairs of Euplocamus pyronotus. On the voyage I only lost four Impeyans, four Tragopans and the one Polyplectron chinquis (Peacock Pheasant). I sent my man into the Naga mountains, and he arrived in England two months after I did, with two males and 3 females of Blyth’s Tragopan ; later a fourth female arrived, which had been left ill at Calcutta. He also brought one pair of Cabot’s Tragopan, of which only the male survived, and is at this moment (1882) in the London Zoological Gardens ; by this same catcher I also received 13 pairs of Polyplectron chinquis, and one male and two female Argus Pheasants. As one can see from what I have already written, after the opening of the Suez Canal my importations were more successful. I need hardly say that we had absolutely given up the route via the Cape of Good Hope, which had ended in such poor results. All the birds I imported into Europe were sold, but at varying prices. For a large number of the Impeyan Pheasants (Monauls) I accepted £100 a pair, but for some of the species I obtained £130 a couple. The Trago¬ pans often fetched more than £100 a pair. Now (ie. 1882) it is very difficult to procure Impeyans and Tragopans in India, since the Government has forbidden their being captured or shot for a period of five years. The capture of the birds is by no means an easy task, and furthermore it is difficult to bring them to Calcutta. 158 Mr. William Jamrach’s In fact, the birds, when captured, had to be carried on men’s backs in baskets for at least nineteen days. (To-day — 1882 — the railroad has been extended further). The high prices that I obtained for the living birds might give the idea that I made a large profit during the nineteen years that I was importing them from India. As a matter of fact I pocketed nothing. On the contrary, I estimate that the importation of the Monauls and Tragopans left me with a loss of £3,000. This heavy loss however was happily covered by the profit accruing from other business matters in connection with trading in animals. Without referring to the larger Mammals which I introduced, it is perhaps not out of the way if I mention that in 1871, out of 85 Viellot’s Pheasant sent off, I received 35. Some of these were sold for £50 the pair, and others at £75, whilst in a preceding im¬ portation, the Zoological Gardens of Antwerp paid me up to £200 for two pairs. In addition to the Monauls and Tragopans which I have already mentioned, I have imported during the last seventeen years a great number of birds, the list of which I give further on. I must mention that Blyth’s, Hastings’, and Cabot’s Trago¬ pans were, through my efforts, imported for the first time into Europe. It was I also who imported a male Sclater’s Monaul for the Zoological Society of London. In 1879 I received the first pair of Elliot’s Pheasant, which I sold for more than £120 to M. Rodocanachi, who has a large pheasantry, and is one of the mem¬ bers of the Societe d’Acclimatation of Paris. For five years I have zealously striven to import Elliot’s Pheasants, and in order to succeed, I had to overcome difficulties which seemed insurmountable, and to lay out more than £400. I hope, however, to regain this outlay later on, thanks to my numerous clients. I can assure you, dear Sir, that for these incessant voyages to India, made entirely for collecting valuable birds and animals, it is not sufficient to dwell only upon the hope of realizing a pecuniary profit, but one must above all have a real love for these animals, which you know I most truly possess. I am, dear Sir, yours, etc., William Jamrach. Past Importations of Indian Pheasants. 159 List of Impoetations made by Me. William Jameach. £ H o . Year of Import- name of Birds. Birds SENT. O o 3 g O Observations tion. fti> 1864 Impeyan Pheasants 20 13 7 ) Via 1865 and Tragopans 50 50 ” Cape of 1866 ( Satyra ) 117 117 „ J Good Hope 1867 1868 — 300 285 289 285 11 „ By land 1869 — 100 60 40 " 1870 — 80 64 16 1871 1 1 — 1 1 120 104 16 1872 40 36 4 1873 — 80 68 12 1874 — 40 9 31 1875 - — 80 10 70 1876 ■ — 65 7 58 1877 — 150 150 1678 — 120 6 114 1879 — 190 190 1880 — 340 58 282 1881 — 54 ) ? 54 1882 — 112 9 103 — Elliot’s Pheasants 15 15 — Wallich ,, 2 2 — Pucrasian ,, 64 7 57 - Via 8uez — Euplocamus vieilloti 161 51 110 — ,, ignitus 11 2 9 — ,, nobilis 16 16 — ,, prcelatus 30 , , 30 — ,, pyronotus 17 ,, 17 — , , andersoni 2 2 — ,, lineatus 40 40 1 — ,, erythrophtlnalmus 29 ,, 29 — Polyplect. bicalcaratum 10 ,, 10 — „ chinquis 124 22 102 — Geriornis blythi 7 j > 7 — ,, caboti 2 1 1 — ,, hastingii 40 ,, 40 — Impeyan Pheasants Sclateri 1 ,, 1 - ■ Argus giganteus 22 6 16 Totals 2936 1274 1662 160 Dr. Graham Renshaw, Writing in The Field, a fancier recorded the following : — “ Soon after the arrival of this species ( Gallophasis elliotii) in England, I purchased a pair, and another pair on the continent. I found them very hardy, and decidedly good breeders, but I was not prepared for the increasing number of eggs they now yearly lay, at first they laid but few. In 1888, out of those I bred I kept one hen, mating her with a cock also bred in this country ; last year, that is before she was one year old, she commenced laying ; the first setting, consisting of nine eggs, produced nine birds ; the second of twelve eggs was not as good, total twenty-one. This year she laid about the middle of March as usual, and the first nine eggs produced eight birds, and one dead in the shell ; the second twelve eggs produced only two, the rest were bad. I attribute it partly to the hen ; and the third sitting has produced eight out of eight eggs, good strong birds, so she has laid twenty-nine eggs this year. This speaks well for this beautiful bird, and our best thanks are due to Mr. W. Jamrach, who first imported them.” — The Field, June, 1890. RARE BIRDS IN CONTINENTAL ZOOS. By Graham Renshaw M.D., F.R.S.E. The great zoological collections of the Continent, though resembling our own in many features, often contain special exhibits of surpassing interest. The following species have come under the notice of the writer during the past fourteen years. A number of them have been exhibited in the Regent’s Park collection, others do not seem to have appeared there, at any rate recently. 1. Paradisect minor (Lesser Bird of Paradise). Apparently the only Paradise Bird which occurs at all in collections abroad, and even then the individuals are few and far between. One which the writer saw at Amsterdam in 1900 was figured in the Avicultural Magazine for March, 1914 : this or a second example being men¬ tioned in the letterpress accompanying the illustration. Some years ago there was a very good specimen in the Hamburg Zoological Garden, and another at Berlin. The writer saw a Paradise Bird, The Avicultural Magazine. on Bare Birds in Continental Zoos. 161 probably referable to this species, in a small dealer’s shop in Liver¬ pool about twelve years ago ; another which was brought over with it died on the voyage. The display of the Lesser Bird of Paradise is very beautiful, the trailing flank plumes being raised high by the bird, and a quivering movement imparted to them, much in the same way as the peacock shakes its train when expanded, thus giving the impression of a shower of eyes ! 2 & 3. Lamprotornis nitens and L. aurata (Glossy Starlings). A fine collection of these in the old Bird House at Amsterdam in¬ cluded one with several white feathers on the breast— a partial albino. 4. Prosthemadera novce-zealandice (Parson Bird). This species is exceedingly rare in captivity, and in many years’ experience of Zoological Gardens the writer has only seen one. This specimen— a fine healthy bird — was living at Amsterdam in May, 1899, being kept in a spacious outdoor flight well provided with growing shrubs. The full and beautifully varied song for which the Parson Bird is famous was not uttered during the writer’s visit, but the bird emitted a few musical notes, followed by a harsh clanking sound. 5. Schizorhis concolor (Gape Lourie). One of these dull- coloured Touracos was living in the Antwerp collection in June, 1913. Its sombre plumage and sluggish demeanour rendered it an uninteresting exhibit, though if it had been kept in a roomy outdoor aviary it would probably have become active and noisy. To the writer it recalled some overgrown, over-sedate Mouse-bird ( Colius ), though Mouse-birds are only distantly related to Touracos. 6. Prionotelus (Cuban Trogon). The Berlin Zoological Garden possessed one specimen in June, 1909. In spite of its beauty this species is sluggish and uninteresting, to be prized only for its rarity ; a stuffed Trogon is almost as attractive as a live one. 7. Prionites ruficapillus { Motmot). One specimen — also beau¬ tiful, yet sluggish — was shown in the pretty little Bird House of the Hamburg Zoo in June, 1909. 8. Deroptyus accipitrinus (Hawk -billed Parrot). One at Amsterdam in 1899. 9. Pceoceplialus gulielmi (Jardine’s Parrot). One at Amster¬ dam in 1902. 10. Ketupa ceylonensis (Indian Fish Owl). This species was 162 Dr. GKAHAM RENSHAW, exhibited at Amsterdam in 1899. The writer does not remember having seen any other specimens. 11. Syrnium torquatum (Collared or Spectacle Owl). One at Amsterdam in 1902. This is one of the very quaintest of the owls, with its white head and face banded with black as if wearing a burglar’s mask. The writer once had one of these “ Spectacle Owls ” in his possession and found it an amusing pet. As the bird approaches maturity the white head becomes chocolate-coloured. 12. Ardect goliath (Goliath Heron.) This splendid bird was included in the rich series of herons and storks shown by the Amsterdam Zoological Society in 1899. Its reddish head and crest, blue-grey neck and long loose plumes render it one of the handsomest of its tribe. 13. Canchroma cochlearia (Boat BillJ. This quaint, modified Night Heron remains sluggish and silent during daylight. Several specimens seen by the writer all stood stock still as if stuffed, more like images than living birds. Of two seen at Amsterdam in 1899, one bird had the feathers at the base of the bill lemon-yellow, while m the other they were white. 14. Bernicla sandvicensis (Sandwich Island Goose). The writer was pleased to note an example of this all but extinct bird amongst the swarming waterfowl in the Cologne Zoological Garden (June 23, 1909.) It was in fine condition and the plumage sleek and glossy. Another individual is figured in Heck’s “ Living Pictures of the Animal World,” published in 1899 and illustrating the collection at Berlin. These are perhaps the last examples that will be seen alive in Europe, and in their solitary survival are but one remove from museum specimens. The Berlin bird was the only one that had been imported for ten years ! 15. Palamedea cornuta ("Horned Screamer). Very rare in collections. There was a fine healthy example at Hamburg in June, 1909. 16. Myristicivora bicolor (Nutmeg Pigeon). A beautiful speci¬ men was living at Amsterdam in 1902, its snowy plumage tinged on the head with the faintest shade of yellow and the black wings and tail showing up in fine contrast. The Avicultural Magazine. Graham Renshaw photo. AMSTERDAM ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. Boat-Billed Heron ( Cancroma cochlearia). on Bare Birds in Continental Zoos. 163 17. Megacephalum maleo (Celebean maleo). The writer has only seen one of these very rare birds, which was living at Am¬ sterdam in 1900. The crown of the head is not covered with a large black casque,” as stated in books, for in the living bird this helmet is bright blue. About the size of a small turkey, the maleo is dark brown above and beautiful salmon pink below : it is handsome and striking in appearance, and its absence from our aviaries is much to be regretted. 18. Eurypyga helias (Sun Bittern). These pretty creatures are expert fly-catchers, the long neck shooting out suddenly and the fly being caught in the forceps-like beak. When standing these birds sway slowly but continually from side to side, and this may in the wild state be protective, the mottled plumage simulating sedges swayed by the breeze. The Sun Bittern also has a curious habit of rubbing its bill against the ground, as if sharpening it. Towards evening these birds utter pleasing and oft-repeated whistles. A fine pair noticed by the writer had lived some eight years in the Jardin d’Acclimatation at Paris. 19. Gasuarius westermanni (Westerman’s Cassowary). This fine species is named after Dr. G. F. Westerman, the founder of the Amsterdam Zoological Society. The writer saw an example living at Antwerp in 1900. 20. Apteryx mantelli (Mantell’s Apteryx). Several of these rare birds used to be exhibited in the Continental Zoos: at Amsterdam in 1899 they had both A. mantelli and A. oiveni. These birds are exceedingly apathetic when roused in the daytime : if turned out of bed they stand stupidly still, and after a few seconds run heavily jorwards and dive under their straw. The difficult problem of outdoor labelling seems to have been solved at Amsterdam, the labels being inserted in glazed frames which are then sealed up, and protected from the rain by a projecting roof. One of these label stands is seen in the accompanying illustra¬ tion, the bird perched upon it being a Temminck s Pied Hornbill. 164 Review. REVIEW. “A LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS.” The Committee of the British Ornithologists’ Union has, with great pains and careful labour, compiled a fresh and most helpful list of British Birds, the number of which is recognised as 475 in all, of which 188 are regular breeding birds and 286 are non-breeding, and one is extinct, viz., the Great Auk. The List is sub-divided into Residents (141). Summer Visitors (47) and Winter Visitors (46). Birds of Passage, i.e., those which are only found during the spring and autumn migration periods (30), and Occasional Visitors, i.e., birds which have occurred on more than twenty occasions (61). We are glad to find much assistance and lucidity in the nomenclature, it having been the object of the Committee to use the oldest name for each genus and species, commencing from 1758, so that some of the more modern titles have been discarded. Trinomials (detestable things ! ) have been thrown aside as much as possible, although one wishes ornithologists could manage to style the British Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pileata, instead of Pyrrhula pxyrrhula pileata ; but that is one step better than Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula ! The Song Thrush, too, is dubbed Turdus musicus, instead of Turdus musicus musicus, which latter sounds as if it was applied to a Thrush who was a sort of Caruso ! What, amongst other things, especially commends itself in this list, is the derivation of the names from the Latin and Greek ; for instance, to many members of the Avicultural Society, individuals who have perhaps left their schoolroom and school days some way behind, and who might possibly be puzzled as to Coccothraustes (the generic name for the Hawfinches), we find that that jaw¬ breaking title =the kernel-breaker: from Kokkos and Thrauo (to put it in English lettering). And these derivations make quite an interesting study, so much so that in the future one fully expects members of the Society will no longer write in articles that the Pine-Grosbeak ” (for instance) has successfully reared young in captivity, but rather, “ It may interest members to know that my pair of Pinicola enucleator ” has successfully done so ; since after English Name s for . the Parrots. 165 studying this list of British Birds, and having learnt that Pinicola is derived from Pinus=a pine-tree, and colere=to inhabit, and furthermore that enucleater conveys to one’s mind a bird who takes out (e or ex) the kernel (nucleus), it will be just as easy to write of Pinicola enucleator as of Pine-Grosbeak; and this mode may possibly also increase our roll of members, for certain ornithologists who sit in Museums and who would never condescend to speak of Pine- Grosbeaks or Thrushes, and give tongue to other such vulgar parlance, would no doubt say, “ Ho ho, this Magazine is worth looking at, these people seem to know what they’re writing about," only let us be certain of our ground, not confusing terms and titles as a lady did, who, on walking round the garden of a friend, a real horticulturist, and hoping to please him, remarked on the beauty of his Angina pectoris — meaning Anchusa. Well ! there it is, this list, helping us very considerably to interpret what until now, may have been as an unknown tongue to many. And there are other advantages in it which lack of space prevents us from enlarging upon. H. D. A. [A LIST OF British Birds, compiled by a Committee of the British Ornithologists’ Union. Second and revised edition. Published by the B.O.U. and sold by WILLIAM WESLEY and SON, 28, Essex Street, Strand, London, W.C.] ENGLISH NAMES FOR THE PARROTS. By Dr. E. HOPKINSON. (■ Continued from page 133.) BLUE-THIGHED LORY. =Lorius tibialis. Ceram Lory, see CHATTERING LORY. CHATTERING LORY. Crimson Lory, see CHATTERING LORY. [(2) See CERAM ECLECTUS]. [“ Eclectus Lory,” see ECLECTUS, GRAND]. [Grand Lory, see ECLECTUS, GRAND], Green-Naped Lory, the GREEN-NAPED LORIKEET. GREEN-TAILED LORY. =Lorius Chlorocercus. *Gueby Lory, see under RED LORY (1 and 7). *Gueby Lory, Var. A., see under RED LORY (7). *Guery Lory, same as Gueby. 166 Dr. E. Hopkinson, *Indian Lory, the BLUE-TAILED LORY, see under RED LORY (3). *Indian Lory, Var. A., ditto. *Jarancra Lory, see RED-FRONTED LORY, below. [King Lory, the KING PARROT (i)]. KUHL’S LORY. Lady Lory. [Linnaean Lory]. Long-Tailed Lories, the LORIES as opposed to LORIKEETS. Long-Tailed Scarlet Lory, the RED LORY. LOUISIADE LORY. =Lorius hypaenochrous. Molucca Lory, see RED LORY. Musk Lory, the MUSKY LORIKEET. *Papouan Lory, the Papuan Lory. PAPUAN LORY (*Papouan Lory, Latham) .= Charmosyna papu- ensis. [*Paraguan Lory, see PESQUET’S PARROT]. Purple-Breasted Lory, an occasional dealers’ name for BLUE¬ TAILED LORY. PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. Purple-Streaked Lory, a dealers’ name for the VIOLET-NECKED LORY. Rajah Lory, one of Latham’s names for the PURPLE-CAPPED L. RED LORY. RED-FRONTED LORY , = Chalcopsittacus scintillatus . Other book names are : * Amber Parrot (Latham), *Jarancra Lory, Violet- Necked Lory, but the latter name properly belongs to another species, Eos variegata. [Red-Sided Green Lory, see under ECLECTUS], [“ Red-Winged Lory,” Australian popular name for the CRIMSON¬ WINGED PARRAKEET], Reticulated Lory, the BLUE-STREAKED LORY. Ruby Lory, see KUHL’S LORY. SAMOAN LORY. Scaly-breasted Lory, the SCALY-BREASTED LORIKEET. Scarlet Lory (i).=the CHATTERING LORY. (2) THE RED LORY. Short-Tailed Lories. = the LORIKEETS. SOLITARY LORY. “ Solomon Islands Lory,” a dealers’ name for the CHATTERING LORY. TALAUT LORY. = Eos talautensis. THREE-COLOURED LORY. Variegated Lory, the VIOLET-NECKED LORY, see under RED LORY (11). English Names for the Parrots. 167 [Violet Lory, see under ECLECTUS, GRAND]. VIOLET-NECKED LORY (i ). — Eos variegata ; see under RED LORY (n). (2) Also occasionally used for the RED-FRONTED LORY, see above. WALLACE’S LORY. *Lory Parrakeet, Edwards’ name for the ORNAMENTAL LORIKEET. LOUISIADE LORY. =Lorius hypaenochroas. “ Loury,” rare variant of LORY. Australian dealers’ name for PENNANT’S PARRAKEET. LOVEBIRD, a popular name for any member of the African genus Aga- pornis, and commonly extended to include the similarly shaped PASSERINE PARRAKEETS of South America, and the well known Australian BUDGERIGAR. Occasional book variants are Love- Parrakeet, Love-Parrot. Inseparable, an old synonym. The following is a list of English names, those referring to other genera than Agapornis being included in brackets. ABYSSINIAN LOVEBIRD. [American Lovebirds, the Passerine Parrakeets ( Psittacula )]. [“ Australian Lovebird,” the BUDGERIGAR]. To be continued)- CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC. SIR, — Although Kingfishers will take little trout — and at trout-breeding places the fry have to be protected by wire netting— possibly they like better other kinds of fish. Many years ago (at Hever in Kent) they carried off all my goldfish, even some of the size one generally sees in glasssbowls, though these must have proved very hard to get down. I remember they used to hit them about a good deal before they tried to swallow them. But why I think they may prefer coarse fish is this. We have in the garden at home (Hampshire) a line of pools connected by a stream. One of these pools held only three trout (it held four, until one, a whopper, was taken by an otter who had his kennel in a reed bed below) but was full of sticklebacks and minnows. The Kingfishers used to come there then. There was a balcony opposite the pool and we could sit and watch the birds fishing there in the pool below. A favourite perch was a twig of pink thorn that hangs over the water, and another the branch of a rowan. Sometimes one of the Kingfishers would sit on the ground by the edge of the water and fish from there. I have never elsewhere seen one doing this. A Dab- chick was also constantly there and was absurdly tame. Well, this pool leaked— the water got away through the greensand rock — and in order to get the full quantity of water over the fall we had to run the pool empty and work at the leak. This proved to be a longish job, and for many 168 Correspondence. days, under a fierce sun. the pool lay dry — all but a muddy runnel— and every fish was lost. One trout of lbs. threw himself on to the mud, and by the time I got him (to be accurate, her) into a bucket ,was beyond all help, while two, although we moved them successfully into a tiny pool above, were not to be seen the next day, being probably taken by the otter that then was working the stream (judging by his “ seal ” or footprints, this otter used to execute a moon¬ light hornpipe on the mud of the emptied pool). Every minnow or stickleback that had not escaped down the sluice was dried up by the sun or choked in the thick water. The Kingfishers have not been there since (nor for that matter the Dabchick, though he does not properly come into the tale). Some two hundred yards above this is another and a very much larger pool full of sizeable trout. It is connected with its spring by a tiny streamlet up which the trout run to spawn. They will very soon be there now (February), and presently this little thread of shallow water will harbour shoals of trout-fry. But though a Kingfisher may be seen going over it like an arrow, never in my observation will it stay to fish. So I have come to think that the Kingfishers like coarse fish best, and I should like to stock that garden pool with sticklebacks and minnows. But I do not know how to do it. AUBYN TREVOR-BATTYE. “DO FIELD VOLES IF GIVEN TO BIRDS AS FOOD CAUSE A WASTING DISEASE?” SIR, — I have often thought of asking a question in the Avicultural Magazine that seemed a stupid one, but may not be so very stupid after all. The question is “ Do field voles if given to birds as food cause a wasting disease?” In this part of the country there is a prevalent idea that they do cause a wasting disease, and that cats that take to eating them soon get thin and die. I cannot get my aviary man to give voles to any birds, though he will give as many house mice as he can catch. If I point out that the Cranes catch and eat numbers of voles I am met by the reply, “ Yes, but a Crane is not a Greater Bird of Paradise.” I asked one day what was wrong with a fat, healthy vole. The reply was “ Weel, there will be a something in the head o’t, do ye no think sae yer s’el? ” Now, this reply as to there being something in the head of the vole made me think there might be something in the argument that field voles cause a wasting disease. It may be that these animals are often the host of tape or other intestinal worms, which, of course, would account for birds or cats wasting away if they became infested. Perhaps some scientific member of the Avicultural Society will reply to this suggestion and say whether field voles are safe food or not. It is curious that on two occasions, when I have killed voles and given them to birds the birds have died ; just a lump of bones and feathers two or three weeks after. One bird was an Occipital Blue Pie, the other an Apoda (Paradise Bird). Hoddam Castle. E. J. BROOK. Notices to Members — (Continued from page ii. of cover J NEW MEMBERS. Mr. Kenneth N. Woodward, i, Madison Avenue, New York, U.S.A. Mr. O. C. Smith, 73, Audley Street, Reading. Mr. Norman Smith, Kilcreggan, Bower Road, Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire. CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION. Miss Grace Latham, 3, Trevauion Road, West Kensington, London. Proposed by Miss Alice Hutchinson. ILLUSTRATION FUND. - £ s. d. The Marquis of Tavistock. . .. .. 20 o o Major G. A. Perreau .. .. .. 100 MEMBERS’ PRIVATE SALE AND EXCHANGE COLUMN. The charge for private advertisements is sixpence for eighteen words or less, and one penny for every additional three words or less. Trade advertisements are not allowed in this column. Dealers who are members, wishing to adver tise, should apply to the Publisher for terms. Advertisements must reach the Editor on or before the 26th of the month. The Council reserve the right of refusing any advertisement they may consider undesirable. For Sale. — Two thoroughly lasting and well-made cages, new, suitable to pairs Parrakeets, or single Parrots, etc. Strong punched Bar Body Waggon shaped. Enamelled base, re¬ movable, turn-out cliina-lined feeders. Cages: 24m. by 22m. by 1401. .. ^3 the two. R. A. Newley, 24, Stockwell Green, London, S.W. For Exchange. — Cock Tri-coloured Parrot Finch ; cock Long-tailed Grass- finch. Both guaranteed perfect, over a year in garden aviary (heated shelter). Wanted. — Hen Rainbow Bunting; cock Red Siskin ; cock Blue Sugar-bird ( D.cyana ), must be acclimatised and in good condition. Miss Chawner, Lyndhurst. WANTS. The charge for members' advertisements under this heading is four pence for twelve words or under, and one penny for every additional three words or less. Wanted.— A BLUE ROCK THRUSH. Must be young bird and good singer. Address Mrs. A. C. McCORQUODALE, Cound Hall, Shrewsbury. R, A, NEWLEY, Specialist, 24, STOCKWELL GREEN, LONDON, S.W. Awarded 52 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes at the: — Crystal Palace, Sydenham; Horticultural Hall, Westminster ; Avondale Hall, Clapham ; and People’s Hall, Birmingham — for excellence of Workmanship and Design. BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR OF CANARIES, BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIRDS. Agent for J. IV. Ramsden' s Color Food , Felt Nest Pan Linings. Terms— NETT Cash. Postal & Money Orders— Stockwele Green, P.O. Bankers— London, City & Midland, Loughborough Junction. GOOD WOKK. Ci FAIR PRICES ORDERS GREATLY NEEDED OWING TO THE WAR. Specially Recommended by the Editor and other Aviculturists. TROWER & CO., WHOLESALE SEED MERCHANTS and BIRD FOOD SPECIALISTS, 436,438 & 442, CALEDONIAN ROAD, LONDON, _ _ _ N . EXTRA LARGE SPANISH CANARY SEED. CHOICE GERMAN SUMMER RAPE SEED Finest Selected Seeds for all kinds of Cage or Aviary Birds British, Foreign, and Canaries, As supplied by us to the leading Fanciers and Exhibitors at the Crystal Palace and other Shows. PRICE LIST. SAMPLES FREE. 14 CECTO ” *^ie ^est Insectivorous Food on the Market, l/~ per lb _ _ postpaid 1/3- Ground Silk Worm Pupae, Mealworms, Ants’ Eggs, Dried Flies, etc «« FfiRISCO ” the finest Egg and Biscuit Food vet made. 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/- Tins AVICULTURAL MAGAZ INE. The Red headed Bullfinch (ivilh Coloured Plate) by HUBERT D. AST'LEY 163 Some -Experiences of Mealy Rosellas, by The MARQUIS OP TAVISTOCK 171 Notes on the Breeding of the South African Coly, by Gerard h. Gurney, f.z.s ... 179 The Effect of Modem High Explosives on Birds, by W, H. ST. QUINTIN... 181 A Tame Raven, by REGINALD PHILLIPPS ... ... ... ... 182 An Aviculturist in Portugal, by DOUGLAS R. URWICK ... ... 186 Obituary LORD BRABOURNE ... ... ... ... ... 191 English Names for the Parrots, by Dr. E. HOPKINSON ... ... 191 CORRESPONDENCE : — To Contributors of Articles and Notes -, Nightjar, Snipe, and Phalarope ; Destruction of Birds’ Nests and Eggs ; Nesting of Quaker Parrakeets ; Mealworm Breeding and Stick Insects ... ... 195 — 200 Third Series. The price of this APRIL, Vol. VI. No. 6. Number is 1/3- —1915.— NOTE — A new volume commences every November. All Subscriptions should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. WEST, NEWMAN & Co.. 54, Hatton Garden, E.C AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Persons wishing to join the Avicueturae Society are requested to communicate with either of the Hon. Secretaries or the Kditor. Hjgf’ The Magazine can also be had from the Publishers by NON-MEMBERS at a Subscription of 15/- per annum. NOTICES TO MEMBERS. The Subscription to the Avicultural Society is 10/- per annum, due on the 1st of November in each year, and is payable in advance. The entrance fee is io/6. The Avicultural Magazine is sent free to members monthly. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year, on the payment of entrance fee and subscription . All MSS. for publication in the Magazine , Books foi Review, and Private Advertisements should be addressed to the Kditor, Hubert D. ASTEEY, Esq., Brinsop Court, Heieford. All Queries respecting Birds (except post mortem cases) should be addressed to the Honorary Correspondence Secretary, Dr. A. G. BUTEKR, 124, Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent. [Enclose stamp for reply']. All other correspondence , should be sent to the Honorary Business Secretary, Mr. T. H. 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Second-hand copies sometimes reach the Publishers, to whom application should be made. 36irfcs=%ore. A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Edited by Frank M. Chapman. EACH VOLUME CONTAINS— About 400 pages, with 12 full-page colored plates of our own birds, and many photographs from nature. Descriptions of experiences with living birds in their haunts, and help¬ ful articles on how to study birds. Migration tables, showing when birds may be expected at many places throughout the country. A list of prominent ornithologists who will help you in voitr study of birds. Bird Censuses by numerous observers. Reviews of books and of magazine articles relating to birds. Editorials on current questions in bird study. A School Department. An Audubon Society Department. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION .. 5/- D. APPLETON & Co., 25 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London. Pp. 142, Cloth, Demy Svo., Price 5/- net; Postage 4d. PRACTICAL - BIRD-KEEPING. BEING REPRINTS PROM “THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE,” 1911-12. EDITED BY J L. BONHOTE, M.A., E.L.S., E.Z.S. A Manual intended as a practical help to those who find both pleasure and profit from the keeping of wild birds in confinement. Contributed to by specialists in each class of birds described. With One Coloured Plate and Sixteen Uncoloured. London: WEST, NEWMAN & Co.. 54 Hatton Garden, E.C. CROSS'S MENAGERIE, LIVERPOOL PET ANIMALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. i Ludio Monkey; I Diana Monkey ; I Patas Monkey; I Chimpanzee; i Red Baboon; 25 Dogface Baboons; 3 Capuchin Monkeys; 1 Sacred Baboon ; 2 Mandrills; 10 Rhesus Monkeys; 2 Black and White Lemurs; 6 Brown Lemurs ; I Grey Lemur ; 2 Agoutis; 1 Coati-Mundi ; 2 Australian Rat Kangaroos; 12 Wallabies; 20 Red Squirrels; 1 African Civet; 2 Leopards ; 2 Lions ; 1 pair and young Llama at foot ; 5 Indian Buffaloes ; I Spanish Jack Donkey; j Hog Deer; 1 Blackbuck ; 5 Bears ; 2 Dingos ; I Wolf; 6 Hums; 4 Rheas ; 4 Cereopsis Geese ; 3 Blackneck Swans ; 2 Canada Geese ; to Egyptian Nile Geese ; 2 Snow Geese ; 2 Barhead Geese; 2 Crown Cranes ; 2 Sarus Cranes ; 6 Demoiselle Cranes ; I Iceland Kalcon ; 6 little Owls; 1 Burrowing Owl ; 1 horned Indian Fish Owl; 1 Redbill Tree Duck ; 20 Sheldrakes ; too other ornamental Waterfowl ; 1 marvellous talking Grey Parrot ; 1 talking Amazon Parrot ; 1 talking Yellow-billed Pionus ; 2 Red and Blue Macaws ; 2 Cuban Connies ; 100 Lavenderhead Lovebirds ; 3 Redfaced Lovebirds ; 10 Cockateils ; 2 Adelaides Broadtails ; 1 Bauer’s Parrakeet; 2 Gold-fronted Con 11 res ; 6 Canarywing Connies; t pair Little Macaws; 4 Lemon-crest Cockatoos; 2 Bare-eyed Cockatoos; 3 Red- collared Lorikeets; r Alexandrine Parrakeet; 2 Blue Red-legged Cuban '111 rushes; 1 Mexican Sorry Thrush; White Java Sparrows ; Grey Java Sparrows; Zebra Finches, etc.; Zebra Doves; African Turtle Doves; Fantail Pigeons; Tumblers; Nuns; Ornamental Peafowl; Pheasants; Quail ; Crocodiles ; Alligators ; Lizards, etc. Wanted to Purchase, SURPLUS ACCLIMATISED SPECIMENS, BIRDS, REPTILES, OR ANIMALS < t CROSS i Otterspool House, Aigburth, Liverpool. Cables and Telegrams : “ Cross, Liverpool.” National ’Phone ; 260 Lark Lane, Liverpool. Roland Green , Del. Five-eighths nat. size. Watford Engraving Co., Ltd., Sculp. RED-HEADED BULLFINCH ( $ & $ ). (PYRRHULA ERYTHROCEPHALA). THE 169 Avicultural Magazine, BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Third Series. — Vol. VI. — No. 6. — All rights reserved. APRIL, 1915. THE RED-HEADED BULLFINCH. Pyrrhula erytlirocepliala. By Hubert D. Astley. Not until 1914 was this very handsome Himalayan Bullfinch imported alive into Europe, when Mr. David Ezra sent over a few pairs to his brother Mr. A. Ezra from India, a male and female being most kindly given to me. Most unfortunately, after keeping them in splendid condition all last summer and through the winter, I lost the hen bird in a tragic manner. Bather stupidly I had in my bird room a Pigmy Owl from Yucatan, scarcely larger than the bullfinches, whose cage hung in a corner on a wall, the bars being anything but wide apart, and there the little imp of a bird had been for months ; glaring, it is true, at the other occupants of the room, but never being able to harm them, or at any rate so I thought, until one day to my horror and dismay I found the headless body of the female Bed-headed Bullfinch lying on the floor beneath the Pigmy Owl’s cage, the little wretch glaring more ferociously than ever because he felt cheated at having in his stomach only the head ! The poor bullfinch must have clung for a moment to the wires and been promptly seized, although how the owlet managed to pull the bird’s head through, and only its head, was puzzling. I felt like treating that owl in the same way. It was all so unnecessary, for the vile creature had sparrows and mice to his heart’s, or rather his stomach’s content. It certainly is disgusting when a thing like this happens which could have been avoided. Of course the stable door was locked after 170 On the Bed-headed Bullfinch. the horse was stolen, and there was the disconsolate male bullfinch calling vociferously, and continued to do so for two or three days. The two were devoted to one another, and I had been looking for¬ ward to their nesting successfully this summer. Like the British Bullfinch, this species is very tameable, the male also having a charming merry song, more resembling a Linnet’s than that of our British bird’s. The call note is loud and double, of a higher pitch, I think, than the British bullfinch’s, but still having a family resemblance. It may be due to age that causes the colour of the male Red-headed Bullfinch to vary in intensity. Some are only dull orange, others are bright orange-red ; but much more orange than red, so that I think it misleading to have named this bird “ Red-headed.” Our British bird is red. To my eyes, the Himalayan bird is not ! “ Orange-headed Bullfinch” would have been a moi’e appropriate name. My male bird moulted out slightly brighter in colour than when he was first brought from India, but not nearly so vivid as are some of the skins in the Natural History Museum, in spite of his diet having consisted all through the summer of fresh chickweed, groundsel, flowering grrsses, strawberries, etc., and later on of black¬ berries, elder berries, apple, plantain, and so on. Besides which the birds were often flying loose in the bird-room, with a pan of fresh water to wash in, which they took every and constant advan¬ tage of. Gould (Birds of Asia, Yol. 5) writes : — “ This fine species “ possesses the general characteristics of the common Bullfinch of “ Europe, except in the form of the tail, which is decidedly forked, “ while in our bird it is even, and in the colour of the head, which “ is bright rufous, inclining to scarlet, instead of being black as in “our native species. The occurrence of this bird in the collections “ of Europe was formerly so rare that the single specimen belonging “ to the Andersonian Museum at Glasgow, from which my original “ figure and description in the Century of Birds were taken, was the “ only one then known. Shortly afterwards two other examples “ arrived in England, one of which was deposited in the British “ Museum, the other in that of the Zoological Society of London, “and these three were all the specimens then in Europe.” Some Experiences of Mealy Bosellas. 171 “ During the interval which has elapsed between 1832, when “ the Century of Birds was published, and the date 1853 at which *' I now write, the great chain of the Himalayan and adjoining hills “ which extend towards the Peninsula (the native country of P. “ erythrocephala ) has been traversed by men whose love for natural “ history has prompted to procure and send to Europe numerous “ collections of the productions of those districts ; among them “ many examples of both sexes of this beautiful species have been “ sent ; in order therefore to make known the female, I unhesita- “ tingly give a new plate, comprising accurate representations of “ both sexes.” Any detailed description of the colouring of the sexes of this Bullfinch is unnecessary with the extremely good coloured plate to refer to, which gives a very accurate idea not only of the plumage but also of the form. The picture is the result of studies from living birds. The Bed-headed Bullfinch is just about the same size as the British bird, but perhaps somewhat more slender in build. SOME EXPERIENCES OF MEALY ROSELLAS. By The Makquis of Tavistock. The popular name of Platycercus pallidiceps is undoubtedly open to objection, since the word ‘ rosella ’ is nothing more than a meaningless corruption of Bose-hill, a place which the bird in ques¬ tion does not, I believe, frequent. Still, if one were to mention a ‘ pale-headed parrakeet,’ I doubt if nine aviculturists out of ten would be much the wiser ; so perhaps it is best after all to stick to the familiar title. Some people are disposed to crab the Mealy Bosella on account of the rather washy and undecided tints of his head and neck, but to my mind he is a very lovely bird — what Broadtail indeed is not? — and few more tasteful combinations of colour exist than the primrose and blue which adorn the greater part of his plumage. His disposition, alas ! does not correspond to the beauty of his outward appearance ; in fact, when fully adult and 172 The Mabquis of Tavistock, in good health, he can only be described as a spiteful brute. His two pet aversions are the Blue-bonnet and his near relative the Bed Bosella. Alone among the Playcercinse he is often able to inspire with fear and respect, the pert irascible little monkey in brown and blue, while for the Bed Bosella he show's a most unbounded contempt. Hybrids between P. pallidiceps and P. eximius have been produced in captivity and may also have occurred wild in Australia, but in my own experience I have never known the two species show any desire to associate except when quite young. Even when I have had odd birds of opposite sexes flying together at liberty for several months, they have never been seen to meet except on the most unfriendly terms. In November, 1912, 1 obtained my first Mealy Bosellas — two adult pairs — and turned them into a warm aviary with some other parrakeets, who had little cause to regard their arrival as a blessing. One of the cocks was a rather lethargic bird, and I always thought there was something wrong with him and quite expected that he would die. However, he survived until the spring, when I cut the wings of all four and turned them into a grass enclosure. Here trouble began, for the stronger cock set upon his companion and would probably have killed him if I had not come to the rescue. It is nearly always the case that when two parrakeets have had their wings cut the weaker bird is unable to escape in the event of a serious fight. When he had recovered from his injuries, I placed the victim in another enclosure, where he was promptly attacked by a Bed Bosella, and again had to be saved from an untimely end. As it was evident that the poor bird needed exercise and unlimited green food more than his oppressors, I shut up the first cock Mealy and obliged him, as a well-deserved penance, to watch from inside a cage the spectacle of his rival enjoying, in the society of the twTo hens, the amenities of a semi-free existence. The treatment an¬ swered well as far as the invalid was concerned, and by the end of the summer he had greatly improved, and was quite lively and even bumptious. During September one of the hens moulted and flew out of the enclosure, and as her mate in the cage was also able to fly he was allowed to join her at liberty. Not long after¬ wards the second cock made his exit, and as his wife was rather Some Experiences of Mealy Rosellas. 173 slow in getting her new wing feathers, she was caged and put near a clump of tall evergreens, where her partner spent most of his time. He was very attentive to her and used often to feed her through the wire-netting, but one cold morning he was, to my dis¬ appointment, picked up dead, so all my care for him had been in vain ; probably he had never had a very strong constitution. The first pair, however, stayed and flourished, and by the end of October had established themselves in a nest-box I had put up in a tall oak tree. For some weeks we saw nothing of the hen. Then she began to make occasional appearances with her mate, and, in spite of the unfavourable weather [for it was now winter] , I had great hopes of young being reared, but the day arrived — how well most of us know it — when the old birds went no more to their nest. With dreary forebodings a ladder was brought and placed against the tree. Out of the box were turned the mangled corpses of some baby Mealies, a black American squirrel, and a vast quantity of dry leaves and other household comforts which the latter had collected for his use. I sincerely trust that the night following his eviction was the coldest and most uncomfortable he spent in his life ! But the bereaved parents were not discouraged, and a few weeks later were nesting in another box at some distance from the scene of their first venture. After the hen had been absent for a month I noticed a sinister circumstance, her mate was accompanying the second hen (who had been released seveial weeks previously) and was feeding her and generally treating her as his espoused wife. Broadtail Parrakeets are, with individual exceptions, models of con¬ jugal fidelity ; so I was not surprised, on examination of the nest- box, to find that my worst fears were realized and that it was empty. Evidently the sitting bird had been killed, probably by an owl, as the entrance holes to the boxes were at that time far too large. After a short time, the Mealy and his new wife were joined by a hen Brown’s Parrakeet, who had fallen in love with him and made strenuous efforts latterly, I am sorry to say with some success, to monopolize his affections. But fate was still against me ; the cock Mealy, like all his tribe, was an aggressive bird, and for many weeks his supremacy had been unchallenged in that part of the garden which he considered his particular domain. One afternoon, 174 The Marquis of Tavistock, a Bauer’s Parrakeet turned up with his Barnard wife at the Mealy’s favourite feeding tray. A battle followed, and next morning I found, to my disgust, that the Mealy had had his upper mandible bitten clean off at the root, so of course nothing remained but to catch the poor fellow and put an end to his sufferings. That was the last of the Bauer’s misdeeds and he paid for it by forfeiting his liberty. He was a handsome bird and a model parent, but he dearly loved a row and his tactics were murderous. Only a few days before I caught him up, I was attracted by a tremendous whistling to a hollow tree in which a pair of Yellow-naped Parrakeets had shown an inclination to nest. On coming up I found the Bauer and Barnard and the two Yellow-napes having a most tremendous battle and apparently enjoying it hugely. They fought in the branches, and they fought in the air, and, finally, they fell to the ground to continue the conflict on terra-firma with undiminished zest. When I left them, for I could not wait to see the end, the two cocks were rolling over and over in a heap, while a few feet away their wives sparred savagely with each other for a favourable opening. No damage was done on this occasion, for the Yellow-napes were as skilful fighters as the Bauer, and ended, like he, in suffering the penalty of exile for beak-biting and murder.'' To return to the Mealies, of which only one now remained : deprived of her mate, she and the Brown’s struck up a warm spinster friendship such as occurs not infrequently among birds of various orders. The couple even went so far as to explore nesting-holes to¬ gether, the Brown’s on these occasions playing the cock’s part of preliminary investigator and appraiser of the premises under con¬ sideration. There are, by the way, few more amusing sights than that afforded by a pair of Broadtail Parrakeets house-hunting at liberty. The male bird always takes the lead, and after the most superficial and inadequate inspection of some cavity in a tree or building, will spend hours in proclaiming the surpassing excellence of his find, even though his wife has been well aware at the end of the first minute that the hole is for some obvious reason wholly im- One wonders whether this destructive warfare goes on in Australia, since Lord Tavistock’s birds had all the advantages of the wild ones.— ED. Some Experiences of Mealy Bosellas. 175 possible as a nesting-place. However, she is very patient and listens to him most dutifully for a long time, finally giving a little chuckle, as much as to say, “ Yes, dear, I know it is a most beautiful hole, and a most wonderful hole, only unfortunately it is so small that I cannot get into it, and even if I could, there are quite six inches of water at the bottom, which would be bad for our eggs. Let us go and have a look somewhere else.” But the Brown’s and Mealy never got as far as nesting, for one morning I noticed the latter looking ill, and a second glance showed that she had been injured in the same way as her mate, and had lost the upper half of her beak. Probably the Yellow-napes were the culprits as the Bauer had been shut up some weeks before. Thus ended my first attempt to acclimatize P. pallidiceps ; there was nothing for it but to try again and hope for better luck. Some weeks before the death of the last of the original im¬ portation, I had bought six young Mealies from a dealer, with which to replenish my vanishing stock. They were in poor condition on arrival and two died, but with warmth and good feeding I managed to pull the rest round. Although not, as I at first thought, Blue¬ cheeked Parrakeets (P. amathusia ) the new birds, which were said to have come from North Australia, were rather different from typical “ Moreton Bay ” Mealies. They were considerably bluer on the neck and cheeks and some had a quantity of reddish feathers on the crown of the head, such as are rarely seen in birds from S. E. Queensland. When summer arrived I turned them out with cut wings, together with a few typical Pallidiceps that X had obtained in April and May. A few were lost from chills, accidents, and straying, but on the whole I was fairly lucky, and by November two pairs and an odd hen were flying about the garden. The paired birds came regularly to the feeding-trays, and spent a good deal of time examining holes in trees as if with a view to nesting ; but as most adult Broadtails at liberty go house-hunting nearly the whole year round, I was not much disappointed when the weeks went by and nothing more happened. The odd hen, unlike her married kinsfolk, was a great wanderer, and in company with a young wild-bred Port Adelaide of her own sex, was often 176 The Marquis of Tavistock, absent from home for several weeks at a time. More than once we gave the couple up for lost, but sooner or later they would return, looking none the worse for their adventures and lack of artificial food. In March, the Adelaide found a mate of her own species, and the newly-wedded couple proceeded to make it extremely plain to the poor Mealy that honeymoons are intended for two and not three, and thenceforward she was compelled to lead a solitary existence. About the same time one of the cock Mealies mysteriously disappeared, and as I was afraid that the unmated hens would stray and get lost, I obtained two acclimatized male birds from the Zoological Gardens. One of these, a rather scrubby individual with a broken tail, behaved in an exemplary manner and took up with the widow at once. Less than twenty-four hours after his release, I saw him sitting on the branch of a dead oak, energetically waggling his one tail-feather and whistling to his bride in a hole beneath him. But the other cock— though a much finer bird — conducted himself in a foolish and “con¬ trary ” fashion. He would have nothing to do with the spinster, and after a few days he wandered off and was caught and returned to me in a starving condition. I let him out again, and again he strayed, so I gave him up as a bad job and cut his wing when I had managed to get him back. In April, further ill-luck arrived ; the broken-tailed cock disappeared, and not long afterwards the odd hen was picked up dead of chill. It is curious how birds, which have spent the whole winter out of doors and are apparently in the pink of condition and as hard as nails, will sometimes catch cold and die during a spell of comparatively mild weather in spring, even though they are not moulting. But better things were in store ; the best pair of Mealies had for some time been visiting a tree about a mile away from the garden, the cock was feeding the hen and every day we expected to see him appear alone. It often happens, however, that parrakeets, after fussing round a hole for weeks, will tire of it at the last moment and go and settle down quickly in quite a different place. The Mealies were an illustration of this, for they suddenly decided that there was no place like home, and almost before we realized that they had deserted their favourite haunt we found that the hen was sitting in a hollow oak close to the lodge gates ; the very same tree in fact in which the Bauer and Yellow-napes had Some Experiences of Mealy Bosellas. 177 fought so desperately the year before. Her behaviour during in¬ cubation was not quite like that of other female Platycerci I have watched which have been fed by their mates at the entrance to the nest, and hardly seemed to leave it at all for some weeks. The Mealy, however, on hearing the cock’s call note, would slip out and join him. He would then feed her and the pair would fly off to¬ gether and remain away for some minutes. On their return, the hen would fly straight to the hole and dive in without waiting to look round, as though she feared that some harm might have over¬ taken her precious eggs during her absence. Fortunately her fears, if she had any, were never realized ; everything went well, and in due course six fine young birds made their appearance and were well looked after by their father until able to take care of themselves. About ten days after the young had flown, the hen went to nest again in the same hole and a brood of four were successfully reared. Immature Mealies differ little in plumage from their parents, but their colours, especially the blues and creams, are less pure and vivid owing to a smoky greenish tinge, wThich is particularly noticeable on the head and neck. Their beaks also are of the peculiar shade which is seen in young Red Rosellas, as if bone or ivory had been stained with reddish earth. Birds which have red feathers on the crown when in adult plumage, show considerable traces of red at the time of leaving the nest. The domestic career of the second hen Mealy — though less successful than that of the first — was rather curious. Being without a mate of her own species she paired with a Brown’s Parrakeet and went to nest in a tree in the garden. For a time all went well, and from the behaviour of the old birds I am practically certain that young were hatched ; but one unlucky day the Brown’s discovered a brood of Red Rosellas in the roof of a building a long way from his own establishment. He was delighted with his find, drove off the unfortunate parents (who were so disgusted that they went clean away and were never seen again) and set to work to feed the en¬ chanting babies himself. A few days later he introduced them to his wife and soon persuaded her to desert her home and devote her self entirely to his new charges. The Rosellas were reared— even one which left the nest prematurely and injured itself, being fed by 178 Some Experiences of Mealy Bosellas. its foster parents through the bars of a cage until well and old enough to be released. Still I could not help feeling rather disgusted with the Brown’s, for his officious meddling with his neighbour’s affairs and neglect of his own had cost me a breeding pair of Bosellas and probably a nest of hybrids as well! During the course of last summer, two new Mealies came into my possession — both, unfortunately, to die after a few weeks — which were interesting from a scientific point of view, and showed curious variations of plumage. The first, a hen, had the crown of the head thickly covered with strawberry-pink feathers, and showed besides, an unusual amount of blue on the cheeks and on the upper part of the neck. A tendency to erythrism, it may be noted, is characteristic of several species of Australian Parrakeets ; individual Brown’s, Bosellas, Yellow-bellies, and Manv-colours often showing an abnormal amount of red in their plumage. The case of the Bed- vented Blue-bonnet is very similar, and personally I do not consider Psephotus Inoematorrhous as really a good species. The second bird I received was a typical P. amathusia, the first I have ever seen alive. He was much paler in colour than the hen just mentioned, quite like an ordinary “ Moreton Bay ” Bosella in many respects, but he had a dark-blue patch on the lower cheek, not the circular patch one sees in a Pennant or Yellow-rump, which starts from the base of the lower mandible but a kind of half-moon lying low on the cheek and not reaching the beak at all. Although this blue cheek patch is a very noticeable feature, the general resem¬ blance between P. amathusia and P. pallicliceps is so striking that one can hardly fail to regard them as local races of one variable species, and a series of skins obtained from different localities would probably show the complete gradation of one form into the other. In describing the habits of my Mealy Bosellas there is one point I have forgotten to mention, viz., their playfulness. The Platycerci as a family are very serious-minded birds, and do not give themselves up to light-hearted antics. But here the Mealy is rather an exception, and I have sometimes seen my birds playing in true parrot fashion ; turning somersaults, throwing bits of stick about, lying on their backs and hopping wildly round with spread tails. I once had a Barnard’s Parrakeet who behaved in much the ■ Notes on the Breeding of the South African Coly. 179 same fashion, apparently from delight at the successful hatching' of his first family (he was quite a young bird). But I have never known another of his species forget his dignity to such an extent, and the Mealy Rosella is the only true Broadtail that I have often seen play. NOTES ON THE BREEDING OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COLY. By Gerard H. Gurney, E.Z.S. A pair of South African Colies (Colius striatus) nested and successfully reared two young ones last summer ; and the following notes, though somewhat meagre, may be of interest, as I am not aware that this species has been previously bred in confinement. I see by my notes that it was during the latter half of November, 1913, that six South African Colies came into my possession ; these birds in a wild state always go about in little parties of six to eight, so I was anxious to keep all mine alive, but all of them were in very poor con¬ dition when they arrived, and, in spite of every care, died oft one by one, until only two were left. These however began to thrive, and after having been kept in a large cage all the winter, were turned into a big aviary with open flight and shelter, during May; here they very quickly made themselves at home, and were generally in the open, hanging, often head downwards, by their strong feet on to the wire sides of the flight, wherever they could get the most sun ; or else climbing about in the thick undergrowth and bushes growing in their aviary. In British East Africa, where Colies of two or three species are found, I used to see them very commonly, flying out from a bush singly one after the other, with their quick sharp flight, some¬ what like a Parrakeet’s ; the natives used to say they were good to eat, but I never tried one. In confinement they are rather greedy birds, and are very apt to over-eat themselves, and become, unless care is taken to prevent it, enormously fat. It was not until June 26th that I noticed one of the Colies 180 Notes on the Breeding of the South African Goly. was missing, and presently discovered that she was sitting on a nest made on the top of a lid of a hamper, fixed up at the back of the shelter in the aviary ; in fact, the identical lid on which the White-crested Touracous had nested in 1913. The Coly and its nest were completely hidden from view by a thick bough of Scotch fir, and I did not dare take more than a momentary glance for fear of disturbing her. I feel convinced, and my bird-man is equally sure, that incubation can only just have begun on the 26th, if she had begun to sit before that we should have missed her sooner. Unfortunately I went abroad on July 4th, and up to that date there had been no change in the situation and I can only relate therefore subsequent events second-hand. Apparently the old bird sat extremely well, and when she came off to feed, the cock took her place ; in any case, they were never seen in the flight together, one was always on the nest, though as the sexes are iden¬ tical, the bird-man was not certain whether it was not the hen, and whether she may not have come off to feed when no one was there. He thinks the incubation period lasted about a fortnight, at any rate, on July 16th both old birds were out in the flight at the same time and he was able for the first time to look into the nest, which he describes as cup-shaped and untidily made with bits of hay and grass ; inside he found two well-feathered young ones, evidently hatched some days ; he says they were comical looking little objects, with their crests already quite long. The old birds fed them assiduously, carrying small bits of soft banana to them, and on this food they were reared entirely. When I came home from abroad on August 1st, the young ones were flying about with their parents, from which even then they were difficult to tell apart, except that they were rather lighter in colour and their tail-feathers were not so long. I shall be glad to hear whether any member knows of this species having been previously bred in confinement/" * Mr. Gurney is probably entitled to a medal for being the first to breed the S. African Coly in England. — Ed. The Effect of Modern High Explosives on Birds. 181 THE EFFECT OF MODERN HIGH EXPLOSIVES ON BIRDS. By W. H. St. Quintin. The effect of modern high explosives has been brought home to all of us during the events of the past few months. It may be worth recording that the concussion, which has such a paralysing effect upon man, when the explosion takes place in his immediate neighbourhood, can, in the case of small living creatures, actually destroy life without any external injury being visible. Mr. W. J. Clarke, the well-known naturalist of Scarborough, tells me that on Wednesday, the 16th of December, when the cowardly attack upon the defenceless town was at its height, a large shell fell in the garden of the next house to his own. Just inside his sitting-room window, and about a foot from the glass, was a cage in which Mr. Clarke kept a collection of small seed-eaters, all in good health, and many of which he had had for several years. Curiously enough not a pane of glass was cracked, perhaps because each window was open an inch or two at the top, although every sash cord in five windows was broken and a collection of cacti was thrown down off the window sill (inside). But the result was disastrous to the poor little cage birds. Shells were falling so thickly in that part of Scarborough that people left their homes and rushed out into the country. Mr. Clarke does not think that any birds were dead when he left the house with his wife, but when the German vessels had gone, and he returned some two hours later, two of the birds — a Common Waxbill and a Cordon Bleu — were dead, and the others were sitting moping about the cage, flying wildly about if disturbed. Next morning a Cutthroat was dead, and between that day and the following Monday he lost four more ; altogether six birds succumbed out of eleven. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke were rendered quite deaf by the con¬ cussion and remained so for several days. Under the circumstances it is not surprising that no special examination was made of the dead birds, otherwise it would have been interesting if the exact nature of the injury could have been ascertained. 182 Mr. Reginald Phillipps, A TAME RAVEN. By Reginald Phillipps. My garden here in London is covered over with wire-netting ; and in it for some years I had a Raven ; and the Raven’s name was Grip. Grip was quite a boy when he came to me, and, like other boys, had to learn his lessons. Now Grip used to listen to all that was said to him with the greatest attention ; with his head on one side, he would sit like a statue till his lessons were over, taking in every word to the best of his ability. After lessons, Grip would no longer sit still and mute. Having refreshed himself with a good shake, and satisfied himself that the coast was clear, he would carefully repeat over what he had heard. Thus the wise learn. Solomon tells us that to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven ; a time to laugh : a time to speak ; and so on for other matters. Grip gave this the consider¬ ation due to so great an authority, and arrived at the conclusion that, if there was one time more suitable than another for a good laugh and a good speak, the early morning was that time. He thought that, as none were about to see him, none would be near enough to hear him. For this reason he went through his per¬ formances while hidden away in a shed, Ostrich-like thinking that where he could not see he could not be seen. In the gray dawn, he would begin with a sepulchral Halloo ! Halloo ! which, having been gone over to his entire satisfaction, would be followed by Boiv-wow, Bow-ivoiv, and then by fits of the most distressful cough¬ ing, worthy of the last man in the last stage of consumption. Then there would be an ogre-like Haw, haw , haw. Several other words and sounds would follow in course, but sooner or later there would come the cat. The music of the cat is not pleasing at three or four o’clock in the morning, even when it be that of a genuine She. But when the notes come thrilling forth from the throat of a Raven, in a shrill falsetto voice — well, the neighbours com¬ plained ; and Grip had to be shut up every night, an indignity he on a Tame Raven. 183 so resented that he would seldom utter a word until let out again in the morning. Grip, I remarked just now, used to cough ; but coughing was not at any time a subject included in his school curriculum. I had a cough ; and the cough went off, fortunately not taking me off with it ; it was soon forgotten, so thankless are we when health returns — forgotten by all but Grip. A ring ; the lady from next door is announced : — “What a dreadful cough your husband has ! I wonder you allow him to go into the garden such weather as this. If my husband had such a cough, I should - .” My wife opens her eyes. She had not noticed that her husband had a cough. What ivant of feeling ! Not worthy of such a husband ! “ But you could not have heard him coughing now, for he is in the city.’’ “ O-O-O- Oh, he has been in the garden for the last half-hour, and has been coughing so dreadfully. Indeed, you really should take more care of him, or - .” But it was only Grip. Grip was always a very careful body. Did you offer him by hand more food than he required for his immediate wants, he would accept it all — trust him for that— and would stow away in his pouch what he did not swallow ; and it was wonderful what a lot of food he did manage to stow away in that same pouch. All his super¬ abundant food would be carefully hidden away in one or other of his many larders, and was ready to hand when required. Thus he was never in want. Grip was very fond of water, externally and internally. He liked it fresh and clean, and would rush to his tub on the appearance of the water-can, and then what a splashing, and what a wetting for anyone standing near ! Again and again he would look to you to re-fill it ; and if you emptied the contents of the can over him he would only give utterance to a good-natured growl. When Grip was grown up, he was allowed to have too much of his own way, and he became somewhat troublesome. He used to delight in flying about the aviary ; and the flapping of his mighty wings would create a panic, and seemed to shake the place to its very foundations. On these occasions the other birds would scuttle off, hurry-skurry, to the nearest houses for shelter. A blow from one of Grip’s wings was beyond a joke. I have myself been partially 184 Mr. Reginald Phillipps, stunned on more than one occasion. But Grip went further than this : he took intense pleasure in hurling large stones about the place ; but it was sore work for his companions — and for my pockets when I found a large food- or water-basin smashed to pieces. Indeed, when Grip was in one of his merry humours, the aviary was not a comfortable residence for anyone or anything. Grip one cannot blame ; the place was too small for him ; and he had not enough to do. A few minutes’ sojourn in Grip’s aviary would have given one cause for much anxious thought for the safety of one’s head. But my readers will say that I must be drawing a long bow to talk of a bird throwing stones. Truly, stone-throwing is not a common accomplishment in a bird, even when that bird is a Raven, and that Raven a Grip. Grip used to pick up a few nice handy stones, about the size of a boy’s fist, and balance them, with much painstaking, on one of the perches, some seven feet from the ground. These he would watch, with jealous eye and bristling feather, as an innocent-looking White Jackdaw, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, would unconcernedly approach, with the intent, if he could get the chance, of dashing suddenly at the stones and knocking them down, a pro¬ posed movement which was almost invariably frustrated by Grip’s wariness. If one put up one’s hand towards the stones, Grip would growl and snarl like a savage watch-dog. Suddenly he would seize the nearest, dash off round and round the aviary like a possessed messenger from the lower regions, uttering hoarse and ominous croaks, but still retaining the stone in his beak— with a fine dis¬ regard for a certain fable, which tells of a croaking Crow and a piece of cheese, which the croaking Crow dropped into the mouth of a wily fox— who didn’t like cheese by the way. In the midst of his noisy passage, the iron grip would he relaxed, and the stone, im¬ pelled onwards into space by the impetus of the bird’s flight, would eventually come clattering down, striking terror and dismay into the hearts of the other inmates of the aviary. Like many other birds, Grip was very human. Although a good-tempered old fellow, and fond of a game of romps, especially with boys, he was inclined to be revengeful if unfairly treated. Only from my hand would he receive punishment in a becoming spirit. He recognised me as his master, and me only. Between you and on a Tame Raven. 185 me, I think this may have been because everybody else in the house was afraid of him. At one time my wife had a favourite Jay, which was “not all there,” even the two sides of the cranium being visibly of different sizes. Perhaps this external irregularity did not materially affect the bird’s mind, for there was nothing inside the brain-pan, excepting possibly a little turnip or mashed potato. This Jay went by the name of Squawker, because he was always squawk¬ ing. He used persistently to hop into the Eaven’s house and help himself to his food, even taking tit-bits out of the Eaven’s own private larder ; and this he did, not like a cunning thief of a Jay, but with the stupidity of the man who lights his pipe in a fiery coal-pit. One day Mrs. Phillipps unfortunately happened to be in the garden at a time when her pet went blundering in to partake of the Eaven’s food. Grip growled, and my wife — awfully afraid of him, but willing to risk her life for her Squawker, who was uncon¬ cernedly stuffing — injudiciously hit Grip with a stick, and rescued her darling out of the jaws of the Eaven. The following day poor Squawker, who knew how to do only three things — to squawk, to stuff, to sleep — again flew into the Eaven’s house while the master was at home. Grip gave a gentle nip, such a gentle one, for nipping was not at all in his line : — but with what tears and lamentations was I received on my return home ! Nevertheless Squawker still squawked, still stuffed, but mostly slept — for the crown of his head had been crushed in. I put the poor creature comfortably to bed in a basket, and the next morning found him stiff and cold, with his head under his wing ; he had had his last squawk, and his last stuff. I cannot call to mind any other occasion of having found an adult bird dead with its head under its wing. Again, a carpenter, who was doing some work in the aviary, thought proper to tease Grip. Afterwards the carpenter, stepping backwards, came some¬ what near to where Grip was sitting. Only one peck, on the arm this time ; but it woke up that carpenter. How he took off his coat with haste, and bared his arm, and ruefully gazed on the wound ! That carpenter had forgotten Grip once ; he has never forgotten him since. Grip had too much spare time on his beak; and the devil will always find some work for idle beaks to do. Grip took to plucking 186 Mr. Douglas R. Urwick, his own feathers, and became hideous. So he had to go. This was sad for many reasons : it used to be told me that a Raven would live for one hundred years ; and I have lost my chance of proving this. But he was somewhat tiresome in a small London garden. There was a feeling of relief all through the establishment, especially the feathered part of it, on his departure. A friend, who I knew would be kind to him, took him off my hands. He wrote afterwards (I quote only a portion of what he said) : — “ The Raven is a most remarkable bird ! I never heard a Parrot talk as he does, it is really startling. My daughter went out into the garden the other day thinking I had called her ! it was Grippo ! He calls all the children by name, tells them to ‘ get out ’ or ‘ come along.’ ‘ Hurry up Joey ’ is another expression he has picked up. He often causes our cook to run out by calling, ‘ Anne, come here, I want you,’ in my daughter’s voice. He is an extraordinary creature.” So you see Grip’s lessons were not thrown away upon him ; and his habit of paying attention to what he hears has become a life-habit. A Raven is a capital pet where there is plenty of accommodation. Grip would allow me to kiss, and stroke, and fondle him as any dog might do. With gentleness and firmness, a Raven may be kept in order without difficulty — if you are not afraid of him. AN AVICULTURIST IN PORTUGAL. By Douglas R. Urwick. Business took me to Portugal for the best fifteen years of my life, during which time I never met a Portuguese who cared for or knew anything of aviculture, though I was on friendly terms with many, and right good fellows amongst them. Yet the annual Bird Show at the Crystal Palace at Oporto was always packed during the three days of its life, the exhibits being nearly entirely poultry and pigeons, plus a few ornamental waterfowl and some fine parrots of various sorts, and last, but not least, a few crowded cages of foreigners from a dealer in Lisbon ; I believe the only one in Portugal except for the usual market sheds of indigenous birds and Canaries. an Aviculturist in Portugal. 187 The first time I saw these little foreigners I wanted them all and bought none ; before the next Show, a year later, my aviary was built. I suppose the Portuguese are the most wonderful car¬ penters in Europe ; it comes natural to the lowest of them to do the most intricate piece of wTork, yet they are hopelessly unpractical, and I really think my aviary was the least practical thing they ever made. Very small, octagonal, enormously high, with a miserable little excrescence on one side, which did duty for a shelter, it bore no resemblance to the plan I had drawn up ; withal it was fearfully and wonderfully made in sections, and could be put up or taken down without even the use of a hammer. Of course, the unpracticability did not so much matter in such an ideal climate, and the inmates had as perfect a spot to live in as could well be found : on a hill outside Oporto, sheltered by orange trees and oleanders, yet looking out to the west over the bar of the river Douro across the Atlantic. I went to the Show armed with a large rough cage, and pro¬ ceeded to give that Lisbon dealer the time of his life, though to my surprise he would not be beaten down or bargained with after the manner of the country, but stuck out for Es. 2,000 per pair for his cheapest birds — about six shillings at the then rate of exchange. I started with a few Red-faced Lovebirds (from the Portuguese Cocoa Island of S. Thomb, he said), then several pairs, of Blue-breasted Waxbills, a Cardinal or two (these cost more), later on a mixture of Gold-breasted and Common Waxbills, and I finished with a pair of pretty little Green-winged Doves (whose correct name I never knew) and one or two odd cock Whydahs, Paradise and Pintailed ; the last mentioned I soon got rid of, as I found them unpleasant and quarrel¬ some to a degree. I went home in triumph and turned the lot into the aviary, except the Whydahs’ tails, which stayed behind in the cage. I should have said before that I was not ignorant of their habits and feeding ; I had kept most of them years before in England. The next day I re-visited the Show and was greeted as a brother by the dealer, but I would have none of his blarney, though I nearly fell to a wonderfully tame Toucan — what I should have done with it Heaven knows — and refused to buy any more, nor 188 Mr. Douglas R. Urwick, would I have done so had not my wife met me with the news that she had found in another part of the Show a cage of fourteen Bull¬ finches and a “ Sunset ” finch. The latter I persuaded its owner to sell, I never knew its right name, it was a gorgeous Weaver of sorts, but as Sunset finch it was known during the several years it lived with me. The Bullfinches I greeted as old friends. I had loved them in England, but had never seen them in Portugal, though I had searched for them diligently in places where I had heard they were to be found. I bought the lot. Afterwards I was generally in correspondence with my Lisbon friend. He had the weirdest names for his birds, and it was pure guesswork buying from him ; he used to call them after their colour usually, or some habit they had. Once he wrote me he had some very nice Botafogos (botar = to throw, fogo = fire), Peitos Celestes (Eng. “ Celestial breasts”) and Ratinhos (Eng. “little mice”), so I chanced a few and received a cage full of Avadavats, Blue-breasted Waxbills and Bronze-wing Mannikins, as usual, beautifully packed, and minute instructions given to the guard for the long weary railway journey from Lisbon to Oporto. He could get no Zebra Finches, so I got some from England and exchanged numbers of young with him ; from England, too, I had the usual Gouldians, Grassfinches (Long-tailed and Masked), etc. Considering the unsuitability and crowded condition of my aviary I was not so unsuccessful as I expected, though only the commoner birds actually reared young to maturity ; Red - faced Lovebirds failed altogether, and though the Blue-breasted Waxbills hatched brood after brood, never a bird lived to leave the nest. Grassfinches, on the other hand, were uniformly successful. My various Weavers never got beyond their wonderful nests, nor was I successful with Nonpareil or Indigo Buntings ; the Non¬ pareil hens I bought turned out to be young cocks (I suppose it is easy to tell the difference, but I knew little of this species ?) whilst my only Indigo hen was too busy having fits to think of nesting ; she would writhe in the most horrible contortions for ten minutes and then stiffen out and apparently die, only to recover suddenly and rush to the seed tray. Unlike her mate, she would not touch an Aviculturist in Portugal. 189 insects or soft food, and perhaps this may have been the cause of the trouble. After the fifth or sixth fit I took to letting her loose in the chance she might pick up some suitable food, and ultimately she disappeared after returning to the aviary many times ; perhaps she is alive now, she would take a lot of killing ! I had one little bird — we always called her “ Nannie,” who was worth her weight in gold to me — -a widowed Bengalese, who devoted her life to the rearing of children, she was never fated to have any of her own. Some lazy Spice Birds used to lay and sit for a few days, and then their family instinct waned ; but Nannie was there to rear brood after brood for them with unfailing success. She would visit, too, nest after nest of Zebras, Grassfinches, Man¬ nikins, etc., and never a fledgling went hungry. The different parents would quarrel handsomely with one another, but none of them had an evil word or peck for Nannie. I know nothing about the finer points of mules, but I had what I am convinced was one of the most beautiful Goldfinch- Canary mules ever reared : pure white with the most delicate pink markings. I had to offer the owner a sovereign for it before he would part. Alas ! I lost it with my “ Sunset ” finch and some Cardinals in one of my tragedies ; a supplementary aviary, in which they were ; being literally blown away in a heavy storm. I had other tragedies ; notably when the movements of some Quail in the aviary upset the generally perfect morals of one of my terriers, who dug his way inside and killed these ratty-looking things, and also my poor little doves. I never saw a dog more ashamed ; he carried the corpses on a string round his neck for two days and absolutely refused food till they dropped off. But my terriers were always on the look out for the birds’ natural enemies, and many a stray cat fell a prey to them. They used to watch at night in the bushes by the aviary, and a cat had little chance against two terriers and a great Dane — all three on the look out. They saved a Nightingale I kept in a cage, hung up in the thickest part of a fig-tree and fed by mounting a pair of steps. One day I left the steps by the cage and a tabby marauder crept up them ; but the dogs were not so careless as their master, and next morning at four a.m. the Nightingale was singing his 190 An Aviculturist in Portugal. paean, not far from the spot where the gardener had buried his tormenter. I never kept the birds of the country to any extent. A few Jays and Magpies, one of the latter quite a fair talker and extra¬ ordinarily tame and amusing. Once a man brought me a young Solan Goose, picked up on the shore after a storm ; a diabolically fierce brute, that I entrusted to my groom to feed on fresh sardines. He soon died, and “ Victorino,” the groom, explained his death by saying: “May it please your Excellency, I knew he could not live long, as every time I gave him a sardine he brought up two.” Another time a friend wrote from the country that some Hobbies were building near his home (a wonderful old Franciscan Monastery in the wilds) and I asked him to send me a couple of young ones. Later I received a box containing seventeen Kestrels, which were duly set free. I never kept the native bird, the Blue Thrush, which I think attracted me most of all, though a pair nested regularly within a stone’s throw of one of our places in the Upper Douro district. It is not scarce, but chance prevented my ever being in the right place at the right time, and I dared not trust a Portuguese to get one for me. The final tragedy came when I moved house and transferred my birds temporarily to an aviary I found ready in my new home : a square, rather shut-in affair that had been used for pigeons. In five days every one was dead. I attempt no explanation and cannot bear to dwell on it. After that for a year, until I came to live in England, my aviary was peopled by Malabar Squirrels : jolly little chaps, but these are not aviculture, nor are the Coatis and other vermin that shared my home. The other day I had a deal with my Lisbon friend, who sent me a collection of birds by steamer, in a wonderful cage of his own invention ; another chance shot, which ended as I deserved, in a lot of commoners, but all in perfect plumage, and not a casualty from Lisbon to Winchester. English Names for the Parrots. OBITUARY. 191 Lord Brabourne (Grenadier Guards) was killed in action on the 13th of March. Although not a member of the Society, he had written articles on South American birds, and read the Magazine with great interest. He often corresponded with the Editor, and was especially interested upon the subject of Humming Birds in captivity, mentioning the fact that there are so many beautiful species which live at high altitudes, which ought not to need much artificial heat. Lord Brabourne’s untimely death will be a great loss to the ornithological world. He returned from South America where he was so busily and keenly collecting material for his great work on ‘‘ The Birds of South America,” which he was writing with Mr. Charles Chubb ; returned to fight for King and country, only to give up his life. He was twenty-nine. May he, with so many others, have happiness in a new life, and peace. ENGLISH NAMES FOR THE PARROTS. By Dr. E. Hopkinson. (Continued from page 167.) [Blue-Winged Lovebird, the common popular name for the PAS¬ SERINE PARRAKEET]. |" Brazilian Lovebird,” another popular name for the PASSERINE PARRAKEET]. Grey-Headed Lovebird, an alternative popular name for the MADA¬ GASCAR LOVEBIRD. MADAGASCAR LOVEBIRD. =Agapornis cana. Early names were Grey-Headed Parrakeet (Latham), and *Madagascar In¬ separable. Other popular names are Grey-Headed Lovebird, White-Headed Lovebird. NYASSALAND LOVEBIRD. =A. lilianae. " Peach-Faced Lovebird,” the popular name most commonly used for the ROSY-FACED LOVEBIRD. RED-FACED LOVEBIRD. =A. pullaria, also known as the Red- Headed Lovebird and West African Lovebird. Earlier names, *Little Red-Headed Parrakeet (Edwards) ; *Red-Headed Guinea Parrakeet (Latham) ; *Red-Headed Guinea Parrot 192 Dr. E. Hopkinson, (authors) ; *Guiney Sparrow (Edwards) ; *Guinea Parrot, ♦Ethiopian Parrot, *African Inseparable, *Lovebird Parra- keet. Red-Headed Lovebird, the RED-FACED LOVEBIRD. ROSY-FACED LOVEBIRD. =A. roseicollis ; other names, Rosy- Necked Lovebird, Rosy-Faced Parrakeet, *Double In¬ separable, “ Peach-Faced Lovebird,” the latter the name by which it is most commonly known among dealers. Rosy-Necked Lovebird, the above. SWINDERN’S LOVEBIRD. —A. swinderiana. West African Lovebird, see RED-FACED LOVEBIRD above. White-Headed Lovebird, see Madagascar L., above. Love-Parrakeet, j See under LOVEBIRD. Love-Parrot, * LUCH’S PARROT. = My opsittacus luchsi, ? the *Buenos Ayres Parrot of Latham. LUCIAN PARRAKEET. = Palaeornis modesta. Bearded Parrakeet of Latham, and ? his Moustachoe Parrakeet, Var. A., Red-Cheeked Parrot. LUCIAN’S CONURE. = PyrWmra luciana. ♦Luri, *Lury, obsolete variants of LORY. Luzonian Parrakeet, see under HANGING PARRAKEET, PHILIPPINE. ♦Macao, see MACAW. *Macaulay’s Island, Parroquet from, ? = Cyanorhamphus cyanurus. MACAW, a long- tailed Parrot of the genera Anodorhynchus, Ara and Cyanop- sittacus, all South American. Formerly sometimes extended to in¬ clude other long-tailed American Parrots, for instance, Patagonian Macaw. Various obsolete spellings were, *Maccaw, *Mackaw, *Mockaw, *Macao, *Macker. Syn. *Macaw Parrot. English names for different species are : *Anacan Macaw, the SEVERE MACAW. *Blew Macaw, see BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW. BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW. *Blue-Crowned Macaw, Latham’s name for the BLUE-CROWNED CONURE (q.v.). Brazilian Green Macaw, see SEVERE MACAW, below. Brown-Fronted Macaw, see SEVERE MACAW, below. GLAUCOUS MACAW. Great Green Macaw, see MILITARY MACAW, below. ♦Great Macaw, see BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW. Green and Blue Macaw, the SEVERE MACAW. Green Macaw, used for both the MILITARY and SEVERE MACAWS. Brazilian Green Macaw, the SEVERE MACAW. English Navies for the Parrots. 193 Small Green Macaw, the NOBLE MACAW. GREEN-WINGED MACAW. HAHN’S MACAW. HYACINTHINE MACAW. ILLIGER’S MACAW. =Ara maracana. LEAR’S MACAW. MARAKANG MACAW. —A. macavuana, the * Parrot-Macaw of Latham, “ Arara-catenga ” (Marcgrave). “ Marakang ” in Guiana. ‘ Mexican Macaw, see MILITARY MACAW. MILITARY MACAW. =Ara militaris, also often called the Red and Green Macaw. Other names : Great Green Macaw (Edwards), Green Macaw, Mexican Macaw. NOBLE MACAW. =A. nobilis, the *Noble Parrot of Latham and *Noble Macaw Parrot of other early writers. Sometimes known as the Small Green Macaw. ♦Parrot Macaw, see MARAKANG MACAW above. ♦Patagonian Macaw, Latham’s name for the LESSER PATAGONIAN CONURE, sometimes also called by earlier authors, * Patagonian Parrakeet-Macaw. RED AND BLUE MACAW (i ). = A. macao. Other names, Red and Yellow Macaw (Latham) ; *Red, Yellow and Blue Macaw (Catesby), Scarlet and Blue Macaw. (2) The Red and Blue Macaw of Latham is A . chloroptera, the GREEN- WINGED MACAW. Red and Green Macaw, the MILITARY MACAW. Red and Yellow Macaw. Has been used for both the RED AND BLUE and the GREEN-WINGED MACAWS. ♦Red, Yellow and Blue Macaw, see RED AND BLUE MACAW above. Scarlet and Blue Macaw, ditto. SEVERE MACAW. = A. sever a, also known as the Green and Blue Macaw, Green Macaw, Small Macaw, Brown-Fronted Macaw, ♦Anacan Macaw, while Latham’s name was the Brazilian Green Macaw. Native names : “ Anakan,” “ Maracana.” Small Green Macaw, see under Green Macaw above. Small Macaw, see SEVERE MACAW. SPIX’S MACAW. = C-yanopsittacus spixi. TRICOLOUR MACAW. = A. tricolor of Cuba, the * Yellow-Headed Macaw of Gosse’s Birds of Jamaica. ♦Yellow-Headed Macaw, see TRICOLOUR MACAW. ♦Macaw-Parrot, a MACAW. Noble Macaw-Parrot, see list under MACAW. Yellow Maccaw- Parrot (Latham), the GOLDEN CONURE. 194 English Names for the Parrots. ♦Maccawle-Parrakeet, see CACTUS CONURE. ♦Macheo, an obsolete spelling of MACAW. *Mackaw, *Macker, obsolete spellings of MACAW. Macleay’s Fig-Parrakeet, Sir William. See under LORILET. ♦Madagascar Inseparable, the MADAGASCAR LOVEBIRD. MADAGASCAR LOVEBIRD, see under LOVEBIRD. " Madangour Toto,” Hindu name for the MALABAR PARRAKEET. *Madua Bhola Parrakeet, see MALACCAN PARRAKEET. Mafoor Pigmy Parrot . = Nasiterna maforensis. ♦Main Parrot, see AMAZON, BLUE-FRONTED. Maitaka Parrot, the RED-VENTED PARROT. “ Major Mitchell,” Australian vernacular for LEADBEATER’S COCKA¬ TOO. MALABAR PARRAKEET. = Palaeornis peristerodes ; Blue-Winged Parrakeet (Jerdon). “Madangour Toto” (Hindu). MALACCAN PARRAKEET. = Palaeornis longicauda, the Malakka Parra¬ keet of Latham. Other names : Malayan Ring-Parrakeet, Malac¬ can Ring-Parrakeet, Long-Tailed Parrakeet, Long-Tailed Alexandrine Parrakeet, *Madua Bhola Parrakeet. Blos- somed-Cheeked Parrakeet (Shaw), Blossom-Cheeked Parrakeet, Var. C. (Latham). Malacca Ring Parrakeet. Malakka Parrakeet, see above. Malayan Parrot, Little. The BLUE-RUMPED PARRAKEET. Malayan Ring-Parrakeet, the MALACCAN PARRAKEET. ♦Manila Green Parrot, see BLUE-CROWNED ECLECTUS. MANY-COLOURED PARRAKEET (Gould), Psephotus multicolor. Varied Parrot (Latham) ; Varied Parrakeet (Gould). “ Maracana,” native name for the SEVERE MACAW, and also for some of the Conures, as the GREEN C. “ Marakang,” Marakang Macaw, see under MACAW. ♦Marron (PMaroon) Shining Parrot, the TABUAN PARRAKEET. MASCARINE PARROT (Extinct) .= Mascarinus mascarinus. Other names, ♦Obscure Parrot, *Masked Vaza. MASKED PARRAKEET, Pyrrhulopsis personata of Fiji. Native names, “ Kagula,” and “ Kaka.” ♦Masked Vaza, see MASCARINE PARROT. MASSENA’S LORIKEET. = Trichoglossus massenae. MASTER’S PARRAKEET, Platycercus mastesianus, a specimen closely allied to the PENNANT, or perhaps only a variety of this. Also called RAMSAY’S PARRAKEET. Mauritius Alexandrine Parrakeet, see next. To be continued). Correspondence. 195 CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC TO CONTRIBUTORS OF ARTICLES AND NOTES. THE EDITOR hopes that any members who can write about birds, in freedom or captivity, will always kindly do so ; and that if their articles are not published directly, they will not be under the impression that their labours were unnecessary, or unappreciated. Articles that are accompanied by photographic illustrations cannot appear in some cases until after a certain lapse of time, owing to the expense of the illustrations, which have to be limited, whilst in the case of other copy, it is not always an easy task to fit in what the Editor would like to publish without delay, since the number of pages have to be limited, in the Magazine. If therefore some members who are good enough to write, find that their literary contributions are pro. tern, pigeon-holed, the Editor hastens to assure them that such pen-fruit is none the less appreciated. NIGHTJAR, SNIPE, AND PHALARAOPE. SIR, — I have read the letters by Mr. Galloway and Mr. Rattigan in the March number of the Magazine with great interest, and should be glad if you can find room to add these few queries and notes in your next issue. Mr. Galloway does not say if his tame Nightjar ever learnt to feed itself. I caught a nearly full grown young one on August 1st last year (it could flv about 20 yards at a time), I put it into a cartridge bag, where it had to remain all day, and in the evening brought it home and stuffed it with moths, etc., it soon learnt to open its mouth (one can’t call it anything else !) when it was hungry and I took to feeding it almost entirely on grasshoppers, a most unnatural diet, but it throve very well on them- Of course I gave it some moths and butterflies as well. I kept it for a fortnight and then gave it to some friends near by, who still have it, but it has' never learnt to feed itself and always has to be hand fed ; it is now extra¬ ordinarily tame and likes to sit on a log by the fireside, it has had several narrow escapes from being trodden on, as it spends all the day loose in the schoolroom. It steadfastly refuses any “ soft ” food, and only has maggots, mealworms, and raw meat, and occasionally hard-boiled egg now that insects are impossible to get, but it is in perfect health and condition. Mr. Heatley Noble tells me that he knew of another tame Nightjar which never learnt to feed itself, and I should be glad if Mr. Galloway would let me know if his ever did so. The subject of these notes made a few half-hearted efforts to catch moths thrown up for it in the summer, but now it won’t try at all ! Be Mr. Rattigan’s article, I must differ from him where he says that the Snipe “ is a delightful bird for an aviary.” The Snipe is most certainly a perfectly charming cage bird, but compared with other Waders not a good aviary bird. Kept in an aviary a Snipe must be 196 Correspondence. pinioned, and half the pleasure of keeping Waders is in watching their flight. They are nearly all of them exceedingly agile on the wing and very clever at avoiding obstacles, i.e., the supports, sides and roof of the aviary : a Knot, Dunlin or Ruff will never knock itself about, but I would never put a full-winged Snipe, however tame, into an aviary for even one night. My old Snipe, mentioned in Mr. Barnby Smith’s recent article, was so tame that I had no qualms about putting him into my pocket and taking him out and dumping him down by a pond or stream (although absolutely full-winged) and letting him probe for worms, etc., but I would never have left him in an aviary by himself — he always inhabited a large cage in my smoking room, for sometimes he had for companions another Snipe and a Woodcock. This second Snipe was very fairly tame, but I found him one morning with his right eye nearly smashed out of his head and his head fearfully bruised. He had obviously dashed against the top of the cage in the night, and had managed to get up sufficient impetus in quite a small space to nearly kill himself : had he been in an aviary where he would have had more room to “ get going,” he would certainly have done so. I don’t believe it is fright that makes Snipe suddenly dash up at night (though, of course, the sudden advent of a cat or Owl on the roof of the aviary would be fatal) but they seem to forget the wire netting at night, and being very quick starters, hit the sides or roof of the aviary with tremendous force. At different times I have kept five Snipe for various periods, the one great drawback to them is their enormous appetites, and they MUST have worms and more worms ! Some of my Snipe have steadfastly refused any artificial food, even raw liver, chopped up, and these are the ones that have lived longest. My old bird, which I had for 2£ years, never touched artificial food after he was a month old, though I did my best to make him. He loved maggots and fresh¬ water shrimps. I have always found that the ones which would eat soft food (and they get to love it) always suddenly went thin, but recovered if one stopped the soft food and only gave live food fora time. Lots of grit is essential — and water. A short time ago I received a Snipe from Mr. St. Quintin, which had been picked up under a telegraph wire ten days before he sent it to me. It reached me thin, but otherwise sound I think ; though Mr. St. Quintin told me that its left wing was badly bruised high up when it was found, but this is nearly right again now, and as its appetite is good I think it will soon be quite fit ; it is an exceptionally large bird, and when it has got into really good order should be a beauty. He is sharing a cage with another gift I received from Mr. St. Quintin about two months ago which, next to my old Snipe, is about the most charming bird I ever had. A male Red-necked Phalarope. He was imported from Iceland by Mr. Barnby Smith in thesummer of 1912, and had, until Mr. St. Quintin very kindly sent it to me, been atScampstonall the time. Mr. St. Quintin tells me that he had been fed on “ Cecto,” maggots, and mealworms, which are still his staple food, but out of curiosity I caught a lot of minnows, water beetles, boatmen, and Correspondence. 197 fresh-water shrimps and put them into his tray of water, and rather to my surprise he fell upon the minnows in grand style, and managed to swallow quite large ones and almost immediately became singularly adept in catching them. He was, as I had expected, delighted with the beetles, shrimps, etc., but I had not expected him to be so keen on the minnows. He is now in perfect condition and very tame. When I let him out of his cage and pick up his maggot tin he runs up to my feet and looks up, ready for me to drop maggots for him. He manages about sixteen comfortably at a meal, and will get through a hundred minnows in the 24 hours, besides maggots, beetles, soft food, etc. ! He was not at all pleased to see the new Snipe at first, and stood on tip¬ toe, pecked its head and “scolded ! ” but they are now perfectly friendly and sit about and feed side by side. I have always thought that a Jack Snipe would make an ideal cage bird, though I have never possessed a healthy one. I have had two or three winged ” specimens, but they never lived long and always after death proved to have had a body wound as well, but I am certain that if one could catch an unhurt specimen it would do well, as lam sure they are partly vegetable eaters, and would not require so many worms as a full Snipe, which is their one drawback ! More¬ over, they would very quickly tame and are among the most beautiful of British birds. HUGH WORMALD. DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS’ NESTS AND EGGS. SIR, — A countryman and a lover of birds and animals, I usually go at Easter time for a fortnight’s roam through some of the most beautiful parts of rural Worcestershire, when I am horrified, each time, at the wholesale destruction of birds’ nests and the wanton cruelty to bird life generally, perpetrated by school boys and the younger farm hands. Nests are destroyed and the eggs smashed wholesale and if, as is the case a little later, hatching has begun, young birds are taken from the nest and often heart¬ lessly destroyed, being literally pulled to pieces limb from limb and left strewn about the roadsides or in the fields. Moreover, Sunday of all days is made the occasion for this horrible pursuit when young people band themseves together for the sole purpose of 1 ' birds-nesting’ ’ as they call it. On a Sunday afternoon, last year, I came across a number of boys and girls assembled in an orchard where, having robbed all the nests they could find in the fields round about, they were engaged in a sordid competition in which they vied with one another in hitting a tree selected for a mark, with the eggs collected. Such revolting sights as these harrow the feelings of every lover of nature and are such as to rouse the indignation of every right-minded person. I fear that what is the case in Worcestershire may be prevalent in other parts of the country as well. So that I feel that something really ought to be done to put an end to this form of youthful heartlessness and to the destruction of those creatures which add by their presence so much to the beauty of God’s creation, and which are precious, at 198 Correspondence. least to all true lovers of nature. Certainly there are the somewhat belated police notices, setting forth the provisions and penalties of the “ Protection of Wild Birds’ Acts,” but these do not usually appear until some time later in the season when a great deal of damage has already been done. For during March and April many of the commoner birds are already busy with their nests which, owing to the scanty foliage as yet grown upon hedge and tree, are more easily detected. And even when these notices do appear very little attention seems to be paid to them. Might not these bills which emanate, I presume, from the local police stations, be sent out and posted up earlier, say at the beginning of March, and might not the local police and others take more active steps to see that their restrictions are complied with and offenders proceeded against. If this were done, much of it I think would speedily cease. Then, too, could not the excellent Society which exists for the prevention of cruelty to animals take under its wing the cause of birds as well (perhaps it does, I do not know), and be styled ‘‘the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Birds and Animals.” At any rate I feel that the Society should know of the prevalence of this particular kind of cruelty and that might with good effect take this matter up. Then, again, there are the village schools wherein considerable influence might be exerted if the masters and mistresses would deal definitely with this subject in the early spring with a view to inculcating in the minds of the young a love rather than a disregard for the beauties of nature, at the same time warning them against the wicked¬ ness of such wantonness. Quite apart from the desolating results to nature of this shameless conduct which is so distressing to see, surely the pursuit of this form of heartlessness, if left unchecked, must needs breed in the character of the young such habits of cruelty which may, in later years, be put into practice upon even broader and more serious lines. WILLIAM LAMBERT-BAKER. NESTING OF QUAKER PARRAKEETS. SIR, — In the autumn of 1912 I bought a pair of Quaker Parrakeets. These were confined until the end of 1913 in an aviary with various other Parrots, in¬ cluding two small kinds of Lovebirds, Pennants, Rosellas, as well as two Nepaulese Blue-pies. The gradual disappearance and death of the smaller Lovebirds caused me some apprehension. I feared rats, but could not discover means by which they had made their entry. The Lovebirds vanished one by one, only their two limbs being found on the floor of the aviary. One day I found the Pie carrying round a half-dead Budgerigar, so fixed on them as the culprits and removed them to another aviary. This however had no effect, for the death roll continued to increase. About a month later, the gardener hearing sounds of fighting in the aviary ran to the spot and was in time to witness a savage attack made on a female Cockatiel by the two Quakers, and from the effects of which she subsequently died, one wing being almost torn off. This was the only occasion any of us saw or heard anything, and I have come to the conclusion that in all cases the Quaker set upon the smaller Parrots Correspondence. 199 and the Bine Pies picked their bones. I at once returned the Blue Pies, there being now no small Parrots left, and separated the Quakers. A few weeks later they bit a hole in the wire netting and escaped. I recovered them, but they again escaped. For a few days they flew all over the locality, but finally com¬ menced to build a nest in a pollard lime tree in front of the house. Here they stayed for about six weeks until the end of April of last year, when they removed to a large wistaria growing on the south side of the house and close to small copper beech. They literally denuded the beech of its twigs, with which they built a large nest about 30 inches long, two feet across, oval in shape, with an opening about two thirds from the top. It was extraordinarily large inside and was well constructed to withstand the rain, for it was neatly thatched, the twigs lying parallel and vertical and overhanging the entrance. At what time the hen bird commenced to lay, how long she incubated, or how many eggs there were I cannot say, for I was away from home for about a month at this period and was only informed that the male bird had been seen carrying food to the nest. On my return I made an examination, and could feel that it was tenanted by a young Parrot or perhaps more. This was about the end of the first week in June. Another examination a fortnight later, when I took out another young Parrot, perfectly white and covered with down. Had I not known what it was, I should have imagined it to be a young Hawk or Owl. After this I made only one more inspection of the nest, when I found the youngster much more grown, with the green feather beginning to show in the wings. The appetite of the family was now prodigious. The old birds came continually to feed into the little aviary, through the hole which they had made in the wire. About the beginning of July, the head of two young Parrakeets were to be seen continually in the opening of the nest, but they made no effort to fly for some little time, when they took to the wing and were escorted by the old birds down to the aviary. Four days later a third youngster made its appearance and finally, to my great delight, my wife discovered that the family consisted of four, for she noticed the six sitting together in a beech tree, where she pointed them out to me. They were continually to be heard in the wood, pai’k and plantation, squeaking in a most lusty fashion and continually making me believe that I was back once more in the tropics with the wild figs and quondongs drawing their feathered host together. R. A. DYOTT. MEALWORM BREEDING AND STICK INSECTS. SIR, — I am writing these notes, which are of quite an elementary nature, for the information of new aviculturists, remembering how helpful elementary help was to me when I first began to keep birds on a large scale, and in fact still is. One constantly sees enquiries about breeding mealworms. The bird expert knows all about it and succeeds, the novice has not the necessary experience and fails. From my own experience I am inclined to think the failure to make a 200 Correspondence. mealworm box self-supporting is generally due either to keeping the box in too cold a place or using too small a box. For some years I had three mealworm boxes in three different aviaries. These boxes were about 16in. X 6in. X 12in. deep, and were placed a few inches above the heating pipes. They were warm enough when the pipes were warm, but too cold when the heating was off. A considerable number of worms were bred in these boxes, but they were not self- supporting and a good many worms had to be purchased. About ten months ago I decided to put the contents of all three boxes into one large one. I purchased a large zinc corn bin which I half-filled with the usual sacking cork, leather, etc., and into this I bundled my stock of worms and beetles. The result has been most satisfactory. The mealworms had begun to increase rapidly just before the war began and all this winter my new box has given me an abundant supply. There may be a slight falling in supply for a time now as so many are turning into beetles, but I think I shall have sufficient coming on to supply all I want without buying. I think the reason for a larger bin doing so much better than a small box is that the greater amount of sacking and larger number of inseets generates a heat inside the box independent of external warmth. While writing this I have received the copy of The Field for February 27th, and in it I see that Mr. Seth-Smith mentions stick insects as food for birds and small animals. I was going to mention the excellence of these insects as a food, as I have used them for three or four years now. My stick insects are kept in a wooden case with fine wire gauzes at each end for ventilation and glass doors in front for inspection and manipulation. There is a fixed zinc tray about 2gin. deep with about l^in. of silver sand in it. The insects are fed on bunches of privet in jars of water and these bunches are renewed about twice a week. At first the difficulty was how to change the privet without losing a lot of insects in handling them. But this is quite easy to do, for all that is necessary is to place the fresh bunches into the cage and the insects will soon transfer themselves. In summer time it is advisable to give the old privet bunches to the birds to pick over or there might be trouble if any stray insects found their way to choice bushes. I notice that Mr. Seth-Smith in the Notes I refer to mentions that a temperature of 80o is desirable for the breeding of stick insects, this however is not my experience. I keep my breeding case in a cage room where the tempera¬ ture is kept at about 6(X>— 65o, and sometimes when no birds have been in this room and the heating has been off, the thermometer has fallen to round about 50o. I find these insects extremely prolific and I use them in large numbers, especially for delicate birds and those that may be out of sorts, as they are more digestible than mealworms. The old insects die after laying their eggs, but the dead bodies cause no smell as they dry up directly. These are quite interesting creatures apart from their food value and they have an extraordinary power of changing their colour to match whatever they may be on. If they are on the wood work of their case they will turn brown, but on the privet they are green. E. J. Brook. Noticks to Mkmbkrs — f Continued from page it. of cover.) NEW MEMBER. Miss G rack Latham, 3, Trevanion Road, West Kensington, London. CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION. Monsieur DANIEL BouiiT, 27 Avenue de Snffren, Paris. , Proposed by Monsieur LK Comte dk Skgur. MEMBERS’ PRIVATE SALE AND EXCHANGE COLUMN. The charge for pi ivate advertisements is sixpence kor eighteen words ok less, and one penny for every additional three words or less. Trade advertisements are not aij.owud in this couimn. Dealers who are members , wishing to advei Use , should apply to the Publisher for terms. Advertisements must reach the Editor on or before the 26th of the month. The Council reset ve the right of refusing any advertisement they may consider undesirable. Few surplus acclimatized birds, price on application: — Hangnests ( Violaceous ), Waglers; Tanagers, Little Black, Tricolor, Violet; Waxwings, Dayals, Cordons, Common and Bar-breasted Fire- finches; Maiinakins, Striated, White-beaded, Bronze, Javas, Benga¬ lees, Chestnut-breasted, Pectoral, Yellow-rumped ; Waxbills, Black¬ cheeked, Sydney, Grey, St. Helena, Gold-breasted ; Grassfinches, Fire-tailed, Gould’s, Ruficaudas, Masked, Long-tailed, Bichenos, Diamonds, Zebras; Parrakeets, Barnard, Pennant, Adelaide, King, Budgerigars ; Amazons, Salvin’s Double-fronted; Whydahs, Queen (2 pairs) ; Lovebirds, Madagascar, Peach and Red-faced ; .Singing Pekin, Yellow-winged and Purple Sugar Birds Wanted : Hen Melba Wax- bill, Green Cardinal, pair Red-crested, Black-throated and Black¬ cheeked, if in perfect condition. Ali.kn Silver, 303, Streatham High Road, S.W. WANTS. The chatge for members' advertisements under this heading is four pence for twelve words or under, and one penny for evety additional thi ee words or less. ARTICLES on BRITISH BIRDS in freedom, or captivity. Editor. R. A. NEWLEY j Specialist, 24, STOCKWELL GREEN, LONDON, S.W. Awarded 52 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes at the: — Crystal Palace, Sydenham; Horticultural Hall, Westminster; Avondale Hall, Clapliam ; and People’s Hall, Birmingham — for excellence of Workmanship and Design. BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR OF CANARIES, BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIRDS. Agent for J. IV. Ramsdeu's Co/or Food, Felt 1 Vest Fun Linings. Terms— NETT Cash. Postal & Money Orders — STOCKWEi.r, Green, P.O. Bankers — London, City & Midland, Loughborough Junction. GOOD WORK. [^3 FAIR PRICKS ORDERS GREATLY NEEDED OWING TO THE WAR. Specially Recommended by the Editor and other Aviculturists. WHOLESALE SEED MERCHANTS and BIRD FOOD SPECIALISTS, 436,438 & 442, CALEDONIAN ROAD, LONDON. _ _ _ _ _ N . EXTRA LARGE SPANISH CANARY SEED. CHOICE GERMAN SUMMER RAPE SEED Finest Selected Seeds for all kinds of Cage or Aviary Birds British, Foreign, and Canaries, As supplied by us to the leading Fanciers and Exhibitors at the Crystal Palace and other Shows. PRICE LIST. SAMPLES FREE. “ CECTO ** Die kefd Insectivorous Food on the Market, 1 /- per 11) hbmbbh postpaid 1/3. Ground Silk Worm Pupae, Mealworms, Ants’ Eggs, Dried Flies, etc ‘‘ EGBISCO ** Die fi|iest Egg and Biscuit Food yet made. 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/- Tins AVICULTURAL MAGAZ I N E . CONTENTS. Patagonian Plovers and Trumpeter Birds ( Illustrated ) by Mrs. GREGORY 201 Spring Bird-Notes from various Scottish Islands (Illustrated) by The Duchess of Bedford ... 204 Jottings on Common Indian Birds, by AUBYN TREVOR-BATTYE ... 209 The Australian Piping Crow, by B. THEO. STEWART ... ... 218 Bird-feeding in India (Illustrated) by AUBYN TREVOR-BATTYE ... 221 REVIEW: — “ British Birds ” ... ... ... ... ... 223 Obituary :—SlR ROLAND J. CORBET, Bt. ... ... ... ... 224 English Names for the Parrots, by Dr. E. HOPKINSON ... ... 225 CORRESPONDENCE : — Feeding a Nightjar ; Starlings on the Battlefield ; A Large Black and Yellow Troupial ; Migration Instinct in Cage Birds ... ... ... 231 - 232 Third Series. Vol. VI. No. 7. The price of this Number is 1/3- MAY, -1915.— NOTE — A new volume commences every November. All Subscriptions should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. WEST. NEWMAIN &. Co.. 54, Hatton Garden, E.C AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Persons wishing to join the Avicueturat, Society are requested to communicate with either of the Hon. Secretaries or the Editor. (8H“ The Magazine can also be had from the Publishers by NON-MEMBERS at a Subscription of 15/- per annum. NOTICES TO MEMBERS. The Subscription to the Avicultural Society is 10/- per annum, due on the 1st of November in each year, and is payable in advance. The entrance fee is io/6. The Avicultural Magazine is sent free to members monthly. 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All queries are to be addressed to the Hon. Correspondence Secretary and should contain a penny stamp. Those marked “ private ” will not be published. The Magazine is published by Messrs. West, Newman & Co. (54, Hatton Garden, E.C.) to whom all SUBSCRIPTIONS, orders for extra copies, back numbers and bound volumes (accompanied by remittance) should be addressed. Cases for binding the Magazine (in art cloth, with gold block on side, can be obtained from the Publishers, post free and carefully packed, at 1/6 each ; or the Publishers will undertake the binding of the Volume for 2/6, plus Sd. for packing and postage. Members are requested to state whether they want the wrappers and advertisements bound in at the end or not. BOUND COPIES OF The “ AVICUI/fURAL MAGAZINE.” The following can be obtained from the Publishers at the prices given below. Postage 6d. per volume extra. Vol. II., 6/- to members ; 8/6 to the public. Vols. V. to VII., 10/6 each to members ; 12/6 each to the public. Vol. VIII., 14/- to members ; 17/6 to the public. New Series — Vols. I. to IV., (sets only) ^4 net to members ; ^5 to the public. ,» Vols. II. to VII., 16/- each to members; 21/- ,, ,, Third Series— Vol. I. to V., 16/- ,, ,, 21/- ,, ,, Current Monthly Numbers 1/3 each (except in special cases, such as the Number containing the List of Members, Index, etc., when the Com¬ mittee may increase the price), by post 1/4 ; for back numbers a higher price is charged according to circumstances. Vols. I., III. & IV., are out of print. Second-hand copies sometimes reach the Publishers, to whom application should be made. JStrb^Xore. A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Edited by Frank M. Chapman. EACH VOLUME CONTAINS— About 400 pages, with 12 full-page colored plates of our own birds, and many photographs from nature. Descriptions of experiences with living birds in their haunts, and help¬ ful articles on how to study birds. Migration tables, showing when birds may be expected at many places throughout the country. A list of prominent ornithologists who will help you in your study of birds. Bird Censuses by numerous observers. Reviews of books and of magazine articles relating to birds. Editorials on current questions in bird study. A School Department. An Audubon Society Department. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION .. 5/- D. APPLETON & Co., 25 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London. Pp. 142, Cloth, Demy 8vo., Price 5/- net; Postage 4d. PRACTICAL - BIRD-KEEPING. BEING REPRINTS FROM “THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE,” 1911-12. EDITED BY J L. BONHOTE, M.A., E.L.S., E.Z.S. A Manual intended as a practical help to those who find both pleasure and profit from the keeping of wild birds in confinement. Contributed to by specialists in each class of birds described. With One Coloured Plate and Sixteen Uncoloured. London: WEST, NEWMAN & Co., 54 Hatton Garden, E.C. CROSS’S MENAGERIE, LIVERPOOL PET ANIMALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. i Ludio Monkey; i Diana Monkey ; i Patas Monkey; i Chimpanzee; i Red Baboon ; 25 Dogface Baboons ; 3 Capuchin Monkeys ; 1 Sacred Baboon ; 2 Mandrills ; 10 Rhesus Monkeys; 2 Black and White Lemurs ; 6 Brown Lemurs ; 1 Grey Lemur ; 2 Agoutis; 1 Coati-Mundi ; 2 Australian Rat Kangaroos ; 12 Wallabies ; 20 Red Squirrels ; 1 African Civet ; 2 Leopards ; 2 Lions ; 1 pair and young Llama at foot ; 5 Indian Buffaloes ; 1 Spanish Jack Donkey; 1 Hog Deer; 1 Blackbuck ; 5 Bears ; 2 Dingos ; 1 Wolf ; 6 Emus; 4 Rheas ; 4 Cereopsis Geese ; 3 Blackneck Swans ; 2 Canada Geese ; to Egyptian Nile Geese ; 2 Snow Geese ; 2 Barhead Geese ; 2 Crown Cranes ; 2 Sarus Cranes ; 6 Demoiselle Cranes ; 1 Iceland Falcon ; 6 little Owls ; 1 Burrowing Owl ; 1 horned Indian Fish Owl ; 1 Redbill Tree Duck; 30 Sheldrakes ; 100 other ornamental Waterfowl ; 1 marvellous talking Grey Parrot ; 1 talking Amazon Parrot ; 1 talking Yellow-billed Pionus ; 2 Red and Blue Macaws ; 2 Cuban Connies ; 100 Lavenderhead Lovebirds ; 3 Redfaced Lovebirds ; 10 Cockateils ; 2 Adelaides Broadtails ; 1 Bauer’s Parrakeet ; 2 Gold-fronted Conures ; 6 Canarywing Conures ; 1 pair Little Macaws ; 4 Lemon-crest Cockatoos ; 2 Bare-eyed Cockatoos ; 3 Red- collared Lorikeets; 1 Alexandrine Parrakeet; 2 Blue Red-legged Cuban Thrushes ; 1 Mexican Sorry Thrush ; White Java Sparrows ; Grey Java Sparrows ; Zebra Finches, etc. ; Zebra Doves ; African Turtle Doves ; Fantail Pigeons; Tumblers; Nuns; Ornamental Peafowl; Pheasants; Quail ; Crocodiles ; Alligators ; Lizards, etc. Wanted to Purchase, SURPLUS ACCLIMATISED SPECIMENS, BIRDS, REPTILES, OR ANIMALS. < t CROSS 1 Otterspool House, Aigburth, Liverpool. Cables and Telegrams: “Cross, Liverpool.” National ’Phone ; 260 Lark Lane, Liverpool The Avicultural Magazine. TRUMPETER BIRD. (P sophia crepitans.} Photo by Mrs. Gregory. THE 201 Avicultural Magazine, BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Third Series. — Vol. VI. — No. 7.- — All rights reserved. MAY, 1915. PATAGONIAN PLOVERS AND TRUMPETER BIRDS. By Mrs. Gregory. In the Spring of last year a friend living in Buenos Ayres sent me over a pair of Patagonian Lapwings, called in their native land “ Teru-Teru,” from their shrill cry, which is supposed to be like the word. Mr. Hudson describes these birds in his books on Patagonia, and in a letter from him, which I received last year, he tells me they are great favourites of his, and that he has “ a hundred memories of their curious ways.” He also told me he could not walk anywhere at any hour on the plains without having a number rising up and wheeling about his head, making a great outcry. He added he remembered an English lady saying she liked the country very well, but the Teru-Teru spoilt her pleasure. She could never get away from them. They were always deafening her with their angry screams, and darting at her head with their spurs, but Mr. Hudson thinks it is different now, as the bird exterminators have been as busy in Buenos Ayres as in most places. Well, I met my birds at Southampton docks, and received them from the cook on one of the Royal Mail boats. They did not seem very bold then ; their feathers were draggled and they looked very miserable. I got them home quickly and put them into a large aviary and I thought they would never stop drinking from the deep pan of fresh water, so thirsty were they. Next day I let them loose in the garden, and it was pretty to see their delight and the way they ran over the lawn tapping for worms to come out. They 202 Mrs. Gregory, might have been here for years and showed no fear or shyness. But the hen bird remained weak for some time. Unlike most small birds they seemed to understand the boundaries of their domain and never hid in bushes or tried to escape, even if the gate stood open. In some ways they reminded me of Cranes [in minia¬ ture] , for when not hunting for insects, or bathing, they stood in repose on one leg and always preferred to be close beside the large birds. Not eating the same food probably made them all more friendly together. Teru eat worms, slugs, and all kinds of insects ; in addition I gave them twice a day a little raw beef cut very finely. After a few days they would eat from mv hand and liked to stand close by me. They are intelligent and have no fear of strangers, but they are too small to keep comfortably in a garden ; I feared cats and rats, but no doubt the presence of the big Cranes kept the former away. These little Patagonian Lapwing are made much of in their own country, and the friend who sent them says almost everyone keeps them, for they act as watch dogs and run up and call loudly when anyone approaches the house. One thing I am sure of, they would not like to be in an aviary, however large. They are not to be compared as pets to Trumpeter Birds [from the same country] . I wrote an article in the Avicultural Magazine for 1908 on a Trumpeter Bird I then had for just over a year. I am fortunate enough at the present time to possess another one, which I call “ Penini,” and well he answers to his name. I should like to say a little about him, for I do not think there are any birds so interesting, intelligent, and fond of human beings in general as the Trumpeters. My own bird never likes to be without the company of humans : birds he does not care for, and seems to be only interested in them when he helps me drive them into their houses at night, and very excited and fierce he is with them unless they obey instantly. He waits and watches for hours outside the windows for someone to come out and walk, when he follows up and down the paths like a dog, and indeed has been for some distance on the road with me, and is fond of coming after me into our Vicar’s garden, where he makes himself quite at home. Now, it is not aviculture to write of monkeys, but I cannot help on Patagonian Plovers and Trumpeter Birds. 203 saying I have a tiny “-white-nosed” monkey from the Gold Coast the dearest little pet imaginable, with whom Penini plays. They are companions to each other, and in many ways there is a resem¬ blance between them. Both are full of mischief, and if I am busy washing the leaves of a plant, they will snatch up the sponge and rush off with it, just for the fun of having a mad race round the garden : and then, what they don’t like quite so well, is being seized and held until the sponge has to be rescued by main force ! Both Trumpeter Bird and monkey sleep in the house and breakfast with us in the dining room. When there is no frost the Trumpeter flies out of the window afterwards, and should the monkey at any time be left in a conservatory or aviary [empty, bien entendu] the Trumpeter will stand beside the door to watch and keep him company. Then when Puck is allowed freedom, and swings and throws himself from one branch to another in the large trees, Penini will be found under an Arbutus tree, very often eating the bright red fruit that the monkey picks and throws down to him. I have learnt much about keeping Trumpeters from my last experience, when I lost my poor bird through its feet getting frost bitten. Now, I know that they must never stand on frosty ground, though rain in moderation does not seem to hurt them, and both my birds bathed many times in the pond during the coldest winter months. Also, I know better now how to feed them! my present bird has much raw beef, with plenty of fat (which he likes best) fresh every morning, rice pudding in the afternoon, and grapes, banana, and little bits of cake occasionally, of which he is very fond ; besides bits of bread, biscuit, and sometimes the head of a sole, the only part of the fish he cares for. I was told to feed my first bird on rice, boiled in water, (this one will not eat it ) and vegetables, which neither bird would eat, also hard-boiled eggs, which they will not eat for long. Meat is what they require, in addition to insects they pick up, which are few in winter. My bird is in perfect health, and best of all, plump and full of spirit. He has never ailed a day since I bought him from Mr. Cross nearly two years ago, who told me he had been a fortnight in England, and had been the pet of a Brazilian lady who brought him over but could not keep him. The difficulty with Trumpeter Birds is that they cannot sleep 204 The Duchess of Bedford in any outside shed in winter. Fortunately I have a small room indoors, which is slightly heated. In a recess, a thick natural perch is fixed across, on which Penini sleeps ; a curtain over the window, and a screen to prevent his jumping down, till I fetch him in the morning, complete the arrangement for his and our comfort. At dusk he will walk in at the front door and solemnly proceed upstairs to bed. These birds, more than tame as they are, dislike being handled or carried, except when allowed to step on one’s wrist. On the other hand, they will jump on to one’s lap, and love to have the head and neck stroked and caressed. They are most affectionate, but differ from the monkey, who gives all his love to me alone. Trumpeters will be friends with and make much of the merest strangers, and are interested in any human being who opens the gate, be he postman or dustman or errand boy. They will run up and welcome him with pretty twittering sounds, but the louder real trumpeting note is reserved usually for small children with bare legs. Unless they are old enough for stockings it is unwise to have them in the garden, and both my birds have attacked children’s legs quite fiercely, tears being the consequence. Nothing seems to excite these birds more, except the sight of a dog or cat. SPRING BIRD-NOTES FROM VARIOUS SCOTTISH ISLANDS. By The Duchess of Bedford. The following notes have been made during two cruises round the north and west coasts of Scotland this summer, 1914. My yachting season began with the usual spring visit to Fair Isle on the 29th April. The north-west wind, which favours land¬ ing on this often inacessible island, is not the one which is most conducive to the arrival of migrant birds, and it was not until the 8th of May that any number of them appeared. On that day, when the wind had been blowing strongly for [Reprinted by kind permission of the Editor from The Scottish Naturalist, August, 1914.] Spring Notes from various Scottish Islands. 205 some hours from the east and rain had fallen heavily, a Swallow flew slowly in at my window and settled on the window-sill, a welcome sight to one who had been tramping over the island for hours every day, seeing little but the resident birds. A very short walk from my cottage revealed that a number of the common migrants had arrived, as well as many of the more local species, such as White Wagtails, Pied Flycatchers, etc., but the only birds worthy of special note were the Ortolan Buntings. It was difficult to estimate their number, for, as too often happens on Fair Isle, the weather which brings the birds makes the watching of them all but impossible ; but every little patch of ploughed land held one or more, and I can only have seen a very small proportion of the arrivals. They remained on the island a few days in rapidly decreasing numbers. On the 15th May, when steaming up the Moray Firth, I saw a small flock of about twelve to fifteen Brent Geese. At the Shiant Isles a very pretty Pied Puffin was observed. On the 23rd May I visited St. Kilda. The most common birds inland at the time of my visit were Whimbrels, Wheatears, Twites, and White Wagtails. The Wimbrels were all over the island both on cultivated and uncultivated ground. Meadow-pipits, Rock- pipits, and Tree-sparrows were also common round the houses. There were a few Hooded Crows, but doubtless the greater number of the resident birds were away breeding on the cliffs. Several St. Kilda Wrens were noticed about the houses and “ cleits,” where the natives kept their fuel. St. Kilda is well known as one of the principal resorts in Great Britain of the Fulmar. At the time of my visit the inhabitants were bringing in boat-loads which had been noosed on the cliffs. It would seem a short-sighted policy for a people which depends largely upon these birds for a living to kill them at this season of the year ; but, judging from the numbers, the practice has apparently been carried on with impunity in the past. I was fortunate enough to obtain one of the rare “ Blue Fulmars,” the only one seen amongst thousands of others. The bill is not “ blue ” as described to Mr. Eagle Clarke (see Studies in Bird Migration, ii., p. 24), but appeared to be very like that of the Common Fulmar, though I had not the 206 The Duchess of Bedford, two in my hand at the same time. The nostrils are dark slate and the rest of the bill greenish yellow, getting more horn-coloured towards the tip. If anything, the bill is less blue than that of the local form. Having read of St. Kilda as the resort of myriads of sea-fowl — Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Guillemots, and Puffins — I was somewhat surprised to find that, with the exception of the last, they were by no means so plentiful as I had expected. I do not mean to say that there are not thousands breeding there, but, compared with such places as Handa and many of the other great cliff resorts, they are distinctly scattered, and one sees no great number in the sea. On the whole, the cliffs do not seem to have the type of ledges they require for nesting. The greater part of them consists of small grass slopes and short precipitous rock faces, far better adapted to Fulmars and Puffins than to Guillemots and Razorbills. I have seen Kittiwakes nesting on similar cliffs, but possibly the atmosphere of Fulmar is too strong for them at St. Kilda. There are more of the cliff-breeding birds on the south side of Dun than any other part of the islands that I visited, but I did not go round Soay. The Herring Gull was the commonest of the Gulls round the yacht in the bay. Some twenty Lesser Black-backed Gulls followed us over from Loch Tabert — 56 miles — and remained a short time, but I saw no others during the remainder of my visit. Though reported to have nested once ( Studies in Bird Migration, ii., p. 238), it is probable that, when seen there on other occasions, they may have followed boats in the same way. It is astonishing the distance that Gulls will follow a boat. I noticed a Lesser Black-back with a broken leg, which accompanied my yacht from the Fame Islands for a distance of 117 miles, and possibly farther, as I was unable to watch it longer. Two Arctic Terns were observed during my visit ; also eight Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, a Teal, Dunlin, Merlin, a few Oyster-catchers, several pairs of Eider Ducks, a number of Starlings, and a pair of Ravens. I was fortunate enough to be able to go over to Stack Lii and Boreray in my launch, and, though there was rather a heavy swell, The Avicultural Magazine. STACK FROM THE N.W. Photo: The Duchess of Bedford. Spring Notes from various Scottish Islands. 207 was able to go very close to both islands. At first we steamed along under the St. Kilda cliffs and thousands of Fulmars swooped round and over us on every side ; then, as we turned off towards Boreray, the Fulmars thinned off and the air was thick with Gannets. Apropos of the destruction of fish by these birds, which is now being investigated by a Committee appointed by the Fishery Board, it may be worth mentioning that a trawler which had been fishing round Stack Lii and Boreray had made such a big haul of fish that they took a rest in St. Kilda Bay from early Saturday afternoon to Monday morning before returning home. The mate supplied the information to my captain, and those who know anything of life on board these trawlers will be aware that only when the fishing has been exceptionally good can they afford themselves the luxury of a voluntary rest both night and day. On my return from St. Kilda on 26th May, I visited Barra, an island that I know best under the influence of November gales. Seen at this time of the year, in brilliant sunshine and clothed with a carpet of Thrift, Primroses and Marsh Marigolds, it and the adjacent islands are hardly recognisable. Most of the Waders had left, but I saw a flock of twenty to thirty Bar-tailed Godwits* There were also a number of Great Northern Divers in many stages of plumage, and both Arctic and Common Terns were nesting there. Numbers of Gannets fished in the Sound every afternoon, and, as I have seen it stated ( The Gannet, Gurney, p. 400 > that they are unable to catch fish in a perfectly calm sea, it may be of interest to mention that I have frequently seen them fishing here, as also off the Mull of Cantyre, when there was not a ripple on the water. On the 16th June a great number of Manx Shearwaters were observed off the Isles of the Sea, and again on the 17th between the Sound of Sleat and Eigg, some being seen as far north as Gairloch. Two Great Northern Divers were also noticed. On the 19th June I visited the Stack of “ Stack and Skerry.” The island lies about 27 miles north of the north coast of Sunderland and 4i miles from the Sule Skerry. It is one of the principal breed¬ ing resorts of the Gannet. The Stack is divided into two almost equal portions, the sea running through a narrow cleft between the two islands. There was too much swell for landing at the time of my 208 Spring Notes from various Scottish Islands. visit, though, but for this cleft, I think I might have managed it on the south-east side. As the estimate of the number of Gannets breeding there in the past varies from 8,000 (Gurney) to 50,000 (Seebohm), I made very careful observation on this point. We steamed round the Stack on one side at a distance not exceeding 150 yards. On the other my captain treated it with greater respect and we were rather farther off, but I afterwards rowed round in my dinghy within a few yards of the islands. I counted the birds before many of them rose on a portion of the rock which was most thickly occupied, and my opinion is that there were about 5000 at the time of my visit. If anything, this may be a little under the mark, but I should certainly say they were less than 6,000. I believe the over-estimation of the numbers is due to the difficulty of separating the Gannets with the eye from the multitude of Kittiwakes and Guillemots sitting amongst them. I asked one of my yacht’s officers how many Gannets he thought there were, and, even after consideration, he suggested a million ! As none of the sitting birds rose, even when I was within a few yards of the rock in the dinghy, it was not possible to see whether any young were hatched. I presume that the population would be quite one-third more if counted before the young were able to fly. Only the upper third of the northern part of the Skerry is occupied by nesting birds, and a very small point of rock, which cannot hold more than half a dozen nests, on the southern portion. At first sight the whole Stack appears to be covered in its upper half by nesting birds ; but a closer inspection reveals that quite one in six — but I think possibly even a larger proportion of those on the southern part — are immature birds, not all in the dark plumage, but still immature. There were no Puffins, very few Razorbills, and a few Shags with young ; also a few Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. (To be continued ). Jottings on common Indian Birds. 209 JOTTINGS ON COMMON INDIAN BIRDS. By Aubyn Trevor-Battye. When I look back at my visit to India, two pictures, for absolute charm, stand out I think from all the rest ; and this, not¬ withstanding the fact that that time included experiences so interest¬ ing as a Kheddah in Nepal, a visit to Nepal’s amazing cities and travels in the mountains of Sikhim. These two pictures are the heart of the Nepal jungle, when one rode out alone in early morning with Mahout, and that evening with the Sarus Cranes in the desert of Rajputana. Watching a rhinoceros as it worked its way slowly up a water-course formed an incident of the first ; but that jungle experience owed not a little of its charm to the ways and the character of my own elephant, whose splendid per¬ sonality never ceased to be for me a study of wonder and delight. The other day, in speaking with a wounded soldier in the hospital, the poor fellow said, “ I don’t seem to remember much about it, we seemed to be always marching.” Well, when one has an Indian programme to get through it is pretty much that way. That I think is why the other picture is that of the jhil and the Sarus Cranes ; it was almost the only time in India when I was able to have a really long and quiet look. There are over 1,600 birds on the Indian list, and they are all scientifically and fully dwelt with in the standard works ; and the habits of the majority have been described over and over again by writers who know their India well. There could therefore seem but small excuse for these random experiences of a tripper. But when we read the Editor’s appeal for articles, each one of us, seeing the devotion of his Editorship and guessing what it must mean to have to find cargo for the ship month in and month out, feels strung up to do his best. Hence these jottings. The ornithologist who has time on his hands — time to creep about and listen and speer — will hear and learn and recognise very many birds familiar in collections, but not to be seen in a hurry under natural conditions. Many may however be seen without looking for them, and those noticed here are some that were 210 Mr. Aubyn Trevor-Battye, recognised last winter as I worked my way through the more northerly part of India to join Mr. Elwes for a trip into Nepal. Of course the Crow comes first — the Indian House Crow, Corvus splendens (‘ splendens,’ I take it, because of its audacity — Splendide audax). This bird is equally at home in the country or the town, turning up as you eat your sandwich on the edge of the jungle, or keeping an eye on your toilette as you get ready for dinner. Should a pin or a stud be missed from your table the crow, more probably than the sweeper, has carried it off. Like the crows in Egypt these House Crows persistently worry the kites ; nor are larger birds of prey secure from their attention. In the hilly suburb of Colombo, for instance [this was in the year before] many vultures came every evening to roost in the palms, and their fellow scavengers, the crows, roosted with them. The Vultures, as long as daylight lasted, had but little peace, for the Crows were always jumping on their backs and pecking them hard. A Crow would sidle along the palm-rib until it was about a foot from the vulture’s tail. The vulture might look round suspiciously, but the Crow was only sitting there with an innocent expression, so there was nothing to be said. But as soon as the Vulture turned its head back again and was off its guard with one dart the crow was on its back and could just get in one dagger of a peck before the Vulture understood and jumped. Probably the crows were pecking at ticks, but it seemed to hurt just the same. Buffalo and cattle generally are grateful for such attention, but their skins are thicker. The Indian Tree-pie ( Dendrocitta rufa) w7ith its dark and chestnut plumage is very noticeable. On the outskirts of the jungle one saw parties of these birds following one another from tree to tree. One bird in this group, the White-headed Laughing Thrush ( Garrulus leucolophus) , takes us momentarily to Sikhim. As one rides along the narrow paths in that mountain country, one often hears coming from the trees or scrub on the mountain side on one hand a chorus of laughing chatter ; and then a flock of birds with white heads will cross the path and follow one another down into the ravine on the other hand. They are very cheery birds and seem to keep themselves constantly amused. They belong to a very large natural group, mostly birds of the hills. Jottings on common Indian Birds. 211 One constantly sees about the gardens and compounds several little grey-brown birds very busy on the ground beneath the trees. They have a way of flying off one behind the other, very much as our Long-tailed Tits do in England. I think it is these birds that are popularly called the ‘ seven sisters.’ They are the Common Babbler ( Augya caudata ). The Bulbuls have been so intimately woven into eastern tale and legend that we have come to imagine that their song must be the most beautiful thing in the world, more beautiful even than the song of the Nightingale. I know not how this may be ; there may possibly be a Bulbul — they are a large family— that can outvie our own divine warbler, but I have not met it yet. But there is one dark-crested, bright-eyed, sweetly-singing little bird that would run the Black-cap close — the Red -vented Bulbul (Malpaster hcemorrhous) . It is in every little garden ; in the palms, the hibiscus, everywhere. The one little patch of bright colour is naturally not very prominent, but there it is. Anyone familiar with South Africa will at once recognise old friends in the Fork-tailed Drong'os. The Indian one most often seen is the Common Black Drong'o or “King Crow” (Dicrurus ater). One sees it catching flies from the bungalow coping, from the dead arms of the aloe flowers, from telegraph wires as evening falls. In Sikhim, we saw on the very tip top of a tree, and in Nepal, a drongo that should be the Bronzed Drongo ( Ghaptia osnea). I do not know why I never noticed in India a bird seen several times in the jungle of Ceylon, but it is so general in India that we may take it as seen ; this is the Racquet-tailed Drongo ( Dissemurusparadiseus ). A most remarkable bird, its incurved outer tail feathers reach to twenty inches in length (Oates). The colour is blue-black. In Sikhim also (King Charles’s head will not keep out of the story) in Sikhim, then, we once saw the lovely little Wall-Creeper (: Tichodromia muraria). It was creeping about on the side of a rock by the river Tista, four days out of Darjeeling. Creeping thus in little jerks about a lichen-covered rock the bird would not be very easily seen, but that as it creeps it opens and closes its wings, bringing into view the beautiful crimson of the lesser wing-coverts, 212 Mr. Aubyn Trevor- Battye, primaries and secondaries. One can get quite close to the bird as it hunts about in its busy, pre-occupied way. The Warblers shall be passed over, because here I feel on too uncertain ground, though members of this large group may be seen every day, from a Reed- warbler by a jhil to the little Green ( Prima inornata ) that haunts the compound shrubs. The same may be said of the Shrikes, for though one often saw a Shrike perched on the telegraph wires or hawking from the top of the aloe stems or round about the jungle, I could seldom identify them with any certainty. One was certainly the Indian Great Grey Shrike ( Lanius lahtora ) and another most probably the Rufous-backed Shrike (L. erythronotus ), and at that we must leave them. Considering the brightness of the Orioles, they are not very noticeable in the sun-washed trees ; only on one or two occasions I saw one singing on the top of a tree or bush. And I never re¬ member to have seen a Grackle ( Eulabes ) in the wild state, though one commonly saw them in cages. The Rose-coloured Starling ( Pastor rosaceus ) is often seen. It is one of those birds that comes to the Jains’ feeding-towers in the city of Ahmadabed. The Indian Starling (, Sturnus menzbieri ) seemed to me to be almost exactly like our own and had just the same ways. This brings us to the Mynas, a group of birds which, with the Crows and Kites, are the most familiar birds in town and country. The Common Myna ( Acriclotheres tristis ) is everywhere and always. Its specific name is most unfair, for it is one of the cheeriest birds that fly. This delightfully industrious and confident bird is not confined to the plains, it goes well up into the mountains ; we saw it in Nepal. The Bank Myna ( A . ginginianus ) is much more local. I never saw it in large parties as one sees the former species. A pair frequented the lawn of a house where I was staying in Benares, and hunted carefully the grass when just mown by a large mowing-machine drawn by two splendid oxen ; and there were always a few on the banks of the Ganges at the foot of the town. A third quite familiar bird is the Black-headed Myna ( Temenuchus pagodarum) . Its habits are much like those of the others. I saw many Flycatchers in Sikhim, among them a lovely cobalt blue one, which was probably one of the Niltava genus. Jottings on common Indian Birds. 213 But the only one I could identify was the Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi). As I had. seen this wonderful bird more than once in Ceylon I knew it instantly, though for that matter no one could possibly mistake it, as it is like nothing else in bird- kingdom. Anyone who has looked over a series of these birds in a collection must have been struck by their great differences in plumage. Oates gives us the change of plumage by which the male arrives at that of its fourth autumn, when the head is black but the body and tail white. As the body of the bird is but 4\ inches in length, while the tail alone may measure 16i inches (Oates) it will easily be seen what a remarkable bird this is. We are speaking of course of the male, the female does not develop in this way. I shall never forget the first time I saw one on the wing. I was going along a road — it was in Ceylon — with dense jungle on either hand, when something white that hardly looked like a bird flew half way across the road and hung there in the air vibrating. Then it flew back and went up into a tree in a waving ripple due to its long tail. It seemed a very fairy of the jungle. Although Chats and Redstarts were often seen in the Hima¬ layas, and though I afterwards tried to identify some of these in the Calcutta Museum, I feel no certainty about them, and therefore pass on to a familiar bird, the Magpie Robin ( Copsychus saularis). I have not noticed this bird in the wilder parts of the country, nor do I remember seeing it in the Himalayas, although it is said to ascend the mountain up to 5,000 feet (Oates), but almost everywhere else in the gardens. I think it was even more common in Ceylon than in India. It stands in about the same relationship to human life as the Red-breast, which its ways closely resemble. It shares with the Nightingale and the Grey-backed Warbler (Aedon) the pretty habit of flirting up its tail at each stop in its movements, but does this more persistently than either of these birds. In the compound of a dak bungalow in Benares a little group of grey-coloured Thrush-like birds were often seen in the early morning hunting among the fallen leaves of a pipel tree. They jerked the leaves over with the Blackbird’s action. I think these must have been the Dusky Ground Thrush ( Mcrula unicolor). The Blue Rock-Thrush ( Petrophila cyanus ) was seen and heard 214 Mr. Aubyn Trevor-Battye, several times in the Himalayas. We saw a Dipper on a tributary of the Tista in Sikhim. Beyond question the most striking of the finches seen was the Scarlet Finch (or Grosbeak) ( Hcsmatospiza sipali), we saw it in Sikhim. For sheer brilliancy we have nothing like this in England. There was black about it when it flew, but sitting in a tree by the side of the precipitous mountain track it looked a spot of fire. The Indian House Sparrow ( Passer doviesticus) was as common and as impertinent as our own, and in the village of Churia in Nepal there were many Sparrows that were neither this nor the Tree Sparrow and were not identified. The Indian Sand Martin ( Cotile sivensis ) was often about the rivers ; I could not have distinguished it from our own ,but it looked, as it is, a little smaller. The Chimney-Swallow ( Hirundo rustica) was abundant. I do not know any bird much more difficult to detect in a tree than the Common Green Barbet (Thereiceryx zeylonicus), unless per¬ haps it be Meyer’s Parrot in Africa. How often have I looked up into a dense-leafed tree for each of them, stepping forwards, back¬ wards, and round and round, gazing till my neck was stiff. Though the Barbet had been calling until I came too close it was seldom seen, until it took flight and was off to another tree. It flies much like a Woodpecker. Its loud metallic call went on all day, and often as one turned in at night in the dak bungalow there was the Barbet still calling. The Indian Boiler ( Coracias indica) seems to be in no way different in habits from our Mediterranean friend. It flies with the same Jay-like flight, it tumbles in the air, it catches insects from its watching' place. In Ceylon, as I remember noticing, these birds are curiously local. In a long motor drive you shall not see one, and then for a mile or so on end they are sitting on the telegraph wires every here and there. One often hears Woodpeckers and occasionally sees one flying, but their identification would entail more* time and watching than I could afford, and even with that I should have certainly made mistakes. There are no more delightful birds than the Bee-eaters. The Jottings on common Indian Birds. 215 Indian Bee-eater ( Merops viridis ) is rather smaller in size and brighter than our familiar European bird, but behaves in just the same way. They may be classed among the telegraph-wire birds, but then they are merely little huddled up bunches of green feathers. It is when they are darting and floating about in the sun-filled air, in which they are as much at home as a Swallow or a Erigate-bird, that these most beautiful creatures really charm one ; one is never tired of watching them. You cannot be long by any water, whether river or jhil (lake) without seeing the Indian Pied Kingfisher ( Ceryle varia), a conspicuously black and white bird about the size of our own King¬ fisher. It hunts over the water like a Tern, and like a Tern some¬ times hovers for a moment and then darts down. But the Common Kingfisher ( Alcedo ispida ), which fortunately is still fairly abundant in our own islands, is just as often seen and behaves in every respect like the bird we know here. I shall never forget a particular scene one evening in Ceylon. It was evening' and the sky was crimson where the clouds were, but low down just along the line of the jungle it was flat and clear and tinted light green, the green of the sea where it swells over rocks awash. We were in a motor car in the hope of reaching Trincomali, a harbour that is a gem of the world. We had nearly arrived at Kantalai, celebrated for its great water-dam. I hurriedly pulled up the car as we suddenly came upon the white iron railings of a bridge that normally spanned a little river running through a flat of grass and rushes with jungle all about it. But now the whole thing was in flood, the water and the sky together making a great expanse of orange, crim¬ son and red, only broken by the dark line of the jungle fringe. At the edge of the bushes a bunch of wild swine were rooting, their sides as red as umber from the dried mud of the wallow. On the railings of the bridge were a row of green-blue dots— Kingfishers. Not far from them sat two Brahminy Kites. I think the sound of the water must have drowned the noise of the car ; but as I went on foot towards the bridge everything took life. The swine dis¬ appeared in the jungle, the Kites sailed off, and the Kingfishers darted away one after the other over the coloured flood, while a pair of Fishing Eagles ( Haliaetus leucoryphus) followed over the 216 Mr. Aubyn Treyor-Battye road. From the water itself rose a pair of white Egrets, while a lot of whistling ducks swam off in a line turning their heads side¬ ways to look at the intruder. The scene behind this still remains to be filled in, for the sound of branches breaking or brushing made me turn my head, and across the road above the car swung Langur after Langur like gymnasts from a flying trapese ; and as I strolled back flock after flock of Paroquets, some high up, some lower, came round and round, apparently intent on roosting. I saw Hornbills on several occasions in the noithern forests, but they were always very high up or disappearing through the trees and I cannot say anything about them. The Indian Swift (C ypselus affinis ) were often noticed. Nightjars constantly played round the Dak bungalows in the dark, but I should not care to hazard or guess as to species. Palceornis torquatus, the Rose-ringed Paroquet, is the com¬ monest of the Paroquets, and is constantly seen about the houses. It flies very rapidly, and one often hears its harsh voice high over¬ head. This poor bird is commonly kept in most cruel metal cages (not wire but broad flat pieces of iron) and existence must be a torment to it in the hot sun. The Blossom-headed Paroquet (P. cyanocephalus) though not so often noticed, excepting on the wing (it is a bird of extremely rapid flight, and reminded me somehow of Sandgrouse when flying) was I believe one of the paroquets that came to the bird-trays in Ajmer. The Owls of India are so many and so interesting that I am sorry to have to confess that the only Indian Owl I was able to identify was the Spotted Owl ( Athene bramci), wdiich is common in the outskirts of villages. The habits are a mixture of those of the Little Owl and the Burrowing Owl. Vultures of course are constantly seen in India. Unfortu¬ nately a photograph taken of a large collection of these birds — the majority were the Indian Griffon ( Gyps indicus ), but two or three were the Black Vulture ( Otogyps calvics) — did not come out very well. They were sitting drying their wings after washing. This was near Udaipur. In Benares, as would be expected of that very native city, Vultures are very numerous. The Indian White-back Vulture ( Pseudogyps bengalensis) and the Griffon are the commonest Jottings on common Indian Birds. 217 there. I take it two Vultures seen near Chakrata were the Himalayan Griffon (G. himalayensis) but that is merely a guess ; the birds were pretty high overhead. Neophron gingiinianus, which is only a rather smaller edition of the Egyptian Vulture ( N . percnopterus) walks about the dirty villages like a fowl. We saw a good deal of the Lammergeier. One day near Chakrata there were several on the wing at once, including one splendid old male in perfect plumage who came close over my head. Across the valley was a cliff where they or other Vultures evidently bred ; we could not actually see an eyrie but could make out the ledges where nests probably were. The rocks have been literally whitewashed by the birds. After watching Vultures in various countries., one wonders much at the old controversies about sight and smell. But though it is clearly sight that does it, there are sometimes conditions which show forcibly how amazingly acute that sight is. I shot a sambur stag one day in the depths of the Nepal jungle, and had scarcely had time to get down from my elephant before Vultures had arrived. Now they could not have seen that animal, unless at least one Vulture had happened to be directly above or looking down between the trees ; for the trees were much too close together, and even then it was a remarkable evidence of their quickness of eye. An Eagle, probably the Tawny Eagle ( Aquila vindneana) was seen on several occasions from the train, sitting on posts or beating across the fields This is not a very noble bird, but is Buzzard-like in its ways. A bird seen on the wing more than once was Palle’s Fishing Eagle ( Haliaetus leucoryphus). I never saw it actually catch a fish. It is a striking-looking bird, as in harrier fashion it beats along the edges of the jhils. Kites are almost inseparable from any memory of India. There are two, one for the water, one for the land. The first is the Brahminy Kite ( Haliastur Indus). As soon as you reach a port of India you are pretty sure to see them from the deck of the ship. It is a beautiful bird with its white head and neck and chestnut body. A pair had their nest in a palm tree by the great lake under the palace of Udaipur and added much to the interest of that beautiful scene. The second is the Common Pariah Kite ( Milvus govinda). One might write much about the bird, but it has all 218 Mr. B. Theo. Stewart, been written before, for they are an unfailing sense of interest in the streets, and indeed in the harbours, where they are more numerous than the other Kites. Falcons — obviously “ Peregrines ” — of some sort, were occa¬ sionally seen on the wing, probably they were the Sh&hin ( Falco peregrinator ) or the Laggar ( F . jugger ) or both. There seems very little to say about the raptorial birds of India that are so numerous in species from the great Lammerguer to the tiny Falconet — of which by the way I saw one, species unknown, shot by a friend in Nepal Terai. But travelling as we did we had little chance of seeing these, many of which are strictly forest birds. (To be continued .) THE AUSTRALIAN PIPING CROW. By B. Theo. Stewart. The Piping Crow or Magpie of Australia figures so largely in prose and veise that everyone ought to be familiar with the bird. I say ought to be, but apart from Aviculturists, I have found very few people who do not ask me the eternal question “ What is that strange looking bird ? ” They appear no wiser when told, so now I leave them guessing. Even in my nursery days the Piping Crow stronglv appealed to me and I determined to possess one at the earliest opportunity. I have had many since then. Owing to the fact that the importation of this bird is now strictly prohibited, a heavy fine being the penalty, the price of Piping Crows has risen by leaps and bounds — anything up to £10 being asked by dealers, in fact, they are hardly to be procured at any price. Times change truly — my first Crow cost me just under a sovereign. Writers speak of the “joyous whistle of the Piping Crow,” but there is little of a joyous nature about the Never-Never bird. His notes (that is — the wild caught bird) are powerful and mellow, but to my thinking, melancholy. As a mimic he is great, but his talking powers are somewhat overrated; many words are very clearly on the Australian Piping Crow. 219 emunciated but the vocabulary is strictly limited, and never, never will he learn to whistle the last notes of a tune. The female of this species is not so accomplished as the male, though equally interesting and docile. She is smaller, the white and black of the plumage is less glossy than that of the male bird, and her beak is feebler. One female that I possessed was highly intelligent, you had only to show her a mouse trap and she would tell you what ought to be in it. An empty cotton reel made her very happy, and she would lie on her back holding the reel in her claws and play for hours like a kitten. I cannot claim to have bred these birds, as unlike most aviculturists, I take no interest in breeding operations. All my birds are therefore celibates. Necessity knows no law and there are no quarrels in a feathered community of monks and nuns. I have, at the present time, a remarkably fine Crow, just over four years of age, who is known in the family circle as “ Poor Peter.” He came to me as a nestling, in the dingy grey and muddy black dress worn by the infant Magpie. He was so extremely youthful that he could not eat correctly ; as to water apparently he had never heard or seen it, for he swallowed it in drops out of a tea-spoon in fear and wonder. Even now he is strangely abstemious and uses water for bathing only (really its proper purpose !) Perches he had no use for, preferring to roost on the cage bottom — a fad he still indulges in. Peter belongs to the white necked, black backed variety and is beautifully marked, the black being very black and the white very snowy. His beak which was black at first soon changed and is now quite a fine instrument, long and polished, greyish blue with a black tip. Peter always answers to his name and will run from any part of the house or grounds, on being called, as obedient as a dog. He is also a highly brained bird. For instance, he can fetch and carry a ball or piece of paper, deliver it up and wait for you to throw it. Will “shake hands” at command, sit on one’s lap and allow his feathers to be stroked, etc. He has a really charming temperament, a trifle hasty sometimes, but as the cook said, a little present will quickly bring him round. 220 On the Australian Piping C row. Peter can talk well, but he is somewhat chary of his words. He whistles well, but I fear his ear is a trifle defective. He reminds me of a character in “ Diplomacy,” he cannot tell the difference between “ Pop goes the King ” and “ God save the Weasel.” Crows live to a great age, and Peter will have eternity to learn “ Pop goes, etc.,” it has already taken two years to teach it him ! ! and he sings it in the most melancholy way as if he thought he was at a Band of Hope meeting and he wanted to burst into tears over it. I think Lewis Carrol would have loved Peter. A spider’s web waving on the ceiling distresses him. He thinks it looks so lonely ! and he wails over a meal-worm in the most heart-broken way. I am sure he is genuinely sorry to have to put it to death. Yet is he a bird of fine courage and only afraid of two things — an umbrella and a nice red carrot. Why in the world he should be afraid of the latter article I can't think. I read some time ago an article on the Piping Crow by Mr. Farrar. His views and mine are quite opposed. I quote some extracts— “ They (Piping Crows) are very strong and mischievous “ and require a big strong enclosure, to keep them in ordinary wire “ netting is no good as they take a devilish delight in unwinding it “ with their massive beaks, only strong iron rods can puzzle them. “ They can even chisel through a good thick plank.” “ They are smelly ; bite confoundedly ; and those who handle “ them should wear leather gloves,” etc. So experienced an aviculturist as Mr. Farrar must, of course ? be familiar with my old friend the Australian Magpie, but I confess his description of the bird swallowing a mouse whole, eating dog biscuit voraciously, almost devouring the plate, and so on, makes me rub my eyes and wonder what manner of birds he possessed to perform these feats. My Crows eat mice, not whole, but bit by bit, raw meat is taken in quite tiny pieces, a dead Waxbill is devoured slowly and in fragments, etc. But, of course, my birds may have perfect table manners, still I think it would puzzle any Crow to swallow a mouse, full grown, at one gulp ! At any rate I have never seen it done. My birds are kept in large box cages (I have even kept one or Bird-feeding in India. 221 two in wicker cages) the box cages have wire fronts of the weakest description, a finger pressure would snap my bars, yet my Crows have never damaged these in any way and they have been in use for years. As for being “smelly birds” that expression can never be applied to birds properly attended to, that is, cleaned out every day, well sanded tray, and lastly, given the very best fresh raw meat. Many pet canaries that have been brought under my reluctant notice deserve the unpleasant expression “smelly” far more than the poor bird of prey. Personally, I never find it necessary to wear thick leather gloves in handling this or any other bird. If a clumsy handler gets bitten, I fear my only verdict would be “ serve him right.” Now, I trust Mr. Farrar will forgive me for “ having a bone to pick with him,” I have tried to defend the bird’s personal character, but the poets of his native land sing his praises best and sweetest. ‘ ‘ The Magpie midst the wattle-blooms Is singing loud and long : What fragrance in the scatter’d scent, What magic in the song ! ’ ’ * * * ‘ ‘ Among the stringy barks a crowd Of dazzing Parrakeets, But high o’er all the Magpie loud His joyous song repeats.” BIRD-FEEDING IN INDIA. By Aubyn Trevor-Battye. Before coming to the actual subject of these photographs, it may be as well to say something about the people who put up the bird-feeding structures shown. There is in the west of India a religious group of people who number about a million and a quarter and are called Jains. They are not — like the Sikhs — an offset from the Hindu faith, but were independently founded at about the same date as Buddhism, five hundred years or so before the Christian era. They are distinguished both from the Hindu and the Buddhist by several characteristics independently of their religion. They have, 222 Bird-feeding in India. for instance, an architecture which in certain essentials is different from the Indio-Aryan architecture of India generally ; it includes a slight and beautiful pillar springing from a decorative base. Their principal city is Ahmadabad in Gujarat [Bombay Presidency]. The Jains protect all animals ; no creature, even in extreme old age, is ever killed by them. In Ahmadabad is a place called the Pinjrapal, which is filled with yards, stalls, and cages. This place, which is supported by voluntary contributions, always contains a large collection of homeless and decrepit animals ; they are said to number nearly one thousand. One sees there horses, donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and monkeys. At the time of my visit there were also a Crane, a Stork, two Barn-Owls, Parrakeets and some fowls. There is an insect-house, but this I was not brave enough to visit : it is devoted to fleas and other personal insects. These are fed at intervals by the expedient of placing a dog or other unfortunate creature inside the room. I fear this must always have a balance against the poor dog. In some of the smaller towns — in Ajmer for example — birds are fed by means of a large tray suspended overhead by wires stretched across the street, and a beautiful sight in the sun are the Pose-ringed Paroquets who crowd to the trays chattering and hang¬ ing on in amusing attitudes. In Ahmadabad, trays are attached to trunks of the trees that border the roads, and these are kept filled with food for the little striped Ground-Squirrels that swarm everywhere ; but the birds are fed by a more elaborate contrivance. These take the form of what for want of a better term I must call towers. They are built of wood, carved and coloured, are of light and admirable design, and no two are exactly alike. The base of each is of stone, usually carrying a railing, or in one case a beautifully wrought metal grille. The principle is a tall central post or wooden pillar from which struts of artistic shape fan out to support the floor which is really an immense tray for the birds’ food. The woodwork is elaborately carved, All are covered with roofs of an ornamental character. The food-floor is approached by steps— by an iron or a wooden stairway. The water is placed in a large tray, which, as will be seen in one of the photographs, hangs independently from The Avicultural Magazine. Photos by A. Trevor- Battye. Review. 223 wires. Many kinds of birds come to feed from these towers. Always there are pigeons coming and going — the Indian Blue Rock-Pigeon (C olumba intermedia ) and its many semi-domestic varieties which swarm all over India ; they are sacred birds in Rajputana, where no one ever touches them. Rose-coloured Starlings, Doves, Paro¬ quets, and other birds are generally to be seen feeding there, and indeed Jains’ bird-towers is one of the most interesting and delight¬ ful things to be seen in India. REVIEW. “BRITISH BIRDS.” A book of birds illustrated in colour by Mr. Thorburn is sure to be an acquisition of value, in spite of the artist having to group on one sheet several different species, which must necessarily detract from facts in nature, but the grouping is so good, and the individual poses so life-like, that one’s eyes can be focussed on each bird by itself. In the case of the small Warblers, it is really an advantage, for such puzzles to all but the expert ornithologist as the Willow Warbler, Wood Wren, Chiff-Chaff, etc., can be compared together, though even so, they are not easy to identify in wild life. Mr. Thorburn’s touches of natural surroundings are charmingly and cleverly introduced, a splash of crimson thorn blossoms with the Shrikes ; a gleam of Gentiana acauiis by the Alpine Accentor ; a bunch of crocuses, yellow and white, where the Blackbird is searching for the early worm. Perhaps owing to a loss of colouring reproduction, the head of the Rock Thrush ( Petrocincla saxatilis ) is too heavy and leaden in tone, and the Chough seems too large in comparison with the Jay on the same sheet, especially as the latter appears to be more in the foreground, but these are minor critic¬ isms which become minimized in one’s admiration for the work as a whole. It is in itself an ‘ edition de luxe,’ for not everyone, especially in these days of warfare, can afford £6 6s. Od., though we would hasten to encourage bird-lovers with the fact that for that sum, they have still three more volumes of a generous bulk to come, the 224 Obituary. present review referring to the first volume, the only one as yet published. Mr. Thorburn has himself written the text, in which he claims no originality for his observations on birds. Anyhow, enough is written about each one for the reader to understand something of the ways and habits of the birds, and those who are interested in them and who have not the good fortune to possess Lord Lilford’s “ Birds of the British Isles,” with Mr. Thorburn’s beautiful coloured plates, would do well, if their purse is full enough, to acquire the present publication. H. D. A. [British Birds. Written and illustrated by A. THORBURN, F.Z.S. With eighty plates in colour, showing over four hundred species. In four volumes. LONGMANS, Green & CO., 37, Paternoster Row, London]. OBITUARY. SIR ROLAND J. CORBET, B'R The Editor has to record with sorrow, the death of his nephew Sir Roland Corbet, Lieut. Coldstream Guards, who was killed in action on the 15th of April. A member of our Society _ he was a keen and ever-interested observer of wild birds, and wrote home that he had seen a Swallow flying over a canal at the front, as early as the 25th of March. From his boyhood he had collected books on British birds, nothing pleasing him more than to be given any new publication on the subject. Without guile, a pure and fine gentleman, valourous, yet shrinking with simplicity and diffidence from all praise as a soldier of the King, he has laid down his life in the service of his country. Wounded during the earlier stages of the war, he went out once again to do his duty, only to fall with many others. He was only twenty-two years old. English Names for the Parrots. 225 ENGLISH NAMES FOR THE PARROTS. By Dr. E. Hopkinson. (' Continued from page 194.) MAURITIUS RING-NECKED PARRAKEET .=Palaeornis eques, the *Double-Ringed Parrakeet, *Rose-Ringed Parrakeet, Var. B., and *Alexandrine Parrakeet, Var. C., of Latham. Also known as the Little Alexandrine Parrakeet and Mauritius Alexandrine Parrakeet. MAXIMILIAN’S PARROT. =Pionus maximiliani. MEALY AMAZON, see under AMAZON. Mealy Green Parrot, the MEALY AMAZON. “ Mealy Rosella,” common popular name for the PALE-HEADED PARRAKEET. MEXICAN CONURE. = Conurus holochlorus, sometimes called the Mexican Parrakeet. Mexican Macaw, see under MACAW, MILITARY. Mexican Parrakeet, the MEXICAN CONURE. Mexican Yellow Parrot, see YELLOW CONURE. MEYER’S PARROT. =Poeocephalus meyeri. Mile Roselia, see PALE-HEADED PARRAKEET. MILITARY MACAW, see under MACAW. MITCHELL’S LORIKEET . = Trichoglossus mitchelli. Mitred Parrot, see PILEATED PARROT. *Mockaw, see MACAW. *Modest Parrot, see ACTIVE AMAZON. MOLINA’S CONURE. =Pyrrhura molinae. Mulocca Lory, see RED LORY. Monk, Monk Parrakeet, the QUAKER PARRAKEET. Monte Video Parrakeet, the QUAKER PARRAKEET. “ Moon-dark,” see BROWN’S PARRAKEET. " Moreton Bay Rosehill,” N.S.W. vernacular (Gould) for the PALE¬ HEADED PARRAKEET. “ Moreton Bay Rosella,” same as above. Motmot Parrot, a book name for a RACKET-TAILED PARROT ( Prioniturus ) . Mountain Kaka, j Sge KEA. Mountain Nestor, ) Mountain Parrot,” (i) New Zealand popular name of the KEA. (2) Australian vernacular for the BLACK-TAILED PARRAKEET. “ Moustache Parrakeet,” “ Moustache Parrot,” occasional dealers’ names for the JAVAN PARRAKEET. *Moustachoe Parrot (Latham), and his Var. B. = the BANDED PARRA¬ KEET. 226 Dr. E. Hopkinson, *Moustachoe Parrakeet (Shaw). = the JAVAN PARRAKEET. *Moustachoe Parrakeet, Var. A. ?=the LUCIAN PARRAKEET. MULLER’S ECLECTUS. Muller’s Great-Billed Parrakeet, Muller’s Parrakeet, Muller’s Parrot, Musk Lorikeet. . Musk Lory, - The MUSKY LORIKEET. “ Musk-Parrakeet." ' MUSKY LORIKEET. = Glossopsittacus concinnus. Also known as Musk Lorikeet, Musk Lory, Musky Parrakeet. Australian vernacular name, “ Musk-Parrakeet.” Early book names : *Crimson- Fronted Parrot (Latham) ; *Pacific Parrot. " Nanday.” NANDAY CONURE. =■ Conurus nanday, also commonly known as the Black-Headed Conure, and sometimes as the Black-Faced Conure. Other names : " Nanday Parrot,” " Nanday Parrakeet,” *Hooded Parrot, Var. A. Paraguayan name, “ Nanday.” Nanday Parrakeet, Nanday Parrot, see above. *Nanodes, an obsolete book name for some of the GRASS-PARRAKEETS. *Blue-Banded Nanodes, the BLUE-BANDED GRASS-PARRA KEET. *Undulated Nanodes, the BUDGERIGAR. NATTERER’S AMAZON. —A. nattereri. *Nasicus Cockatoo, see SLENDER-BILLED COCKATOO. “ Nendaya,” a native name for the GREEN CONURE. NEPALESE ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET, see under ALEXANDRINE. Nestor, a KAKA (q.v.). Mountain Nestor, the KEA. NORTHERN NESTOR, see under KAKA (2). Southern Nestor, the KAKA. *New Caledonian Parrot, see YELLOW-BELLIED PARRAKEET. New Guinea Eclectus, New Guinea Green Parrot, ] See under ECLECTUS, RED- New Guinea Parrot, j SIDED. NEW GUINEA PIGMY PARROT. = Nasiterna pygmaea. NEW ZEALAND PARRAKEET. — Cyanorhamphus novae-zealandiae, also known as Red-Fronted Parrakeet. Latham’s names were *Pacific Parrot, *Pacific Parrot, Var. A., *Pacific Parrakeet. Maori names, “ Ivakariki,” “ Kakiriki.” Rowley’s Parrakeet (C. rowleyi), or LESSER RED-FRONTED PARRAKEET, and the Auckland Island Parrakeet, are now included in this species. New Zealand Parrakeet, Golden-Crowned, see GOLDEN-CROWNED P. | See under ECLECTUS. English Names for the Parrots. 227 NICOBAR PARRAKEET. = Palaeornis nicobarica. Red-Cheeked Parra - keet, Red-Cheeked Nicobar Paroquet. BLYTH’S NICOBAR PAROQUET. = P. modesta. Red-Cheeked Nicobar Paroquet, see NICOBAR PARRAKEET. NIGHT-PARRAKEET. = Geopsittacus occdentalis of Australia. Short- Toed Ground-Parrakeet, Western Ground-Parrakeet. Night-Parrot, the OWL-PARROT of New Zealand. NOBLE MACAW. Noble Macaw Parrot, j Noble Parrot, I ^ ee un^er MACAW . Nonpariel, Nonpariel Parrot, see ROSELLA PARRAKEET. NORTHERN NESTOR, see under KARA (2). NYASS ALAND LOVEBIRD. *Nymphicus, Red-Cheeked, see COCKATIEL. *Obscure Parrot, see MASCARINE PARROT. ORANGE-BELLIED GRASS-PARRAIvEET. = Neophema chrysogastra, the Orange-Bellied Parrot of Latham. Orange-Breasted Parrakeet, see SWIFT PARRAKEET. *Orange-Breasted Parrot (and Var. A.), one of Latham’s names for SWAINSON’S LORIKEET. Orange-Chinned Parrakeet, the TOVI PARRAKEET. Orange-Flanked Parrakeet, see ORANGE-WINGED PARRAKEET. ORANGE-FRONTED PARRAKEET, or Alpine Parrakeet. — Cyano- rhamphus malherbei, one of the New Zealand Parrakeets. *Orange-HeadeD Parrot, see CAROLINA CONURE. ORANGE-WINGED AMAZON. *Orange-winged Lorikeet, an incorrect and confusing name for the next. ORANGE-WINGED PARRAKEET. = Brotogerys pyrrhopterus, also known as the Orange-Flanked Parrakeet, the Fire-Winged Parra¬ keet (rare), and Orange-Winged Lorikeet (incorrectly). The CANARY-WINGED PARRAKEET ( B . chiriri ) is also sometimes known as the Orange-Winged Parrakeet. ORNAMENTAL LORIKEET. = Trichoglossus ornatus. Also called Ornate Lorikeet and Ornamented Lorikeet., The *Lory-Parrakeet of Edwards. Ornamented Lorikeet, | Variants of ORNAMENTAL Ornate Lorikeet, 1 LORIKEET. “ Ornary Hen,” Australian dealers’ name for the COCKATIEL. *Otaheite Parrakeet, Var. A., J TAHITI LORIKEET. *Otaheitian Blue Parrakeet, OWL-PARROT. = Stringops habroptilus, also commonly known as “ Night- Parrot,” “ Ground-Parrot.” Maori names, " Kakapo,” and “ Tarapo.” 228 Dr. B. Hopkinson, *Pacific Parrot (i) an early name for the MUSKY LORIKEET. (2) A name used by Latham probably = the NEW ZEALAND PARRAKEET, but possibly the RED-BACKED PARROT. ♦Pacific Parrot, Var. A. (Latham), the NEW ZEALAND PARRAKEET. ♦Pacific Parrot, Var. C., the GOLDEN-CROWNED PARRAKEET. Pale-Headed Broadtail, the next. PALE-HEADED PARRAKEET . = Platycercus pallidiceps, the “ Mealy Rosella ” and “ Blue Rosella ” of dealers. “ Moreton Bay Rosehill ” in Australia (Gould) ; “ Moreton Bay Rosella,” ‘‘Mile Rosella” (Australian vernacular). ? = *Blue-Cheeked Parrot (Latham) . Modern book names : Pale-Headed Broadtail, Pale-Headed Rosella. Palm Cockatoo, see under COCKATOO, GREAT BLACK. PALM LORIKEET. — Hypocharmosyna palmarum, the Palm Parrot (Latham) ? his *Lineated Parrot, and *Peregrine Parrakeet, the latter, a name of that writer’s which is supposed to have referred to a young bird of this species. ♦Palm Parrot, see PALM LORIKEET. PANAMA AMAZON. “ ♦Papouan Lory, the next. PAPUAN LORY, Charmosyna papuensis. *Papouan Lory (Latham). Paradisa Parrakeet, a variant of PARADISE P. Paradise Parrakeet, an alternative name for the BEAUTIFUL PARRA¬ KEET, and (2) sometimes for the allied GOLDEN-SHOULDERED P. ♦Paraguan Lory, a name of Latham’s, ? = PESQUET’S PARROT. P AP A TCTTTT'T ♦Paraquita, ♦Paraquito, ./ ♦Paradise Parrot, see under AMAZON, WHITE-FRONTED. PARRAKEET (various spellings, Parakeet, Paroquet, Parroquet, ♦Perroquet, *Paraquet, *Paraquito, *Paraquita, *Parakeeto, ♦Parakita). A small Parrot, usually long-tailed, but not always so, as birds like the LOVEBIRDS are frequently known as PARRAKEETS. (2) The CAROLINA CONURE was commonly known as " Parra¬ keet ” in N. America. Sub-divisions of the Parrakeets are : ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEETS. Broadtail Parrakeets, see BROADTAIL. Cockatoo-Parrakeet, the COCKATIEL. Dwarf-Parrakeets, the PASSERINE PARRAKEETS. Fig-Parrakeets, the LORILETS. English Names for the Parrots. 229 GRASS-PARRAKEETS. Ground-Parrakeets (q.v.). HANGING PARRAKEETS. PASSERINE PARRAKEETS, the American Lovebirds, Parrotlets, or Dwarf Parrakeexs (Psittacula) . RING-NECKED PARRAKEETS. Small-Billed Parrakeets, those of the genus Brotogervs of South America. Other groups have special names, such as CONURE, LOVE¬ BIRD, etc. Parrakeet-Cockatoo, a book name for the COCKATIEL. Paroquet, j See PARRAKEET. Parroquet, * PARROT, any member of the order Psittaciformes. An old book name for this order was the *Crackers. English names for certain groups are : AMAZON PARROTS. ECLECTUS PARROTS. Green Parrots, a common popular name for the AMAZONS. GREY PARROTS, the GREY and TIMNEH PARROTS. Hanging Parrots, the HANGING PARRAKEETS. Love-Parrots, the LOVEBIRDS (q.v.). Pigmy Parrots, the Nasiterninae ; also known as Dwarf-Cockatoos, and occasionally as Siskin-Parrots. Racket-Tailed Parrots, Prioniturus. Siskin-Parrots, the Pigmy Parrots. VAZA PARROTS. Other groups have distinct names, such as MACAWS, COCKA¬ TOOS, etc. Parrotlet, an occasional book name for any of the PASSERINE PARRA¬ KEETS, for instance, the GUIANA PARROTLET. Parrot-Maccaw, Latham’s name for the MARAKANG MACAW. Partibilled Parrot, see under AMAZON, YELLOW-FRONTED. PASSERINE PARRAKEET. = Psittacula passerina, commonly known as the “ Blue-Winged Lovebird,” “ Blue-wing,” “ American Love¬ bird,” " Brazilian Lovebird.” Book names are : Blue-Winged Parrotlet, Passerine Parrotlet, *Least Green and Blue Parrakeet (Edwards), *Short-Tailed Yellowish Green Parra - keet, *Virescent Parrakeet (Latham) ; Passerine Parrot (Latham). (2) Also used as a name for any member of the genus Psittacula, which are also known as Parrotlets, Dwarf-Parrakeets, or “ American Lovebirds.” There are about 14 species, of which one other, the GUIANA PARROTLET, is sometimes imported. Passerine Parrot. 230 English Names for the Parrots. Passerine Parrotlet, see above. ♦Patagonian Arara, see next. PATAGONIAN CONURE. = Cyanolyseus patagonicus, the Lesser Pata¬ gonian Conure. Popular name in the Argentine, “ Bank Parrot.” Old book names : * Patagonian Macaw (Latham), *Patagonian Parrakeet-Macaw (Lear), * Patagonian Arara. The only other species of the genus is the GREATER PATAGONIAN CONURE, C. byroni, the *Thecau Parrot, of Latham. ♦Patagonian Macaw. ♦Patagonian Parrakeet-Macaw, see above. “ Pavouane,” Pavouane Parrakeet, see GREEN CONURE. ♦Pavouane Parrot, the GREEN CONURE. ♦Pavouane Parrot, Var. A. (Latham). = HAHN’S MACAW. ♦Pavuan Parrakeet, see GREEN CONURE. “ Peach-Faced Lovebird,” see under LOVEBIRD. Pearl Conure, see below. PEARLY CONURE (sometimes Pearl C .).=Pyrrhura perlata. Occasion¬ ally known as the Blue-Vented Conure. ? = the *Wave-Headed Parrakeet (Latham). “ Pebble, Rock,” see undev R. Pekin Conure, a misprint for PETZ’S C. “ Pennant,” common popular abbreviation for PENNANT’S PARRAKEET. Pennant’s Broadtail, PENNANT’S PARRAKEET. PENNANT’S PARRA K.'E'ET . — Platycercus elegans. Other names: Pen¬ nant’s Broadtail, *Pennantian Broadtail, *Pennantian Parrot (Latham) ; *Beautiful Lory (Latham) ; occasionally Australian Lory. Popular names : “ Pennant ” (English dealers), “ Loury ” (Australia). Native names, " Dulang,” “ Julang.” ♦Penn anti an Broadtail, see above. ♦Pennantian Parrot, see above. “ Peplar, Rock,” see under R. ♦Peregrine Parrakeet, see PALM LORIKEET. PERFECT LORIKEET. =Psitteuteles euteles. ♦Perroquet, see PARRAKEET. ♦Pesquet’s Dasyptilus, an old name for PESQUET’S PARROT. PESQUET’S PARROT. = Dasyptilus pesqueti (? = *Paraguan Lory (Latham)) ; *Pesquet’s Dasyptilus. PETZ’S CONURE = Conurus canicularis. *Red and Blue-Headed Parrot (Latham). ‘‘Red-Headed Conure” of English dealers = this bird. An occasional advertisement of “ Pekin Conures ” is obviously a misprint. “ Pheasant Parrot,” Australian vernacular for the ADELAIDE PARRA¬ KEET. To be continued). Correspondence. 23 1 CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC. FEEDING A NIGHTJAR. SIR, — In answer to Mr. Hugh Wormald with regard to his question as to my Nightjar, which I kept for five years, feeding itself, I write to say that it would not peck anything up, and seemed to have no idea of doing so. I suc¬ ceeded in getting him to feed himself by having a narrow piece of wood, like a miniature shelf, fixed along the front of the cage, so that when the bird was on the floor of the cage, its head was level with the shelf, along the edge of which I firmly fixed in pins about three inches apart, snipping off the heads. On these I fixed moths, mealworms, cockchafers, pieces of insectivorous food (“Life”) made into small pellets, etc. When the Nightjar was hungry, he would run forward and pull the food off the pins and bolt it. There was not the slightest fear of the bird hurting his mouth with the headless pins, because he always ran up to them and took hold of the food only, pulling it off. The eyesight of the Nightjar appears to be directed slightly upwards, for he would take no notice of any live food that was placed on the floor where he might have seen it moving, but directly food was raised level with his eyes, he would at once snap it up. P. F. M. GALLOWAY. STARLINGS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. Mr. JAMES B. HOUSDEN writes : — “I have two sons fighting with their “ respective batteries — R.F.A. They mention about the Starlings that frequent “the batteries and the tameness of these birds.” “ My eldest son — a great observer of birds, as well as a keen soldier, wrote “ that in the battle of St. Eloi they were attacked by a large number of “ Bavarians about 5 p.m. (and fought all night), and that while they were firing, “ amidst all the noise and din, a flock of Starlings circled round our own guns “ for some time, and then suddenly disappeared. He wrote that it was a strange “and interesting sight.” 232 Correspondence. A LARGE BLACK AND YELLOW TROUPIAL. Sir, — I see by the Avicultural Magazine that you are good enough to answer queries about members’ birds. I have had offered me a large Yellow and Black Troupial, and wondered if it would live in my outside aviary with an Amber and Black Hangnest, pair of Afra Doves, Mandarin Starlings, Californian Quail, etc., also would it winter outside here? My aviary is a fair size and sheltered with glass shutters during the winter. P. BARLOW-MASSICH6. The following reply has been sent to Miss Barlow-Massichs : — By “ a large yellow and black Troupial,” as distinct from a Hangnest, I presume that you are speaking of a Cassique — probably either Cassicus persicus or fnelanicterus . Although the Cassiques and Hangnests are regarded as purely fruit and insect-eaters, I am satisfied that both are predatory upon weaker and smaller animals ; for one of my Common Hangnests, after catching a Cordon-bleu on the wires of its aviary, nearly tearing it to pieces and partly devouring its head, attempted the same thing with a Zebra-finch, which, however, escaped with the loss of two or three bunches of feathers. Later on the same bird killed and partially devoured a small mouse which entered its aviary. Of Cassicus persicus we read that Schlechtendal turned one loose in a room with his African and Indian Starlings and it drove them about in the wildest terror and so mauled them that he was obliged to remove it to a cage. I should therefore not be inclined to trust one of these birds with anything less powerful or more timid than itself. In a sheltered aviary a Cassique would probably be able to stand the winter : most Starlings are pretty hardy. A. G. BUTLER. MIGRATION INSTINCT IN CAGE BIRDS. SIR, — I send you a note on the migration instinct in case other members have noticed similar points. My male Blackcap, which is now two years old, began to sing at the beginning of January. Throughout February and half of March he was in fairly full song. He then began to slacken. About three weeks ago he practically stopped singing, and instead took to fluttering almost continuously by night. He then came gradually into song again, but still (20fch April) flutters slightly, and is not yet singing properly. Evidently following the change of diet which he would experience by migration, he will now eat mealworms readily, though before this season and throughout the winter he could hardly be induced to interest himself in one. 0. J. STONE. [I remember having a Blackcap years ago, which always fluttered by night during the spring migration, although I do not recall that the bird did so in the Autumn. EDITOR.] Noticks to Mkmbkrs — (Continued from page li. of cover.) NEW MEMBER. Monsieur Daniel BoueT, 27 Avenue de Suffren, Paris. , Proposed by Monsieur Le Comte de SeGUR. CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION. Mr. E. M. Dowson, United University Club, Suffolk Street, London. Proposed by Mr. Arthur Denman. Mr. A. ST. George SarGEAUnT, Padstow, Cornwall. Dr. V. G. L. Van SOMEREN, Nairobi, B. E. Africa. Proposed by Mr. Hubert D. Astley. ILLUSTRATION FUND. Miss Chawner £ s. 11 d. 0 Mr. Maurice Portal 10 6 Mr. H. M. Fisher-Rowe 10 0 Anonymous .11 0 MEMBERS’ PRIVATE SALE AND EXCHANGE COLUMN. The charge for private advertisements is sixpence for eighteen words or less, and one penny for every additional three words or less. Trade advertisements are not allowed in this column. Dealers who are members , wishing to adve ; tise, should apply to the Publisher for terms. Advertisements must reach the Editor on or before the 26th of the month. The Council reserve the right of refusing any advertisement they may consider undesirable. Pair of Conurus euops. Green with red splashes. Rare, £3 ; or exchange Blue Budgerigars, in part. Wintered outdoors, unheated aviary. H. D. ASTLEY, Brinsop Court, Hereford. WANTS. The charge for members' advertisements under this heading is four pence for twelve words or under, undone penny for every additional three words or less. Wanted Cock Nonpareil Bunting. Would purchase or give hen in exchange, B. Thomasset, Ashniansworth, Newbury. The Zoologist, The recognised Monthly Journal devoted to Zoological Subjects. Edited by FRANK FINN. Illustrated as subjects require. I/-, postage Id. Begun in 1843 by EDWARD NEWMAN. Contains original articles, by well-known Naturalists, on every branch of Zoology. Communications on Zoology for publication are welcomed from all readers. Subscriptions for the year, including postage to any part of the world, 12/- PUBLISHED BY Messrs. WEST, NEWMAN & CO., 54, Hatton Garden, London, E.C. TROWER & CO.. WHOLESALE SEED MERCHANTS and BIRD FOOD SPECIALISTS, 436,438 & 442, CALEDONIAN ROAD, LONDON, _ _ ___ N. EXTRA LARGE SPANISH CANARY SEED. CHOICE GERMAN SUMMER RAPE SEED Finest Selected Seeds for all kinds of Cage or Aviary Birds British, Foreign, and Canaries, As supplied by us to the leading Fanciers and Exhibitors at the Crystal Palace and other Shows. PRICE LIST. SAMPLES FREE. n CECTO ” *^ie frest Insectivorous Food on the Market, 1/- per lb _ postpaid 1/3. Ground Silk Worm Pupae, Mealworms, Ants’ Flggs, “EGBISCO,’ ’ the finest Egg and Biscuit F'ood . . I, . ,mm 3d, 6d, 1/- Dried Flies, etc vet made. ' and 2 /- Tins AYICULTURAL MAGAZ I N E . CONTENTS. Spring Bird-Notes from various Scottish Islands, Concluded , (. Illustrated ) by The DUCHESS OF BEDFORD ... 233 CONTENTS. Spring Bird-Notes from various Scottish Islands, Concluded, (. Illustrated ) by The DUCHESS OF BEDFORD ... 233 The Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds, by Dr. L. LOVEEL-KEAYS ... 236 Nesting of Jardine’s Pigmy Owl, by Miss E. F. CHAWNER ... 244 Are Birds Deceitful? by Dr. A. G. BUTLER ... ... ... 246 Notes on the Blue-wing Teal (Illustrated) , by M. PORTAL ... ... 249 The Bird Market of Caracas, by ALBERT PAM ... ... ... 251 Jottings on Common Indian Birds, (Concluded) , by AUBYN TREVOR-BATTYE ... 255 Obituary Lieut. ROWLAND E. NAYLOR ... ... ... ... 263 CORRESPONDENCE : — A Letter to the Editor from the late Lord Brabourne on Humming Birds ... 264 Lord Brabourne on Humming Birds ... 264 Third Series. The price of this JUNE, VoL. VI. No. 8. Number is 1/3- —1915. — NOTE —A new volume commences every November. AH Subscriptions should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. WEST. NEWMAN 4. Co.. 54, Hatton Garden, E.C AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Persons wishing to join the Avicui.turat, .Society are requested to communicate with either of the Hon. 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JStrb^Xore. A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Edited by Frank M. Chapman. EACH VOLUME CONTAINS— About 400 pages, with 12 full-page colored plates of our own birds, and many photographs from nature. Descriptions of experiences with living birds in their haunts, and help¬ ful articles on how to study birds. Migration tables, showing when birds may be expected at many places throughout the country. A list of prominent ornithologists who will help von in vonr study of birds. ' ' Bird Censuses by numerous observers. Reviews of books and of magazine articles relating to birds. Editorials on current questions in bird study. A School Department. An Audubon Society Department. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION .. 5/- D. APPLETON & Co., 25 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London. Pp. 142. Ci.oth, Demy Svo., Prtce 5/- net; Postage 4<1. PRACTICAL - BIRD-KEEPING. BEING REPRINTS FROM “THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE,” 1911-12. EDITED BY J L. BONHOTE, M.A., F.L.S., E.Z.S. 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PET ANIMALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. i Ludio Monkey; i Diana Monkey ; I Patas Monkey; I Chimpanzee ; i Red Baboon ; 25 Dogface Baboons; 3 Capuchin Monkeys; 1 Sacred Baboon ; 2 Mandrills ; 10 Rhesus Monkeys; 2 Black and White Lemurs ; 6 Brown Lemurs ; 1 Grey Lemur ; 2 Agoutis ; I Coati-Mundi ; 2 Australian Rat Kangaroos ; 12 Wallabies ; 20 Red Squirrels ; I African Civet ; 2 Leopards ; 2 Lions ; I pair and young Llama at foot ; 5 Indian Buffaloes ; I Spanish Jack Donkey ; 1 Hog Deer ; 1 Blackbuck ; 5 Bears ; 2 Dingos ; I Wolf ; 6 Emus; 4 Rheas ; 4 Cereopsis Geese ; 3 Blackueck Swans ; 2 Canada Geese ; to Egyptian Nile Geese ; 2 Snow Geese ; 2 Barhead Geese; 2 Crown Cranes ; 2 Sams Cranes ; 6 Demoiselle Cranes ; I Iceland falcon ; 6 little Owls ; 1 Burrowing Owl ; I horned Indian Fish Owl ; I Redbill 1 ree Duck ; 20 Sheldrakes ; 100 other ornamental Waterfowl ; 1 marvellous talking Grey Parrot ; 1 talking Amazon Parrot ; 1 talking Yellow-billed Pionus ; 2 Red and Blue Macaws ; 2 Cuban Con u res ; 100 Lavenderhead Lovebirds ; 3 Redfaced Lovebirds ; 10 Cockaleils ; 2 Adelaides Broadtails ; X Bauer’s Parrakeet ; 2 Gold-fronted Comires; 6 Canarywing Connies; x pair Little Macaws; 4 Lemon-crest Cockatoos; 2 Bare-eyed Cockatoos; 3 Red- collared Lorikeets; 1 Alexandrine Parrakeet; 2 Blue Red-legged Cuban Thrushes ; 1 Mexican Sorry Thrush ; White Java Sparrows ; Grey Java Sparrows ; Zebra Finches, etc. ; Zebra Doves ; African Turtle Doves ; F'antail Pigeons; Tumblers; Nuns; Ornamental Peafowl; Pheasants; Quail ; Crocodiles ; Alligators ; Lizards, etc. Wanted to Purchase, SURPLUS ACCLIMATISED SPECIMENS, BIRDS, REPTILES, OR ANIMALS c 1 CROSS 11 1 Otterspool House, Aigburth, Liverpool. Cables and Telegrams ; “ Cross, Liverpool.” National ’Phone : 260 Lark Lane, Liverpool. The Avicultural Magazine. THE 233 Avicultural Magazine, BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY. Third Series. — Vol. VI. — No. 8. — All rights reserved. JUNE, 1915. SPRING BIRD-NOTES FROM VARIOUS SCOTTISH ISLANDS. By The Duchess of Bedford. ( Concluded from page 208 ) . Leaving Stack, we steamed over to Bulgach Island, six miles south of Cape Wrath. Here the swell again prevented my landing, but gave me a very imposing view of the curious “ Bellows” Cave at the north end, which is a feature of the island. The north-west side of Bulgach is almost entirely occupied by Kittiwakes and a few Fulmars. On the south-west were great numbers of Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Guillemots, and some Shags. The visible population of these last was a little under one hundred, including young. The top of the island was covered with Puffins and Herring Gulls ; and three Cormorants, a few Greater Black- backed Gulls and Black Guillemots, were also observed on it. We rowed over to Stack Buachaille, which is well worth seeing, but only one or two of the ledges were occupied by birds, and these were Fulmars and Razorbills. All along the north coast of Sutherland, Fulmars are seen in small numbers. Whilst in this neighbourhood I saw a number of Black Fish, particularly between Loch Erriboll and North Rona. On the 20th June I visited the Smoo Cave, near Durness, and found both the Grey and Pied Wagtails breeding in it ; also Spotted Flycatchers. The caves and stacks on the east side of the entrance to Loch Erriboll are also well worth visiting, not on account of the birds, 234 The Duchess of Bedford, which are few in number, but for the great beauty of the caves themselves. The walls are a harmonious blending of colour — red, green, brown and yellow — and have been carved into a succession of pillars and arches by the Atlantic breakers, which too often render the caves unapproachable. No imaginary grotto of fairy legend could be more beautiful than these probably almost unknown ex¬ amples of Nature’s architecture. The same day I landed on Garve Island. “ The matrix, to quote Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown, “ is limestone, and every inch of it is studded with fossils.” The matrix had been “weathered out ” by wind and wave, and the small fossil shells stand out so sharply defided that one has to be careful how one clutches the rock on landing'. However, it provides a security of foothold for the some¬ what precipitous ascent to the top, which it has not been my luck to find on many of these sea-girt islands. A polished surface of rock, covered -with slippery seaweed, is the usual order of things ; and this, combined with the Atlantic swell, renders them as a rule sanctuaries for the birds but inaccessible to the naturalist. I had an unexpected find in the shape of a freshly dead mole on the island, brought there probably by the Gulls, as no mole could find a living in such a place. Seven Eider Ducks’ nests were found, one with five young in it ; but, generally, there were only one or two eggs, several of which were on the point of hatching, showing I think, that they are probably robbed by the Gulls. On the 21st June I landed for the fourth time on North Rona, not by any of the recognised landing-places, at all of which there was too much swell, but nearer the big cliff on the east side. By far the most abundant birds away from the cliffs are the Lesser Black-backed Gulls. They are nesting from one end of the island to the other ; and at this season of the year, when the ground is thickly covered with Thrift, make a most charming contrast with their pink and green carpet. There are comparatively few Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls. Though there were hundreds of Fulmars on the island, there were far fewer nesting in the ruined houses than usual. I attribute this to the fact that two gentlemen had put up a shelter in one of the houses and spent a few days there Spring Notes from various Scottish Islands. 235 about three weeks before my visit. Tame as the Fulmars are, as a rule, they probably resented this interference with their domestic arrangements and the fumes of tobacco, which must have been very necessary to anyone sharing a house with them. (I found the remains of a cigar !) I detected a Petrel in the ruined walls but was unable to get at it, but at this date it was probably the Fork¬ tailed Petrel. When lying on the grass, with Fulmars swooping all round and over me, I noticed one bird settle on an egg, between two slabs of rock at the top of the cliff, in what seemed to me rather an unusual site for a Fulmar’s nest. I watched her for some time, and then went to look at the egg. She resented my intrusion, and only rose when I could almost touch her with my stick. I then found that she was sitting on a Herring Gull’s egg ! There was no doubt about it, as the egg reeked of Fulmar. She returned to it as soon as I walked away. I saw a pair of Whimbrels on the high ground, but had not time to search for a nest. There were four colonies of Arctic Terns, and many Eider Ducks nesting ; and, in addition to the cliff -breeding birds, Wheat- ears and Starlings (nesting in the walls), Hooded Grows, Rock-pipits, and Oyster-catchers were seen. Amongst the Terns I noticed one in the rarely observed plumage of the year-old bird, i.e., with the white forehead and mottled crown of head. Leaving' Rona, I again visited Stack, but though the sea was very smooth, there was far more swell than at my last visit, and landing was out of the question. However, I steamed close round the skerry and took another careful survey of the number of Gannets, and was quite satisfied with my former estimate of 5000. One or two birds were still carrying seaweed to the island. I took the temperature of the water at 5 p.m. — 52° at 10 feet, and 51° at 60 feet ; and then steamed off towards the Pentland Firth. Immediately after leaving the island we came across a number of Great Shearwaters and a few Fork-tailed Petrels. The yacht’s engines were slowed down, and for two hours we were passing amongst the Shearwaters. It was difficult to estimate their numbers, 236 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays; for though the sea had an oily surface, there was a rather heavy swell, which hid the birds just as one detected them. Many of them were sitting amongst the Guillemots, and, unless the white throat was turned towards me, it was not easy to see them at a distance. Often, however, six or eight were in sight at one moment. As they skim over the water away from one, they look very dark but slightly slimmer Fulmars, with a dark band across the tail and conspicuous white upper tail-coverts. A side view reveals the white cheeks, which seem to extend almost as a collar behind the nape. At times we glided within thirty or forty yards of one sitting on the water, and in bright sunlight it is seen that they are a lighter brown than they appear on the wing. A great deal of white shows above the water on the sides, and of course the breast, throat, and chin are white. The Shearwater is rather a heavy and almost duck-like bird on the water, exclusive of the head, as the wings, which appear so long and pointed in flight, do not reach beyond the tail. THE WINTER TREATMENT OF FOREIGN BIRDS. By L. Lovell-Keays, F.Z.S., &c. The Chestnut buds were bursting. To me that meant good-bye to winter, but it is by no means a great sorrow, this parting. I regard the winter in the same light — or is it darkness ? — that I do the tax collector or the uninvited guest. Had I lived 2000 years ago I should undoubtedly have raised many and expensive altars to the god of winter in the hope of keeping him mild in temper and gentle of mien. But in the year 1914 I thought I, at any rate, would flatter the goddess of Fortune and defy in a tentative sort of way the god of winter. Had not Fortune delivered into my hands some 400 birds and some twelve or fifteen bird rooms and aviaries. Here, indeed, was an opportunity to tempt Fortune still further, and incidentally to justify the experts. For surely the experts ought to know ! Still it occurred to me I might link up my “ Weavers’ Aviary” with the hot-water system, and I had the heating arrangements of my Gouldian aviary and bird-rooms perfected. At the end of the on the Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds. 237 autumn I made up my mind I, at any rate, would not do one thing and that was to allow birds to go in and out of a warmed shelter at their own sweet will. It seemed to me that that was asking for trouble. But I must indulge in my incorrigible habit of digress¬ ing in order to bring my own line of thought in harmony with what I am going to write. Late last summer I was talking to our member Dr. Hopkinson, when I made the following trite and seemingly ingenuous remark. It was, “ Do you know, I believe birds live longer and are less liable to die in cages than in an aviary.” His reply was even more trite — “ I know they do,” was all he said. Ever since I became seriously interested in aviculture I have been struck by the number of times I have come across all sorts of birds kept in draughty cages, fed very unscientifically in a vitiated and over-heated atmosphere, and yet some of these birds have lived for long periods, often exceeding a decade. Then my mind shifted automatically to the better-class dealers who tend their birds carefully, such as Mr. John Erostick, and I found their mortality could not be so very [high, for month after month one saw the same birds advertised and birds that could not be duplicated. Then with kaleidoscopic change, one’s mind harked back to one’s own experiences, particularly with such bad livers as Pintail Parrot Finches and Fire-finches, and how even they lived so long as they were confined in a cage, but once outside the cage door they quickly joined the immortals. Dr. Hopkinson was particularly emphatic in his experience with Eire - finches, which coincided exactly with mine. All this was very unpleasant to think upon and created a feeling of evident avicultural indigestion. But facts are stubborn things, and although they may be ignored and passed over they insist upon rising up again and mocking you. In the 1913-14 winter I kept all my birds very carefully housed, and as regards the small birds in a heated bird-room. My losses were not heavy, and when at length the spring arrived I thought they had come to an end. But they had not, and all through the summer I had aggravating and disappointing losses. I was absolutely per¬ plexed. Here were birds acclimatized and established dropping off in mid-summer, late summer and early autumn. At length the winter of 1914-15 approached, and the question of dealing with 238 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays, one’s birds became a pressing and serious matter. Roughly speak¬ ing I divided my birds into three main families, viz. : — (1) Those that had access to a suitable shelter, but were not obliged to use it by day or by night unless they liked. (2) Those that were driven in by night and only allowed out on suitable days. (3) Those that were shut in, and, owing to the structure of the bird-rooms, never allowed out at all. Under heading No. 2 I could further sub-divide by adding (a) Those that had the advantage of heat, if and when necessary. ( b ) No heating under any circumstances. In section 3 heat was used whenever the thermometer stood below 40° Fahr. or appeared likely to fall below 40° Fahr. With 12-15 aviaries and some 400-450 birds it seemed one had a fairly good opportunity of testing the open-air-go-in-and-out- when-you-like theory. The results and deductions were very soon and very easily arrived at. The losses varied from 5 to 50 per cent. In some cases an entire species was wiped out. And it all happened just as the man in the street would have expected, viz., the greater the liberty the birds had the higher the mortality. I cannot truthfully say I have had a single surprise. I hope and think I have been absolutely honest with myself and carried on the experiment in a truly open- minded scientific spirit. But I think perhaps the most instructive experiment was with regard to an aviary in category No. 1, which I shall deal with later on. The birds there consisted of Grassfinches, Singing Finches, Mannikins, Waxbills, and a pair of Scaly-crowned Finches. Many of them were aviary-bred last season. I found it quite impossible to drive these birds in at night time, so let them take their chance. I am sure that not five per cent, used the shelter unless they were going to die, and then I have often noticed they do. With regard to this shelter question, how many shelters are used voluntarily by most birds? Parrakeets will use a shelter, but I have yet to find the birds that will use a shelter or the shelter that most birds will use. This evening (March 25th) the birds were left out a little late, and in one aviary where the birds had slept in the shelter for over five months, not six out of perhaps fifty were roost- on the Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds. 239 ing inside. And yet this is the best shelter I have, and the mortality has been almost unappreciable, about 10 per cent. In my largest aviary, containing another 50-60 birds, the average number of in¬ habitants of the shelter would for the six winter months be a fraction of one. And this is the whole root of the evil. Birds will not roost in the shelters. No blandishments, no coercion, will tempt them to use the shelters regularly.* I must, after sad and bitter experience, totally disagree with many thoughtful and accurate observers with regard to the hardiness of foreign birds ; at any rate, as regards the more freely imported species. It is easy to find instances where single birds or even pairs have braved a winter and come through safely, but isolated cases are no criterion and afford no facts of scientific value. It is only by comparison of identical cases under different circumstances but under the same conditions of locality and weather that we obtain data that one can argue upon. Let me illustrate my point. Dr. Hopkinson has been out in the Gambia many years and has survived with but few ills. Is one to argue from that that the other 400 odd members of the Avicultural Society could live in the Gambia with impunity. The fact is that Dr. Hopkinson (I hope he will forgive me for citing his name so much) is one of the fortunate ones, and the Colonial Office forget to mention those of its officers who have never returned. The moral is, of course, obvious. A bird lives, and gives us joy when we see it, and everything we have done to that bird and for that bird strikes us as being right. But if only aviculturists would remember Pollonius’ advice to his son : “ To thine own self be true, &c., &c.” and keep a record of their losses, I am sure their eyes would be opened, and the rosy tint with which they paint their avicultural experiences would give way to a mere utilitarian tint of man-o’-war grey. The extraordinary thing is that all aviculturists (or nearly all) deny in¬ dignantly that they have losses. They all (or nearly all) claim to breed innumerable birds, very few have birds to sell, — if we except Budgerigars, Silverbills, and such like — and yet their aviaries never get any fuller. It is strange, passing strange, and I understand it * n have electric light in the shelters, which is turned on all through the winter at dusk, and the birds go in to feed and remain there. The light is left on until about S p.m.— ED.] 240 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays; not. Personally I am still looking for the elixir of bird-life ; still seeking the key to the door of avicultural knowledge which will banish for ever my arch-enemy Death, the invidious and crafty one. But to return to our subject, the treatment of birds in winter. Does it appeal to one as reasonable that birds that bask in the sun¬ shine of North Africa, Brazil, India, or Australia, could thrive in the damp, inclement, misty, benighted climate of England? We are told that the reason Englishmen make such hardy colonists is because of our climate. If they can stand that they can stand anything. I will analyse very briefly and roughly my results. I may say that all have ample shelters except one Parrakeet aviary, in which there is an abundance of eaves to take the place of a proper shelter. Aviary I. Well-sheltered from N., E., and W. Open to S. and S.W. Birds consisting of Ruficauda Pinches, Long-tailed and Masked Grassfinches, Alario Pinches, Orange - cheeked Waxbills, Diamond Doves, Cordon Bleus, Pire Pinches, Indigo Buntings. Scaly Crowned Finches, Tri-coloured Parrot Pinches, Melba Pinch, Violet¬ eared Waxbills, Necklace Tanagers, Lavender Pinches, Green Ava- davats, and Red Avadavats, were allowed to go in and out at will. Heat is provided, but, up to the time of catching the birds up, not used. Result : Losses were three Long-tailed and two Masked Grass- finches, both Melba Pinches, both Scaly Crowned, two out of three Orange-cheeks, several Fire-finches (many aviary-bred), practically all the Cordon Bleus (most of them aviary-bred), one Tri-coloured Parrot Pinch, two Lavender Finches, twTo Green Avadavats, three Red Avadavats, one hen Violet-eared Waxbill, and two Necklace Tanagers, — these last early in the autumn. At the end of January, as I was picking up a bird nearly every day I caught up the rest, and since then I have not had a single death. Heat has been provided on several occasions since January. Aviary II. Aviary rather exposed, but great abundance of natural cover. Inclined to be damp. Birds included Waders, several Weavers, Green Cardinals, Java Sparrows, Paradise Whydahs, Yellow Sparrows, Cuban Pinches (12), Diamond Sparrows (a pair) Gorgetted Thrushes, and (to-day) a few British birds. Results : Cuban Finches entirely wiped out. Hen Green on the Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds. 241 Cardinal, one Diamond Sparrow and three or four Weavers died. It is only fair to say that, in my opinion, most Weavers will stand practically anything, and that the losses in Weavers was not due to cold or damp. Aviary III. The best protected aviary of the series. A regular sun-trap with a lofty brick-built shelter. An ideal aviary, except for the soil which is very sticky and badly drained. Birds don’t do very well here in consequence, I fancy. The shelter has been heated perhaps eight or ten times this winter, but the temper¬ ature never allowed to get above 45-50°. It is very easy to drive the birds in at night as there is a large entrance high up and in the corner to the shelter. The birds housed here were as follows ; — Two Golden-fronted Fruit-suckers, one pair Crested Cardinals and their young, one pair of Virginian Cardinals, one pair of Cuban Finches, half-a-dozen Weavers of sorts, eight or nine Zebra Finches, several Mexican Bose Finches, a pair of Jacarini Finches, Zebra Doves, Cape Doves, Orange-breasted, Pink-cheeked and Orange¬ cheeked Waxbills, three Pekin Bobins, three Green Singing Finches, a crowd of Magpie and Bronze-wing Mannikins and two cock Parson Finches. Mention must be made of a very fine Silver-blue Tanag'er and a mongrel or two, which some people glorify by the name of “ Hybrids.” Truly a heterogeneous miscellany. These birds were only let out on fine days and always shut up at night. The Jacarini Finches were particularly expert at avoiding detection, and so were the Bronze-wing Mannikins, Orange-breasted and Pink-cheeked Waxbills. But, practically speaking, the Jacarinis alone were really successful in playing truant to any extent. My losses here were peculiar. They were the hen Jacarini, one each of Pink-cheeked, Orange-cheeked and Orange-breasted Waxbills, a Bronze- winged Mannikin, and a couple of Zebra Finches which would nest in mid-winter ; also the hen Cape and Zebra Doves and one Crested Cardinal. I do not think either the Zebra Finches, Crested Cardinal or two Doves were the result of the winter. I consider in this aviary the losses in most cases were due probably to old age ; but the peculiar fact remains that a loss was recorded in all the species that “played truant” and would not go in. It is only right to say that my “ aviary-boy ” is un- 242 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays, doubtedly a “ thick-head,” and after a day’s work I have come home and found the birds out long after it had turned bitterly cold. Still the losses here, considering' the species, were only normal, I think, when one considers my birds are not — like some people’s — immortal. Aviary IY. Another excellent aviary ; well sheltered, well drained, and very sunny. The shelter is as well-lighted as a green¬ house, wooden-built on brick foundations. In many respects almost superior to Aviary III., but, owing to the amount of glass in the shelter, heat is required to maintain anything approaching a com¬ fortable temperature throughout the winter. The birds here are, many of them, delicate, and include Tire Finches, Cordon Bleus, Gouldians, Green Avadavats, Red Avadavats, Lavender Finches, Grey, Zebra, and Orange-cheeked Waxbills, Alario Finches, Zebra Finches, and an odd bird or two. Early in the winter I lost two out of eight Gouldians, just at the time I began to shut up the birds at night, also a hen Aurora Finch, who was a “Blower.” These and a couple of Waxbills (Grey and Orange-breasted) made up the total of my losses here. I need hardly say that the birds were allowed to fly in and out during really fine weather, but we were more particular than we were with Aviary No. III. Aviary No. Y. A completely shut-in winter aviary, contain¬ ing Sugar Birds (3), Yiolet Tanagers (2), Parrot Finches (4), Zos- terops (2), Blue-breasted Waxbills (2), Flooded Siskins (4), Yiolet- eared Waxbills (2), Black-cheeked Waxbills (3), Rainbow and Non¬ pareil Buntings (l each), Chinese Painted Quail (2), Columbian Siskin (2), Dufresnes and Sydney Waxbills (1 each), and Zos- terops (2). I can truthfully say that the only bird that died that was healthy when put into the aviary was a cock Hooded Siskin. It was the bird that attracted so much attention at the L.C.B.A. Show7 at Westminster. It never seemed fit after the Show, and I had knocked off Inga seed, being assured it was bad for birds. I lost other birds in this aviary, but then birds were caught up in other aviaries and put into this one because they were ill. However, I will mention the losses, although they occurred within a day or two of being put into this aviary. They were a Blue-breasted Waxbill with deformed mandible, a cock Violet Tanager with an abscess on on the Winter Treatment of Foreign Birds. 243 the foot, a cock Nonpareil Bunting which had been taken from another aviary in a nearly dead condition. It picked up wonderfully, but died quite suddenly and unexpectedly about three weeks after¬ wards. Several birds have been temporarily housed there and been completely restored to health. Eventually they have been returned to their respective aviaries. It would be ridiculous to include one or two birds that were brought into this aviary in a moribund condition and died within twelve hours. At the same time it would not be conducive to main¬ taining the standard of health among its proper inmates. I have taken just typical cases among the small birds, and of course omitted several aviaries for one reason or the other, but certainly not because they in any way either prove or disprove my contentions. I will just say a word about parrakeets. I possess a good number, consisting of Bed-faced, Peach-faced and Black-cheeked Love-birds ; several species of Platycercus ; one species (4 specimens) of Psephotus ; several examples of Conures, Pa.lceornis and Brotogerys, and the usual bevy of Budgerigars and Cockatiels. My large Parra- keet Aviaries are easily classed for the purposes of this paper, as in one there is a very small shelter but plenty of eaves. In this aviary it would be absolutely impossible to drive the birds in as the small shelter has no door nor could it contain half the birds. The other aviary has a good shelter, can be warmed if neces¬ sary, and the birds are shut in at nights and on very bad days. In rhe first aviary were Bed Bosellas, Passerine Parrakeets (Blue- winged Lovebirds), Bedrumps, Black-cheeked Lovebirds, All- Green, Tovi and Indian Bing-necked Parrakeets, Cactus and Half¬ moon Conures. Both Bedrumps, both Passerine, the All-Green and Tovi Parrakeets died. In the other aviary there are Bed-faced Lovebirds (in a slip), All-Green (six), Canary-wing and Orange-flanked Parrakeets (in a slip), Pennant’s (two), Mealy Bosella (one), Banded and Malabar and Plumhead (three), Parrakeets, Peach-faced Lovebirds, Speckled Conures and Passerine Parrakeets. There have been no losses here this winter at all. 244 Miss E. E. Chawner, I fear I have very greatly exceeded the limits of space that ought to be allowed to any one contributor, and yet I feel my ex¬ periments and observations are so interesting, and possibly, being all conducted at one and the same time and place, of some value to aviculture. I will summarize the results of my observations. They are as follows : — 1. Foreign birds if left to their own devices will not use a shelter. 2. If not properly sheltered during the winter losses among birds are very heavy. 3. If made to use a proper shelter during the night and bad days one’s losses are greatly lessened. 4. Heat is unnecessary for the majority of foreign birds, but is undoubtedly an advantage especially in severe weather. 5. The heat if used should be moderate, not allowed to exceed 50° Fahr., and be kept as uniform as possible. 6. Excessive window area leads to excessive loss of heat. 7. Losses can never be entirely eliminated in any bird-family of any size, notwithstanding any theories of treatment to the contrary. 8. The average loss among small birds is probably at least 10 per cent. ; among parrakeets very much less. Under good con¬ ditions of course. Once more I apologise for taking up so much valuable space, but, Mr. Editor, it was you who tempted me. At any rate, I shall expect one cure to my credit. NESTING OF JARDINE’S PIGMY OWL. By Miss E. F. Chawner. Early in the summer of last year, the Editor of the Avicitl- tural Magazine wrote to me offering for sale a true pair of the rare South American Jardine’s Pigmy Owl ( Glaucidium jardinii). Needless to say I secured them at once. These tiny Owls are my especial weakness, and I had never even seen this species, much less owned a pair. They arrived in perfect condition, and from that day to this have enjoyed excellent on the Nesting of Jardine’s Pigmy Oivl. 245 health and the best of appetites. Their size is about that of the Sparrow Owl, but they are taller and slimmer and less “round about.” Their colouring is brighter, rufous-brown on the back and white streaked with chestnut in front. The sexes are alike. They twitch their tails from side to side when excited and are extremely quick and active in their movements. My pair is remarkably silent ; in fact, I have never heard them utter any sound whatever. They are not particular as to diet and eat sparrows, kittens, young rabbits, and mice, indiscriminately, though they certainly prefer the last named. About the middle of March I hung up a nesting-box for them and furnished it with a layer of rotten wood ; they soon took to it and spent much time going in and out of it. By the 12th of April the hen retired to a corner of the box and settled down to incubate her clutch of three eggs. They are of the usual type, round and white, rather large for the size of the bird. She sat very closely and her mate guarded her with great devotion, flying fiercely at intruders and doing all he could to drive them away. On May 8th the first egg shells were thrown out and a young bird could be heard twittering. Both parents remained in the nest- box, the cock only leaving to fetch up provisions. Another nestling appeared on the 9th and the third on the 11th. They are tiny creatures, covered with snowy white down, and unlike their parents are very vociferous. The first few days of their existence they are continually brooded by their mother, but after¬ wards can plainly be seen squatting beside her in the box. How they manage to retain their whiteness is a puzzle, for all food is carried up by the cock and lies about on the floor until consumed. Mice and kittens are accepted as suitable food for the babies, but I am rather surprised to find that small chickens and even a young Thrush, which a Rook had killed and which I thought would be just the thing, are consistently refused. Sparrows are readily accepted. The Owlets grow rapidly and are active ; they appear to be thriving and I hope presently to report that they have been success¬ fully reared. * * [Miss Chawner is to be congratulated. This is undoubtedly the first time that Jardine’s Glaucidium has been bred in England. — ED. 246 Dr. A. G. Butler, ARE BIRDS DECEITFUL? By Dr. A. G. Butler. The answer to this question is, I think, that they are so when they have an object in view ; but not otherwise. Thus we know from many recorded and well authenticated instances, as well as from personal experience when we have tramped the country with our eyes open, that many birds will pretend to be crippled if one approaches their nests or young, or will dive into bushes or shrubs at some distance from the nest (passing quietly out on the other side) in order to deceive one as to its location. In like manner a malicious or predacious bird will sit sleepily upon a branch until some weak and unsuspecting species settles within its reach when it will suddenly pounce upon it. As I have elsewhere recorded, I had several unpleasant proofs of this in the case of a Rose-headed Parrakeet which successively killed a Whin- chat, Stonechat, and Skylark in this sly manner : in the case of the last-mentioned the parrakeet may have been scandalized to see a Skylark sitting on a branch, though I have frequently seen another example which I kept in a different aviary sitting on a branch in the daytime: at night it always roosted on the earth. When, however, it is confidently asserted that birds deliber¬ ately disguise their nests with lichen, moss, bits of paper, &c., in order to render them inconspicuous, I am satisfied that those who make such assertions cannot have had much experience in searching for nests. It is quite true that such materials attached to the outside walls of nests do render them frequently less conspicuous than they would be otherwise, but they are not utilized by the builders with the object of deceiving, but because they are readily obtainable and perhaps appeal to the bird’s aesthetic taste. Nothing could be more conspicuous than the nest of a Long¬ tailed Tit or a Chaffinch covered with whitish lichen and stuck in the outside twigs of a roadside hedge : such nests are irresistible temptations to the mischievous ck^lhopper and are pretty certain to be torn out and pulled to pieces ; yet no end of fairy-tales have been told of the ingenuity of these and other birds in disguising their nests by such adornments. I believe one eager exponent of the well- known fact of protective assimilation mentioned having seen a are Birds Deceitful ? 247 Chaffinch nest in a flowering fruit-tree which was clotted over with pieces of white paper in order to make it look like a cluster of blossom : unfortunately the genuine bloom would soon fade and drop away rendering the supposed disguise utterly futile. Of course many birds do try to hide their nests, and I even on one occasion had that of the Skylark pointed out to me concealed by a piece of tangled water- weed loosely attached to one side, so that it fell over the eggs and hid them from sight when the mother was from home : the presence of this water- weed at some distance from a dyke caused me to stoop and examine it closely and thus I discovered the eggs : whether this was a wilful attempt to deceive on the part of the bird may be open to question. As a rule, when a bird is anxious to conceal its nest, it places it in thick scrub, in dense undergrowth, among ivy or other close¬ growing creepers, or in a hole in a tree, bank, or wall ; it does not artistically examine the surroundings and attempt to imitate them accurately. A Wren may decide to build its nest in a mass of moss overhanging a bank, and naturally uses the available material (which it has pulled out from the centre) in covering the outside of the nest ; or if it builds in a mass of fallen and dead leaves in the midst of a bramble, it also uses the materials which are at hand ; but although this renders the nest inconspicuous, I do not for a moment believe that the little architect is aware of the fact. Many insects invariably settle for rest upon objects which best conceal them and are so well hidden that it requires either an entomologist or a hungry bird to discover them ; but it need not therefore be assumed that everything which is difficult to distinguish from its surroundings must necessarily be designed for concealment. It must also be remembered that man is not the only animal against which birds would desire to protect themselves ; and when one considers that, in the case of birds which build open nests above the ground, the eggs are usually more or less conspicuously coloured, the advantage gained by a deceptive nest is greatly reduced. Perhaps this is why natural selection has not made the artificial con¬ cealment of nests by external ornamentation a rule : the advantage gained is so uncertain that the necessity for it has not been impressed upon the minds of birds and therefore has not become instinctive. 248 Are Birds Deceitful ? Eggs deposited in nests on or in the ground, or among pebbles or ground litter, are usually mimetic in colouring and extremely difficult to distinguish from their surroundings ; but unhappily they are more liable than those built higher up to destruction by stoats and other ground-frequenting vermin. It is extraordinaay how men who become obsessed with a theory will try to strain every known fact into its service. The fact that the egg of our common Cuckoo not infrequently resembles the eggs of its foster-mother is assumed to be with the object of deceiving her ; but when we know that by far the greater number of Cuckoo’s eggs in no wise resemble the eggs among which they are deposited, this notion at once disproves itself. Nobody really knows why some Cuckoo’s eggs are such admirable copies of those with which they are placed, but it has been suggested that if a Cuckoo is reared by a Hedge-Sparrow or any other bird, she will probably lay in the nest of that bird, and that similar feeding for many successive generations may affect the colouring of the eggs. I don’t know ; and that is about as far as most of us will ever get in explaining many of Nature’s secrets : and if the truth is ever revealed, we shall discover that many of the explanations suggested are miles away from it. Doubtless many of our members have observed, as I fre¬ quently have done, that, after a flight many birds did not return in a straight line to their nests : a Blackbird or Thrush, if its home is situated in ivy or thick scrub on one side of a wall or fence, usually flies straight over in a straight line past its nest, and at a little distance beyond it and then turns and slips quietly back under cover. A Lark descending from an aerial flight alights on the ground at a fair distance from its nest and wanders, apparently in an aimless fashion, among the herbage with many turns and twists, but always approaching more closely to its objective until within about a foot of it, and then attains it at a run : doubtless the object is to deceive the watcher ; but probably this habit has become instinctive and the deception is unconscious, just as dogs descended from a wolf stock approach their masters in a wide half circle, as Darwin points out and as I have repeatedly noticed : the original purpose pre¬ sumably was to avoid a frontal attack from an adversary. The Avicultural Magazine. Blue Winged Teal. (Querquedu la cl i scorn.) Chilian Teal. [Nettium flavirostre.) Photos by Maurice Portal. Notes on the Blue-wing Teal. 249 NOTES ON THE BLUE-WING TEAL. ( Querquedula discors.) By M. Portal. According to Sandford, in his book “ The Waterfowl Family,” this Teal has a very wide range for breeding, extending from Maine to B. Columbia, probably Texas, Mexico, and north to Labrador. He reports it as rare on the Pacific Coast. Although the breeding range is considerable, he remarks that the birds are in no way partial to cold weather and “ hurry along at the first frosts.” It breeds most abundantly on the Northern Prairies of U.S.A. and in Manitoba. This being the case, it seems to be a great pity we cannot get more hand-reared birds in England, as without doubt the Blue-wing is one of the nicest of all the Teals and gets very tame. With reference to frost, I notice that it does not mind it, as long as it has shelter from the wind. My pond — which is quite one of the worst imaginable for any waterfowl — stands 570 feet up, and in Northumberland, which is not famed for warmth or mild winters. I have had Blue-wing Teal here now for three years, having been given a pair by a kind friend as a start and reputed “ hand-reared,” and they nest each year, but so far malignant fate always spoils the nest before I lift the eggs, usually a rat has been the culprit, but once my foot was : as I trod on it. The nest is always well hidden and in and under a tuft of grass, and the female covers it up most carefully when she leaves it. To me it is always a source of uncertainty when to lift a nest found with five or six eggs in. You knoiv she will lay probably nine or ten before she begins to sit, and you hope the odd dozen vermin traps you have got set about the pond will catch any rat before he finds her nest — and being naturally anxious for a full clutch you chance it — and fail. So far I have only reared one young one from a dropped egg, and he got hurt by the hen at three weeks and pined. Up to that time there was little difference in it from common Teal, and, until hurt, fed well on ordinary duck meal, egg, duck weed and bread crumbs. Personally, I think that to be really successful with Teal, 250 Notes on the Blue-wing Teal. one should have a pond for Teal and Teal alone, and on it I would have 1 Blue- wing Teal, 2 Cinnamon Teal, 3 Bing-necked Teal, 4 Common Teal, 5 Versicolor Teal, 6 American Green-wing Teal, 7 Chili Teal and Cotton Teal if you can get them. I would exclude without doubt any of the larger variety of Teal, such as Brazil Teal who are nasty cross birds in breeding time. I am certain that the mixture of large surface feeding ducks and small ones is a mistake at nesting-time, and only tends to upset the peace of the pond (unless very large) and reduces the breeding chances. I have included Chili Teal in my list of nice Teal, but at the same time they are the worst tempered of all the Teal in spring time ; however, they are small birds. The plumage of female Blue-wing is dull always and is very similar to the Cinnamon female. The male, on the other hand, when he is in full plumage, is one of the most lovely of all the Teal who have an eclipse plumage. In full Spring dress his head is a sort of “ plumbaceous ” grey : a good broad white crescent in front of eyes ; breast and flanks speckled reddish buff, a sort of pink-red colour ; pale blue wing-coverts ; back darkish-brown, a very white patch on each side of tail ; the bill is lead black, and feet and legs a yellowish colour. In courting, the male raises his head up and down, at much the same angle as a Shoveller, and gives a sort of tliree-note call, but only when swimming with or near the female, who responds by a bob of the head or a hoarse croak. About the middle of June, the male starts to go into a complete moult of plumage, and it comes on very fast. Quoting from notes made in 1913 : — On June 16. — Still full plumage. „ 20. — Started on flanks and by white tail spots. J} 26. — Fast change on flanks and breast. n 29. — White tail patch now half brown and large brown mottled feathers in flanks and the usual white crescent on head now dusky white ; sides of head now dull brown ; black under tail now brown colour. On July 4. — Change complete ; hard to distinguish male from female at first sight. No call. The Avicultural Magazine. A Pair of British Shelduck. ( Tadoma tndorna.) Photos by Oxiey Grabham. Artificial Burrow for Shelduck’s Nest. The Bird Market of Caracas. 251 I find all Teal are fond of unhusked rice — known in the trade as “ Paddy Bice” I believe — and they thrive on it with some wheat and a little barley. They are also fond of worms, machine- minced rabbit [raw] , soaked dog biscuit or Spratt’s “ Crissell,” but fondest of all of water-cress and water-weed, pulled out by the roots from a ditch with all the insects in it and put in shallow end of pond in early Spring. Later in May-June you can skim duck-weed off some pond and throw it on, the more the better ; or, failing duck- weed, then young lettuce thinnings. In the winter, old Brussel Sprout plants, tied on the edge of pond so that they are an inch in water, are esteemed. Personally I feel convinced that if anyone kept these Teal in the West of England, where Spring is early and therefore more grass and nesting covert in April, they would be certain to breed freely, as would the other rarer Teal. In conclusion, if you write to a dealer abroad for Blue-wing Teal you get Cinnamon Teal sent at once, unless you quote the Latin name and add American Blue- wing Teal; also sometimes a Blue-wing x Cinnamon is sent by mistake. THE BIRD MARKET OF CARACAS. By Albert Pam. Bight in the centre of the City of Caracas is situated the 41 Mercado ” (market), where every morning all the cooks of the town meet to purchase provisions of every kind, and almost more important, to chat and discuss the latest scandal ; Martinique negresses, as black as soot, with gaily coloured turbans, and native women of every gradation of complexion to pure white. Adjoining the market is an open space of about 100 square yards, surrounded by palms and tropical trees and paved with patterned tiles. On weekdays this space is deserted, but on Sundays and Beast Days (of which there are many in the Venezuelan calendar) it is trans¬ formed into the “ bird ” market. Then the paving is covered by men and boys of all ages, squatting next to a cage — men from all 252 Mr. Albert Pam, parts of the country — pure Indians, negroes, mulattos and whites, each with a bird or birds to sell. There are birds of all sizes and all colours, from Humming Birds to birds of prey, from Canaries to Parrots and Curassows. It is a mystery who buys or wants to buy any of this assortment, as it always seemed that, apart from Canaries — for which there appears to be a ready market — my brother and I were the only purchasers. Most of the sellers were “peons,” i.e., labourers, who had come to spend the Sunday or “fiesta ” in Caracas, and had brought birds, caught during the week, to sell and thus help to pay expenses. But there are two regular bird dealers, an Italian and a native half-caste ; the former specializes in Canaries : the latter deals in anything he can pick up. The birds are brought into the market in small wicker cages, some of which are so full that the birds can hardly move ; but Parrots mostly stroll about, sometimes attached to a stick by one leg, sometimes on the seller’s shoulder, and sometimes quite loose, and it is a usual thing for one to escape or climb up a tree unobserved— a great deal of shouting, stone-throwing, and the use of long canes is necessary before the truant is recaptured. Sometimes a small Pinch or Tanager, locally worth perhaps a farthing, escapes from a cage, and then all the small half-naked urchins of the neighbourhood flock round and shout while the owner tries to approach the bird with a long stick covered at the point with bird lime. Also loose, and tied to a tree stump by a string round one leg, can be seen Guans, Curassows, Sun Bitterns, Screamers, Ducks, and on rare occasions an Orinoco Goose. The sellers, cages and loose birds absolutely cover the ground, and it is with the greatest difficulty that a visitor can pick his way through on a busy day without the fear of treading on something. The assortment in each cage is as varied as the whole collection, Humming Birds with Pinches, Doves, Thrushes and Tanagers, all mixed up regardless of size— but as most of the birds are freshly caught, they are too wild to trouble about doing each other any harm. But the natives have found* that Hang-nests are dangerous neighbours, and mostly keep these in cages by themselves. Most, if not all, cages are provided with food and water for the birds, seed for the Pinches and bananas for the others ; on the Bird Market of Caracas. 253 Humming Birds are given a solution of “papelon” (molasses sugar), on which they appear to be able to subsist for several days. The natives are kind to their animals in a general way, and although the condition of the cages would shock some Members of the Avicultural Society, the birds are really considered as far as the limited intellect of the uneducated peon allows ; the cages are covered with banana leaves in the hot sun or transferred to a shady spot, and the birds are never left without food and water for any length of time. The Venezuelan's only requirement of a cage bird is that it should sing — sing loudly and constantly all day long ; they never understand why anyone should buy a bird that does not sing. Their first recommendation of any bird they offered us for sale was “ it sings very well,” regardless of the species. They have told us this of Turkey Buzzards, Guans and birds of prey, thinking that this would induce us to buy, and on our expressing any doubt as to the sweetness of the song, affirmed loudly that in a few days when the bird had settled down, we should be able to judge that they were truthful ! The individual value of the birds would be considered low by our Members — and after we had bought experience rather dearly, we got to know the real market value of most kinds. Most Tanagers and Finches can be bought for 1 franc, or less, the rarer kinds cost 2 to 5 francs, Hang-nests about 2 to 3 francs, unless very tame, when the price is up to 10 francs, all Thrushes about 2 francs, Guans 3 to 4 francs, Humming Birds from 1 to 2 francs, and larger birds up to 10 francs. But the price depends on the supply and season of the year, and as to whether one is prepared to buy a whole cage-full rather than pick and choose the birds one really wTants. This latter system is by far the cheapest, but one is apt to acquire more birds than one can do with, and thus easily become overstocked. On the other hand, if one picked out a specially rare bird out of a cage containing 20 others, the price for the one would probably be higher than that of all, as the Venezuelan peon is a very shrewd business man, and would always charge very highly for any bird he thought we wanted badly. Many a happy hour have I spent in the Bird Market, some¬ times finding nothing of special interest, sometimes buying a dozen 254 The Bird Market of Caracas. or twenty birds ; the cages containing these had then to be sent up to my house, and I would like to mention in regard to this, the absolute honesty of the Venezuelan peon, boy or man. We simply handed the cages containing valuable birds to any boy or man standing about, told him where to take them, and did not trouble further until he arrived at the house with the birds. These peons, although very poor and quite uneducated, do not know what dishonesty is, and can be trusted with anything valuable — gold, silver, coins, no matter what ; they never fail to account for whatever has been entrusted to them, and I think that this delightful feature in their character is one that calls for special notice, as it is quite unique and contrary to what is generally supposed to be the case by people who do not know Venezuela. Caracas lies 3,000 feet above sea level in a wide, fertile and sub-tropical valley, and is only about 6 miles from the coast as the crow flies. The valley is surrounded by hills beyond which are other valleys, some hotter, some cooler, and within comparatively short distances from the Capital are hot, low-lying plains, while the higher elevations have a temperate climate, with very cold nights. It is thus clear that the variety of birds from the immediate neighbour¬ hood of Caracas is very great, and although I know South America from North to South and from East to West, no place that I know of is a better centre for a bird collector than the Capital of Venezuela. It will be some indication of this when I say that my brother and I have brought home to the Zoological Society in only 7 shipments altogether 130 species of birds, and if those that died on the way home, or the rarer ones which died before they were sent off, and those that we saw wild but could not catch and were not offered in the market — were added, the numbers would be enormously increased. Sometimes birds had to be kept by us for 6 months or more out there, before they could be taken home, and it is unavoid¬ able that many should die during this time. The commbn ones could always be replaced, but the rare birds seldom came into the market, and when one died, its loss was serious. It would be of little interest to give a complete list of the birds we collected and sent home from Caracas, but the following will give some idea of the variety of those which arrived. The Jottings on common Indian Birds. 255 names are made out without regard to the correct sequence or affinity of species, and are only meant to show Aviculturists what lies in store for them if they ever venture on a journey to what I consider the richest and most beautiful country in South America : — Birds of prey, 8 ; Cardinals, 2 ; Curassows, 3 ; Ducks, 3 ; Finches and Sparrows, 17 ; Grosbaeks, 2 ; Goose, l ; Guans, 2 ; Herons, 4 ; Hang-nests, 9 ; Humming Birds, 8 ; Jays, 3 ; Owls, 2 ; Parrots, etc., 5 ; Pigeons and Doves, 8 ; Saltator. 2 ; Sugar Birds, 3 ; Sun Bittern, 1 ; sundries, 3 : Siskins, 3 ; Tanagers, 21 ; Thrushes, 4 ; Toucans, 4 ; Vultures, 4 ; Waders, 6 ; Woodpeckers, 2. JOTTINGS ON COMMON INDIAN BIRDS. By Aubyn Trevor-Battye. (Concluded from page 218). Those who have seen Mr. Stuart Baker’s book will see how many and varied are the Pigeons and Doves of India; but easy as we find it to identify all our birds of this Order on the wing, it is a very different matter when it is a case of birds with which one is not familiar, and both Pigeons and Doves are far more often noticed when flying than when at rest. I think the Green Pigeon seen so often in Ceylon, when it will fly in front of a motor car, often settling and then rising again as the car gets nearer, is the Southern Green Pigeon (Crocopus chlorog aster), and the one that behaved in exactly the same way in front of my pony in Sikham may perhaps have been the Bengal Green Pigeon ( C . plncenicopterus) , though Sikhim seems rather high for its range as given by Blanford. The Indian Blue Eock-Pigeon (Columba intermedia ) was to be seen in every place visited in India proper. In Eajputana it really swarms and no one ever touches it ; one sees it in the towns and in great flocks close to the fields. A delightful and confiding bird in gardens and generally about towns and villages is the Little Brown Dove ( Turtur cambay ensis). A neighbour of mine has a Peacock (I, too, would have one also, or several, if they would leave my flowers alone) and his voice comes over the hanger, across the meadow land, and up to our hill. 256 Mr. Aubyn Trevok-Battye I like to hear it as I sit in my study writing, and it brings back memories of a beautiful old walled and moated Kentish garden where they kept thirty-nine. (There was wire netting round the beds.) It seemed strange to hear that familiar call in the jungle of Nepal, and it required little effort of the fancy to be back in my chair at home, or in that sleepy ancient garden with the sun upon the hollyhocks and the lizards darting into the crannies of the walls. The Peacock is the national emblem of Nepal. But to see Peacocks in their numbers you must go into Rajputana, for the bird is sacred there. There are flocks of them about the fields as one passes in the train. Jungle Fowl ought to be domestic, sometimes they pretend to be. I remember passing very early one morning through a sleeping Sinhalese village, and as I passed the outskirts poultry were searching a heap of straw dropped in the middle of the road. They were a mixed lot, and I did not pay much attention to them ; one or two looked like “ Indian Game.” But as I came up three ran off and on reach¬ ing the ditch at the roadside spread their wings and flew into the jungle. They were the Ceylon Jungle-Fowl ( G alius lafayettii), only found in Ceylon. The other fowls went on with their scratching. One is constantly seeing Jungle-Fowl in Ceylon, and a cock, when the sun shines on him, is a beautiful sight in his gold and red. These birds are shy rather than wild, and if you follow them into the jungle, though they usually run, will sometimes fly up on to a branch and look at you. I saw very little of Jungle-Fowl in India. There are two, the Red Jungle-Fowl ( Gallus ferrugineus) and Sonnerat’s Jungle-Fowl (G. sonnerati ). (We have them in the Zoo, but not, I think, the Sinhalese bird). I only saw the former and I saw them, I think, but three times. One day I was walking up the road from Khalsi to Chakrata and came to a corner where the road turned sharply to the right. On that hand was the wall and the descent, while on the left hand was the steep rocky jungle. Just at this point a hollow sloped down to the road. As I turned the corner I came right upon two Jungle-Fowl and two Cheer Pheasants who were busily engaged in hollowing out some root like a mangold wurzel, fallen from a cart in the road. They fled up the hollow and dis¬ persed, the Jungle Fowl running' with wings open, the Pheasants Jottings on common Indian Birds. 257 running at first and then skimming into the scrub. The Cheer Pheasant ( Gatreus wallichi) is found chiefly in the high mountains (6,000 to 7,000 ft., Blanford) so this was rather low for them. A little further on the same day a Cheer Pheasant cock ran along the road by the cart in which I was seated and made several attempts to fly up the wall and into the scrub before it succeeded in doing so. I do not recollect seeing any other kind of Pheasants wild ; but the Maharaja of Nepal has in his aviaries at Khatmandu a fine lot of Monal and Kalij Pheasants and Tragopans. The Kalij are of the black-crested Nepal species (Gennceus leucomelanus). Though one does not often see the Chukor (Caccabis chukor), excepting in cages, one often hears them calling in the evening. When shooting in the early morning in the Nepal Terai my elephant put up not infrequently a Common Francolin which would fly a little way and then drop into the bush, but however carefully I marked down the bird I never got it to rise a second time. It was just the right sort of country for them — short scrub, grasses and small streams ; we never saw them in the tree jungle. The Moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus ) and the Coot ( Fulica atra ) were both seen. I saw neither the Common Crane ( Grus grus ) nor the Demoiselle ( Anthropoides Virgo ) on the ground, but an immense number of the latter were seen one day circling round in the air, and a V seen very high up in the air near Chakrata was probably composed of the former. I saw a good deal of the Sarus Crane ( Grus antigone ), and it was always a joy to me. I remember particularly a certain evening in January when lying up for Geese. It was in Rajputana, and a fuller account of the jhil will be given when we come to the Geese. The Cranes kept coming in in pairs. They came from all directions ; some from behind one where the sky was relatively dull, and against it they looked white, some out of the coloured sky in front, when they looked quite dark. Some came in quite low, those that came in from greater distances were high up, but circled round getting lower and lower until they set their wings and skimmed down on a gradual slant, and throwing forward their long legs lit in the shallow water or upon the mud. They were quite unsuspicious ; I was hidden, but very imperfectly hidden, behind two barley sheaves 258 Mr. Aubyn Trevor-Battye stuck up on end. A pair but a few yards in front of me must have seen me — for their eyes are sharp enough — but they only looked up now and then, occupying themselves in splashing and in moving their bills about in the water. I do not remember counting the number of Cranes at that jhil, there were doubtless many more in the distance that I could not see, but perhaps there were ten pairs within sight at once. They were all quiet for quite a long time. Then one of my pair suddenly opened its wings and lowering its head made a feint at its partner. Then it began dancing about her, and the other Cranes in different places began doing the same thing. About a hundred yards away on my left there was a wide open space among the reeds. One of the distant pairs got up and flew to this spot. Then mine left, and then other pairs. They went off to this playing ground and there they all went mad. I was not near enough to see the details of the performance, from where I was sitting it was all a confusion of waving wings and most extraordinary noises. Few birds are more beautiful than the Ja§anas. There are two, the Bronze- winged Ja