3°o 



another species which I could not identify. The Guans are Gallinaceous birds: habitat 

 South America. They remind one somewhat of the Curassows, but lack the striking plum- 

 age and conspicuous crests of the latter : they are also much smaller, the Ked-tailed being 

 about the size of a Hen Pheasant. The Zoological Society have possessed various Guans 

 for a long series of years, but I believe they have never shown any disposition to breed. 



W. E. T. 



At Mr. Hamlyn's I recently saw some of the Indian consignment, alluded to in out- 

 last issue, including a Concave-casqued Hornbill — a fine specimen but minus a tail — 

 several Dhyals and a Wandering Tree- Pie. 



I also noticed a nice consignment of about a score of Superb Tanagers and a Hang- 

 nest which was new to me. The identification of Hangnests is however the most difficult 

 of problems. There are so many species, so closely related and differiug so markedly in 

 their immature from their adult plumage. For instance, I once had a pair of Cassicns 

 affinis, but, before I could identify them, I had to look up particulars of no less than five 

 species all of which were black with a ciimsou rump. W. K. T. 



We must not overlook the importation of Agapomis nigrigenis which has caused so 

 much comment among aviculturists recently— more perhaps than this by no means re- 

 markable little Lovebird is fairly entitled to. On nth January A. nigrigenis were offered at 

 £$ a paii but, by the end of the week, they could be bought for £2 10s. so rapid was the 

 slump in the market, due to the fact that apparently every one of the seven "operators" 

 had purchased with the intention of forming - a "coiner," but, finding he was being under- 

 sold, let his birds go at any price he could obtain. In connection with the importation of 

 this species the " amateur dealer " has come somewhat prominently into notice and several 

 correspondents have expressed the view that we have a new factor in the bird-trade. I 

 must say that I do not share this view. In the first place I think our " amateur dealers" 

 will find, when they have a little more experience, how exceedingly uncertain a speculation 

 is the importation of rare birds. For instance, of a recent consignment of six rarities, one 

 was sold for a low price, four died on the dealer's hands and one is now languishing in a 

 remote corner of a London bird-shop without a bidder. Then again in every consignment 

 there are a certain number of birds which cannot possibly live. The professional dealer 

 distributes these impartially among his clients up to the limit to which he thinks the 

 latter will submit ; but the " amateur dealer " can only give these away or write them off as 

 a dead loss, for, should he sell them, he has committed the one sin that is beyond forgive- 

 ness among aviculturists of the same standing, namely that of sending out a waster as a 

 sound bird. Also I think the astute German dealer will soon raise his prices if he finds any 

 considerable demand from this country. There has been a little mystery about the source 

 of some recent importations which has somewhat amused me because some of us were pro- 

 curing birds from Hamburg before some of our "amateur dealers" ever became avicul- 

 turists. 



As to the price of A. nigrigenis, knowing what the importers gave, I may say that I 

 think £3 a pair would be a fair retail price, and those who purchase at this figure will pos- 

 sibly have as good a speculation before them as those who purchased Budgerigars in the 

 early days. For I quite think that this species will be much more easily bred than might 

 be inferred from Mr. Phillipps' experience. One correspondent tells me that his birds are 

 pairing and another that he already has eggs. 



To my mind the only interesting thing about A. nigrigenis is the fact that at last 

 Khodesia has produced something! Its sandy soil has absorbed millions of English capital, 

 hitherto without return. At length we have a tangible product and it is-an insignificant 

 little Lovebird! W. E. T. 



Our es'.eemed members, Messrs. H. Pobbins and O. Millsum, have both received 

 specimens of the Yellow-browed limiting, and the last named has also acquired Chopi 

 Starling. Mexican Thrush (not yet identified), and a partial Albino Uuffalo Weaver (see 

 Editorial notes), which unfortunately arrived dead — all via the Continent. W. T. P. 



