Visits to Moiibcrs' Aviaries. 189 



Many young birds had perished, ahnost as soon as they left the 

 nest, owing to the prevailing cold, wet weather, but I noticed 

 the following in some numbers : 



Peaceful Doves lieoffroy's Doves 



Masked Doves Cutthroats (a small tiock) 



Diamond Doves Zebra Finches (a small flock) 



Isabelline Doves 



The sound of young calling for food was incessant from 

 all parts of the aviary, and if the remaining portion of the 

 season be fairly fine and sunny the above will be added to 

 materially. 



Spfxie.s Np:sting and Fekding : 

 Virginian Cardinal Geoffroy's Dove 



Blue Robin White-breasted (spec, inccrt)* 



Cuban Finches Palm Doves 



Zebra Finches Ijlue Grosbeaks 



Cutthroats Long--tailed Grassfinches 



I am not describing these episodes, nor the young birds 

 fully, as 1 wish Mr. Bright to do this later. 



In this fine aviary I watched the parent birds, from the 

 verandah, collecting gentles and other insects, then ofi to the 

 nests to meet the wants of their offspring, their arrival being 

 heralded by the squalling of their young — sweet sounds for the 

 aviculturist — till their lusty appetites were satisfied. The 



panorama of bird life was most fascinating, as one species after 

 another flashed into the picture : the wee Chinese Quail foraging 

 amid the grass and herbage, or scampering hurriedly across 

 the verandah tiles to the shelter for seed; the flight of the lovely 

 and many-hued Lilac-crowned Fruit-Pigeon (as brilliant as the 

 Gold-fronted Chloropsis), the mannerisms and characteristics of 

 the many species, the harmony of their song — cooing of doves, 

 trilling of finches, liquid notes of Pekin Robin, etc.- -making a 

 complete whole of absorbing interest, a pleasing and interesting 

 picture burnt into the memory beyond the power of time to 

 eradicate — but time and space alike forbid lingering, and the 

 pen of Mr. Bright must fill the gap of descriptive detail. 



*\ could not get to Brit. Museum nor Zoo Library, so sent a rough sketch 

 to the former authorities and they believe the species to the Phlogoevas 

 margaritae from New (niiuea 



A letter from. Mr. Bright, dated Se])tcmber jotli, states that this pair have 

 two fully pledged young almost ready to leave the nest. — W.T.P. 



