• 47 



ffiirt)5 in the Jnsect Ibonse at the 

 Zooloatcal (5art)en6. 



By J. E. R. McDoNAGH, M.R.C.S., F.Z.S. 



It is my object to give a brief sketch of the 

 diflferent birds kept in the Zoological Gardens, and, 

 as far as possible, to mention any new exhibits worthy 

 of notice, which come in from month to month. 



1 begin with the insect house because not only 

 does it contain the rarest and least often seen of the 

 birds kept in captivity, but it is the least frequented 

 house in the Gardens. It will always well repay any- 

 body interested in birds to spend some little time 

 there, as first and foremost are the lovely Birds of 

 Paradise, three in number, all in the pink of condition, 

 and with their gorgeous plumage shown to its full. 

 Occasionally one is fortunate enough to catch the 

 Greater Bird of Paradise" showing off," a sight 

 that is really worth seeing, as he displays all his 

 beauty to the fullest advantage, assuming different 

 attitudes, not unlike a Ruff making love. Beautiful 

 as these birds are, the noise they make is horrid ; it is 

 very .shrill and consists of about two or three notes. 

 Should anybody wish to increase his knowledge 

 concerning these birds and at the same time have 

 some most interesting reading, Wallace's " Malay 

 Archipelago" will fully meet his requirements. 



Amongst other birds in the house are seven 

 Yellow and Purple Tanagers which have just lately 

 arrived, three of them being males. Next door to 

 these is a Warty-faced Honey-eater, which is in fine 

 condition and has been in the Gardens some years. 

 In the next cage, keeping company with the King 



