28o 



movement and elegance of form, which alone would 

 render it a most beautiful bird. But in addition to all 

 these qualities, it possesses plumage which in one part 

 glitters with all the dazzling gem-like hues of the 

 humming-bird's wing, in another, is soft, warm, and 

 delicately tinted, and in another is dyed with a rich in- 

 tensity of colouring that needs a strong light to bring 

 out its depth of power. Yet more, the torrent of graceful 

 softh' tinted plumes that flow with such luxuriant 

 redundance of changeful curves over the body, are in 

 thenuselves sufficient to place the Emerald Bird of 

 Paradise in the first rank of beauty." 



If all goes well, there promises to be a sight at that 

 Insect House next summer, worth travelling the length of 

 the United Kingdom to see. J. A. Swan. 



THE CARPENTERS OF THE WOODS. 



Often heard, but seldom seen, are those highly 

 interesting but shy birds, the Woodpeckers of our native 

 land. Until recent years, it was thought by aviculturists 

 generally, that to keep the Carpenters of the Woods in 

 captivity was an impossibilitj- : but that idea has been 

 almost dispelled, for it has been shown that with care 

 and judicious treatment all three of the species found 

 in this country, (the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the 

 GreaterSpottedWoodpecker, and the Green Woodpecker), 

 may be successfully reared from the nest on ordinary 

 insectivorous food, and kept in splendid condition for a 

 long period. The Woodpeckers shown at the Crystal 

 Palace Show of February, 1902, may be mentioned in 

 proof of nu' statement. 



I have kept all three species, but not with the 

 success that some fellow fanciers have had, notably 

 Messrs. Maxwell, Galloway, and Dewhurst. The last- 

 named gentleman showed me, when I saw his wonderful 

 collection of British Birds, his grand old Greater 

 Spotted, looking as smart as possible, after a captivity of 



