The Aviaries and Birds at Roddam Castle. 233 



ing pet. It was purely insectivorous, and most specimens I 

 fancy would prove difficult to meat off. It is a jolly perky 

 bird ol" modest colour with a note and a tail several sizes too 

 large for its diminutive body. As will be seen from the 

 above they can stand a considerable amount of cold; they could 

 easily be wintered out at home provided their abode afforded 

 them crannies to shelter in at night. 



{To he continued). 



The Aviaries and Birds at Hoddam Castle. 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., Etc. 



(Jinit'niiiP(J from jxu/f 195. 



Owing to Mr. Brook lieing in Norway it was not 

 possible to get the accompanying drawings by Mr. H. 

 Gromvold, which Mr. Brook kindly permits us to reproduce, 

 ready for last issue, therefore, I propose indulging in a few 

 additional remarks on these species, and to leave the TjORITD^, 

 etc., for another instalment. We thus have the privilege of 

 figuring three species, the only living specimens of which, in 

 this country, are to be found in the Hoddam Castle Aviaries; 

 these are: Princess Stephanie's (vide p. 194), Meyer's Sickle- 

 billed (vide p. 194-5) and Lesser Superb Birds of Paradise 

 (vide p. 192-3.) 



The glory of the Birds of Paradise is their various 

 appendages (shields, ruffs, collarets, plumes, etc.), which, com- 

 bined with their velvet-like anrl iridescent plumage, at once 

 command attention and worship. 



From the characteristic drawings reproduced herewith, 

 it will be seen that these species are remarkable in these attri- 

 butes. It is impossible to describe either the remarkable 

 beauty, or the graceful deportment, of practically the whole 

 group, nothing but being the delighted eye-witness of their 

 display and also everyday movements, can do them justice, so 

 I shall not attempt a word picture, but merely refer the reader 

 to the drawings. It may be well to remark, however, that the 

 ease with which a Princess Stephanie's or Meyer's Sickle -billed 

 manipulate their lengthy plumes, carrying and displaying them 

 gracefully, and at the game tinie preserving them from rough 



