The Sonneherg Aviaries. 337 



fine long'-tailed Glossy Starling-, (LamprocoUus caudatus), be- 

 sides several less important species. As this building- is im- 

 heated, the less hardy birds are caged elsewhere during the 

 winter. 



The Parrot House is an L- shaped building, and the 

 only one which is open to the public. It is built of \vood 

 and concrete, in the same style as the others. The six-foot 

 public space occu^Dies one side of each arm of the L. the first 

 of which is fourteen feet wide and twenty feet in length. It 

 is divided into three cages eight feet by ten, and 'a fourth 

 eight feet by sixteen, all being fronted with bar -mesh wire, 

 of varying size. The first three are devoted to Macaws, and 

 Parrots, several uncommon species being represented. Most 

 noticeable were the greater Vasa Parrot, {Coracopsis vasa), 

 Maximilian's I'arrot, {Fionus maxiniiliani) , Jardine's Parrot, 

 (Poeocephalus guUelmi), and a good Senegal Parrot, (P. sene- 

 galus). The large cage, separated from the preceding by a 

 four -inch space, contains a very good collection of the smaller 

 Finches and Waxbills, and other of the more delicate birds. 

 Most of the common species of the former were represented, 

 besides specimens of the Bicheno Finch, {Stictopfera bichen- 

 O'vii), Chestnut breasted Mannikin, (M. jerruginosa). Of the 

 fruit-eating birds, the most striking were the Yellow-bellied 

 Bulbuls {Fycnonotus aurigaster), and the Gl olden -fronted Green 

 Bulbul, {Chloropsis aurifroiis). 



In the angle of the L and also separated by a four -inch 

 space, is the cockatoo cage. This contains all of the species 

 commonly seer, about ten in number. 



The last cage contains the Parrakeets, the pride pf 

 Sonneberg. This is really a remarkable collection, and with- 

 out question one of the very best in this country, some thirty 

 species being represented. They live together in the one 

 large cage, preserving an unusual harmony among themselves. 

 In this group the rarest bird was doubtless the Black- headed 

 Parrakeet, (Comirus nejiday). This is not uncommon in 

 European collections but is seldom seen on this side. Others 

 noticed were a very fine Barnard's, {Baniardiiis haniardi), 

 a White-eared, (Pyrrhura leucotis), several Eed-rumps, {Pse- 

 photus haematonotus) , and a pair of Blue-bonnets, (P. xan- 

 thorrhous) , 



