SoniP Tnfrresfing Birds. -[^5 



aviary was watcliod, hut (hat tlio hird usually ronfincd its 

 attentions to the branches or trunk provided for the purpose. 

 It certainly was most fascinating and interesting to see " Jim " 

 rovini,' about at will, with, hut little evidence of his natural 

 tiiuidily and also clin.^'ini,'- in typical style to ordinary or (^ork 

 bark. 



Dr. r.oss(\ of B(\auliou, Hants., has also kept this 

 species; 'he too founrf it a 'most interesting aviary bird, and that 

 if suit^able thick "branches were erected for it, the shell of the 

 aviary was fairly safe. 



At the same time, if a /cage (aviary -cage) can be 

 provided for it of sufTicicnit ])ulk and height to accommodate a 

 thick branch, set almost perpendicularly, tlie bird will soon 

 make itself at home, but all said and done, it is scon to best 

 advantage in the aviary. 



Food : In a state of nafure this consists of insects and 

 their larvae, supplemented in the autumn with mountain ash 

 berries, nuts, acorns, etc. In captivity a course of insectile 

 mixture, live insects (particularly "beetles and their larvsp), 

 nuts, sunflower seed, and in the au^umn,berries, acorns, etc. It 

 is 'good for all captive birds to be given some of their na- 

 tural Wild diet as opportunity offers. 



The species just described is of great interest whether 

 as an aviary bird or studied at home in its native haunts, 

 and well repays the expenditure of time and patience in stalk- 

 ing and patient observation, but the > observer must remain 

 motionless, whether he is fortunate enough to find partial cover 

 or must remain in the open, or the Grea*^ -spotted di appears at 

 once. 



{To he continued). 



My Indian Consignment. 



By Ma.tor G. a. Perkeau, F.Z.S. 

 I {Continu&d from page 135). 



Perhaps a brief notice of birds I brought home and 

 which were not obtained near Bakloh would not come amiss 

 here. These consist chiefly of birds caught in Darjeeling, 

 where trapping i; not encouraged, chiefly, becau'^e a good many 

 l)irds from England and Kashmir were piit down at some^ 



