C>f> Private importation of Indian Birds in 1 9 1 6. 



brancli tlian lo indulge in much wing (wercise, though it flies 

 strongly and swiftly at intcrxals during the day. It is fond 

 of a log or small barrt-l U) retire to at nights and for a ws//? 

 at mid-day, f.-ailing such a shelter of reasonable size it will 

 cram itself into an ordinary coco-nut husk. I saw it under 

 such conditions in Mr. Scott-Freeland's aviaries and it looked 

 very comical with its bead and beak protuding from the husk ; 

 it was not only a marvel how it crammed itself into the husk, 

 but more marvellous still it nianaged to turn round in the husk, 

 and without any damage to its plumage, tool Their gor- 

 geous plumage makes them conspicuous in the aviary, and in 

 Mr. Freeland's aviary it lived at peace with Sugar-birds, 

 Grassfinches, Fruitsuckers, Thrushes, etc. 



It is said to live entirely on fruit in its native haunts, 

 but from the great avidity with which it seizes upon all 

 kinds of insects in the aviary, 1 cannot but think, that it 

 must also similarly indulge as opportunity offers in a state of 

 liberty. 



Grke.x B.arbet {Mc(^cdacina ccuvceps, Franklin). This 

 species was, 1 think, introduix'd to English aviculture by my 

 friend and fellow member Mr. E. W. Harper, who presented 

 a specimen to the London Zoo about ten (or more) years 

 ago, this bird did well and lived for a number of years. 

 Strange to say the specimeut; 1 jecei\ed alive, all hand-reared 

 birds did not do well ; they certainly had a \ ery rough \oyage 

 and arrived in an exhausted condition, and though with infinite 

 trouble and care 1 managed to k^ep se\eral of them alive 

 from six to eight weeks they all went " pot-bellied " and died 

 within a few days of each other — a most disappointing result, 

 for apar;. froin the \alue and interest of the birds, they cost 

 considerable for fruit, insects, etc.. before they succumbed. 

 They are large and beautiful birds, but not so showy as the 

 Blue-cheeked. 



Description. — Above grass-green; lop of head, neck, 

 and underparts brown streaked with white, the throat and 

 head showing very little while, the former somewhat dusky; 

 abdomen palish dusky-brown with a few obscure whitish 

 streaks; lore-neck and breast brown; bill palish orange- 



