All Rights Reserved. January, 1919. 



BIRD NOTES: 



THE 



JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 



The Magpie Tanager. 

 Cissopsis leveriana 



Bv Wf.sley T. Page. F.Z.S., etc. 



The following: rousii notes are penned to accompany Mrs. 

 Cook's characteristic drawing, figuring a specimen sketched bv 

 her in the Small Birds' House at the Zoo. 



Though quite a large bird, few species, even among the 

 gorgeously clad Taiiagcridac, have greater beauty, either of 

 form or plumage or deportment. 



With the plate before us. a description is unnecessary. — 

 T will simply say that the bird's iridescent plumage is black and 

 white ; the black areas showing purplish and steel reflections 

 according to light refraction. 



In an outdoor aviary during the summer months I know 

 of no finer spectacle than a pair of these birds disporting them- 

 selves amid the greenery of a roomy garden aviary. Alas ! T 

 have never possessed a true pair, but the charm even of odd 

 birds amid a mixed series lingers still, and as 1 write I visualise 

 them again as they winged to and fro, or otherwise disported 

 themselves. 



The bold, fearless demeanour, wicked-looking. Hangnest- 

 like eyes, cause them to be mistrusted, but the odd birds I have 

 had on two or three occasions never did any harrying or bullying 

 among the smaller fry housed with them. Had there been a 

 pair, and breeding been attempted, probably there would have 

 been trouble. 



At the London Zoo young were hatched out, and lived to 

 leave the nest, but did not survive to fend for themselves. 



