THE OOLOGIST. 



23 



ouckoos, of all sizes, are represented. 

 Among these is the Ground Cuckoo, 

 which is the largest, and is distin- 

 guished b}- an unusually long claw, 

 that aids in walking. 



Vari-colored and finely shaped king- 

 fishers are present in large numbers. 

 These birds, as, indeed, nearly all the 

 others, present a gorgeous appear- 

 ance as thej' lie side by side in the 

 large, flat boxes in which they are 

 being placed for safekeeping, their 

 beautifully colored breasts facing up- 

 Avartl . 



There are three or four species of 

 these birds. The most striking is the 

 Stork-billed Kingfisher. It has a long 

 red bill, from which it gets its name, 

 an orange-colored breast and cobalt 

 blue wings. A considerable number 

 of these birds are in the collection. 



Another species of the kingfisher is 

 one belonging to the genus Halycon, 

 an old Greek name. The kingfisher 

 was thought by the Greeks to be a 

 harbinger of good probably because 

 of the superstition that its nests float- 

 ed on the sea, and thus were a sign of 

 calm weather. 



There are several sma Her and more 

 brilliant kingfishers in the Abbott col- 

 lection, which resemble more closely 

 than the others the common European 

 variety of this bird. There is one also 

 which is peculiar on account of its hav- 

 ing three toes instead of four. 



Mr. Richmond has a number of 

 swallows, or swifts, of the kind that 

 build the famous edible nests, so high- 

 ly prized as delicacies by the Chinese. 

 These birds are grayish-white in color, 

 and have very short legs. They never 

 perch, but are continually on the wing, 

 except when on their nests; and for 

 this reason longer legs would be super- 

 fluous. 



Their nests are built in caves, where 

 they are easily accessible, if it is ever 

 possible to discover the caves. Some 

 nests are pure white and others brown. 



the former being considered the most 

 appetizing. They are made of certain 

 kinds of seaweed, mixed with the sal- 

 iva of the bird. The nests sell, among 

 the Chinese, for a sum equivalent to 

 |40 per pound. 



The contribution includes several 

 specimens of a kind of crow, that re- 

 sembles the American variety in color 

 and form, but is much larger. 



There are a number of birds that are 

 well known throughout the East as Bul- 

 buls, and are famed for their singing. 

 They have brilliant j^ellow breasts and 

 glossy, brown backs. 



A kind of pigeon, known as the fruit 

 pigeon, is represented by a large series. 

 These birds feed on nutmegs. They 

 are about a foot long from tip of bill 

 to tip of tail 



Many gorgeously colored orioles are 

 in the collection. Their colors are 

 yellow and black, like the Baltimore 

 orioles, but they are of an entirely dif- 

 ferent family. The American variety 

 is sometimes called "new world oriole'' 

 in distinction from the true or '"old 

 world " oriole. 



Besides all these birds there are 

 Rails, Sandpipers, and many 

 others that have not yet been identi- 

 fied. The collection, when mounted 

 will be a handsome addition to the 

 Smithsonian exhibit, 



Dr. Abbott, who is a resident of Phil- 

 adelphia, has been collecting mam- 

 mals, birds, insects and ethnological 

 specimens ever since the year 1887, 

 and has joueneyed to many different 

 countries and islands of the sea to 

 accomplish his purpose. He has 

 placed the United States museum 

 under great obligations, and the work 

 he has done has won an expression of 

 most sincere appreciation. For two 

 winters Dr Abbott has collected speci- 

 mens from islands in the east. Previ- 

 ous to his recent trip he visited the 

 Andamans and Nicobars, and the 

 account of the cruise, is given by C. 



