THE OSPREY. 



121 



It seemed as though we had arrived in the 

 height of their autumnal migration, for every- 

 where, in each place, we found representations 

 of this delightful family. Nut less than twelve 

 different species were present in this small strip 

 • • f willow which is not more than 100 by 30 feet 

 in size, and I believe none of the trees exceeded 

 15 feet in height. It was a motly crowd. My 

 notes speak of a Golden-crowned Thrush, 

 several Chestnut-sided Warblers, a Blue-wing 

 Yellow Warbler whose querulous voice now is 

 forever hushed. A busy Black and White 

 Creeper, a trim Canadian Flycatcher, two of 

 the beautiful lively Wilson's Black-caps, who 

 vied with a number of Golden-crowned King- 

 lets, just returned from the north, in flirting 

 their wings. A Water Thrush was lured from 

 its tangle in the woods and swelled the number. 



As we emerged from this dense cover we 

 noticed a Tennessee Warbler cross the river and 

 submit his inanimate form to closer study. A 

 Blue Gray Gnatcatcher was travelling through 

 the tops of the same trees, while at their very 

 base a House Wren i Troglodytes iii\/'>ii aztecus\ 

 was trying to engage us in a game of hide and 

 seek. 



From the depth of the woods a Red-eyed Vireo 

 was babbling his now sleepy soul;, and a Yel- 



low-bellied Woodpecker rewarded, us by adding 

 his name to our list, for a tram]) through the 

 interior of the island. The last accession was 

 entered on the north side. Vireo gilvus was the 

 name of the applicant. 



The day though long, was fast Hearing its 

 close and we rejoined our friends and accepted 

 of their bounteous stores to regale the inner 

 man who had been sadly neglected all day. But 

 who indeed has time to waste discussing food 

 when birds are as numerous as they were on 

 these days, which will always be recalled with 

 the flaring mark of "Red Letter Daj s." 



Evening shades were falling, the Woodduck 

 and her progeny were seeking their dusk shel- 

 tered feeding ground. Blue Herons and now 

 and then a Night Heron would sail lightly with 

 measured beat to their post, then all was still. 



As we mailed our boats the great orb slowly 

 rose from the eastern timber and flooded all this 

 wondrous scene with her mellow light. Oh, 

 what a night it was! Even now as I write these 

 line- I feel the spell come o'er me which then 

 held each and every one of us entranced. 

 Silently and quietly we plied the blade, dread- 

 ing lest the slightest sound might cause this 

 scene enchanting, to fade like a dream at 

 dawn. 



THE CAGE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 

 By F. Fjnn, Deputy Superintendent, Indian Museum, Calcutta.* 



The taste for keeping pet birds is a ver\ "1,1 

 one in India, exotic forms, such as Cockatoos, 

 having been imported so long ago as the time 

 of Jehangir, to judge from the representation of 

 a yellow-crested species in a picture dating from 

 the reign of that monarch which I had an oppor- 

 tunity of inspecting some time ago. And even 

 today in Calcutta many birds are commonly to 

 be seen in captivity hailing both from various 

 parts of India itself and from other countries, 

 although "the fancy" is no longer what it was, 

 and both the demand and supply have dwindled 

 away sadly. Nevertheless, enough birds are to 

 be seen to arouse keen interest in English ama- 

 teurs; and this is especially noticeable in the 

 case of "soft-billed" or insectivorous and frugi- 

 vorous forms, which are very extensively kept 

 in India. 



Calcutta rejoices in a very well-known bird- 

 market in Tiretta Bazaar: and as this i- within 

 an easy walk of the Museum. I have long been 

 in the habit of paying it frequent visits, (hie 

 or two dealers in the Provision Bazaar also keep 

 cage-birds: but Tiretta is the leading emporium 

 for pets, always excepting Mr. W. Rutledge's 

 establishment in South Road, Entally. There 

 business has been carried on for nearly half a 

 century, Mr. Rutledge dealing in living animals 

 of all kinds; and many very choice birds pass 

 through his hands, though he naturally does 

 not trouble himself greatly about the common 

 species. To him I have long been indebted for 

 iiiucli information concerning birds and the 

 method pursued in keeping them. 



Few bird- seem to lie kept or bred in aviaries 

 here: -mall cages with a single inmate, or larger 

 receptacles containing several, are chiefly in 

 vogue; and a- the objectionable custom of cover- 

 ing up birds kept for song is almost universally 

 followed.it is not easy to determine the exact 

 species of the occupants in many cases, though 

 the note often affords a clue to the captive's 

 identity. Cages for -malt singing-birds are 

 usually oblong with a vaulted roof, and provided 

 with two perches, or are square with a pyramidal 

 top containing only one perch; they are fitted 

 with large comfortable handles, as it is the 

 cu-tom to take cage-birds out continually in 

 order to give them fresh air. 



Larger birds are kepi in big wicker cages with 

 a domed or hemispherical top. and Parrots in 

 similar round domiciles of iron, or chained to 

 iron swings. All native cages have a barred 

 floor, instead of the drawer arrangement so 

 familiar to home amateurs, but a mat is often 

 provided to cover the bottom. Food and water- 

 vessels are alwav- placed inside, in my opinion 

 very wisely. Sand is not given, except to Larks 

 and Partridges. 



"So ft -billed" birds are fed on the Hour of gram, 

 a kind of pulse, made up into a paste with ghee 

 (clarified butter). This "satoo" seems to suit 

 them very well: it is supplemented, in the case 

 of purely insectivorous species, by a daily ration 

 of live maggots and grasshoppers. The breed- 

 ing of the former and the collection of the latter 

 form the trade of a number of professional bird- 

 feeders, who, on the receipt of a small monthly 



fReprinted from /'.'/ toil t . - -T 1 1 v 1)31,81 i vol. j p. 123-444. 



