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swamp, which extends behind the sand-barrier of the 

 sea-shore. They are generally found in pairs, flying 

 from bush to bush, the male usually leaving cover first, 

 to be followed a few moments later by his plainly 

 attired mate. Their food consists of various berries 

 and bush-fruits, especially those of the " Soto" tree, a 

 kind of wild fig, which is very plentiful in this 

 country; one of these, when its fruit is ripe, is always 

 alive with different species of fruit- or nectar-eating 

 birds, and among the crowd a pair of Amethyst Star- 

 lings will probably be found. They also eat a good 

 many insects, especially, I think, those kinds attracted 

 to over-ripe or rotting fruits, but at times one also 

 sees them hunting ants or other creeping things on 

 the ground. 



In captivity, as I said above, they are not difficult 

 to cater for; my two birds lived for the first month 

 after capture almost entirely on live " Bug-a-bug" or 

 white ants, the insect-food so easily (fortunatel}' for 

 birds, but unfortunately for the owner of stores or 

 boxes) obtainable out here. Later on I got out a 

 supply of one of the advertised mixed " Insect foods,'' 

 and on this and soaked dog-biscuit, the one which I 

 succeeded in bringing home did well for the three 

 months I had him out here. Eventually he reached 

 the Zoo. fit and well in spite of all the travelling he had 

 done by land and sea, and there he was still flourishing 

 when I left England at the end of my leave, eating 

 chiefly the soft-food mixture used there, but occa- 

 sionally taking a peck or two at a piece of banana or 

 orange. With me he hardly ever touched any fruit, 

 in fact he seemed quite content with the very unin- 

 teresting-looking food-mixture, the only preference he 



