294 



as the light plays upon it, with each difFereut position they 

 take up. The Scarlet does not call for special mention save to 

 say that it reached me, an acclimatized bird, in late August, 

 and for tightness and lustre of plumage it could not be sur- 

 passed. The Maroon ( ? ) did not come into my possession till 

 early October and was then in moult; I took the risk and 

 turned it out of doors at once, and it is now in very fair 

 plumage and excellent health as I write, December 31st, the 

 latter remark as to date and condition applies to all three 

 species. 



I am the fortunate possessor of a true pair of Jacariui 

 Finches, the female being brought over for me b\'my esteemed 

 friend and fellow member, Mr. E. W. Harper. It arrived in 

 poor plumage, but is now perfect and apparently in the best of 

 health, and I hope to successfully breed the species next sea- 

 son. I am of the opinion that my female is the only one in 

 this country at the present time. 



The Bird-room (Plate II.). Its arrangements are very 

 simple and its proportions are exceedingly modest. This, 

 owing to physical infirmity Iliad to have erected, and it was 

 comparatively costly, reaching a total of nearly ;^20 by the 

 time it was fitted complete. Its size is only loft. x Sjft- x 6ft. 

 at eaves and 9ft. at ridge ; it is of the lean-to t3'pe. Its space 

 is almost wholly given up to birds, barely sufficient being 

 retained for viewing and attending purposes. The back sup- 

 plies four enclosures, each 5ft. x 3ft. x 42ft. high; one side 

 gives an enclosure about 4|ft. square and ranging from 5ft. to 

 7ft. high ; the other side supplies space for four cages only, for 

 I do not admit any smaller than 2|ft. x ijft. X 2|ft. high. It 

 fully answers the purpose for which it was erected, viz. : for 

 housing such rare species as I do not care to trust outside, or 

 which are not to be trusted in a mixed series; and also to 

 provide accommodation for such as arrive too late in the year 

 to put outside. 



It contains at the present time a very tanje and talented 

 vShama, a rare Hangnest (Ictems xanthornis), pair of Red- 

 breasted Marsh-birds (Leistes guianietisis), Quaker Parrakeet, 

 Jendaya Conure, I.avender-backed Finch, Fire-red Finch ( ? ), 



