''^ On tJie Genus Pyromelana. 



work, but after a time suddenly appears to lose all interest 

 and allows it to be pulled to pieces by other birds without 

 concern. Oryx is a destructive bird and mischievously tears 

 to bits everything it can. I planted a live tree and some 

 reeds in my aviary, but directly a bud appeared on the tree 

 or a shoot on the reeds they were promptly torn off and 

 dropped on the ground. 



I have come to the conclusion that the males are several 

 years old before they assume full breeding-plumage, as I 

 have two in my aviary which have now moulted three times 

 without changing their colour. 



It may be asked how I can be certain that these two 

 specimens are really males seeing that their coloration is so 

 nearly identical with that of the female ; but I identify them 

 in the first place by their plumage being slightly darker (as 

 is iiLso the case with the males in winter)^ secondly by their 

 larger size, and lastly by their unmistakable attitude towards 

 the females in the breeding-season. 



I am also inclined to think that oryx is not so polygamous 

 as is usually thought, the young males which do not assume 

 breeding-jjlumage often being mistaken for females. 



When undisturbed but emitting its harsh notes, oryx often 

 interludes them with a few sweet notes like the twitter of a 

 Swallow — notes so low and sweet that I had^ at first, some 

 difficulty in identifying their author. 



In the month of March the autumnal moult is commenced, 

 and it should at once be stated that, though the birds change 

 colour from their brilliant black and scarlet to dull brown, 

 the feathers are not cast. 



With the change of colour in the feathers the bill loses its 

 blackness and becomes horn-colour and more in keeping with 

 the brown tint of the plumage. The birds also lose at the 

 same time much of their pugnacious character. 



I may also mention that as the plumage becomes brown it 

 ceases to be erectile : this is most noticeable on the head, 

 one half of which may be brown with the feathers lying close 

 to the head, whilst the black feathers oj^the other half will be 

 standing uj) like a ruff. 



