60 Stray Notes


worst for many years. One of the most interesting aviaries in the

Zoological Gardens is the Summer Aviary, so called because it is the

summer home of many of the birds which winter in the Bird House and

Western Aviary. With the first fine days of April many of the hardier

birds are transferred to this enclosure and seem at once to realize that

they have arrived at their summer quarters, and that it is time to turn

their thoughts to nest-building.


The Summer Aviary. — The Zoological Society is fortunate in

possessing two good pairs of American Blue-birds, a species that was

well known to aviculturists in the old days before the export of American

birds was prohibited. These have been placed in the Summer Aviary,

one pair in each of the two compartments, and it was a pleasure to

watch them when first liberated. The cocks commenced to sing and

spread their wings and tails, and to inspect every box for a suitable

site for a nest. Virginian Cardinals, Song Sparrows, and several others

were busy building their nests in less than a week after being put into

the aviary.


King Vultures. — An interesting addition to the collection at the

Zoo consists of a couple of King Vultures, a species that has been

unrepresented for some few years past. This is the only species of

Vulture that is really brightly coloured when adult, the sexes being

alike, of a rosy cream colour, with a grey neck-ruff, black wings and

tail, and the head ornamented with bright orange and red. One of the

two new arrivals is immature, and is of a uniform blackish-brown colour,

a stage that I, at least, had never before seen. It will be interesting to

watch the gradual change to the adult coloration.


Japanese Teal. — Japanese Teal have been arriving in some numbers

and the dealers are offering them at a very reasonable price. These

are some of the most beautiful of the ornamental waterfowl, but they

are very wild when first imported and unless carefully enclosed with

wire-netting will stray away to a certainty. They have been bred

successfully on several occasions in this country, but they must have

plenty of space. At the Zoo, in the breeding season, pairs will wander

up and down by the wire fencing in their endeavours to go further



