Bird Notes from the Zoological Gardens. ioi


Lately a pair of Bearded Reedlings have come to me in silkiest

feather. They have a foreign look, and the incessant chirp and

cuddling, leap-frog ways of some of the small African finches.

Their black legs and straw irides, and the cock’s blue head and

black moustache and vent are in striking contrast with their

general hue. They make my Coal and Blue Tits look shabby little

ragamuffins. Coal Tits bathe until too wet to reach their perch,

but the Reedlings splutter whilst the water lasts. My Greater

Spotted Woodpecker spent a year in an all-wire cage chipping

pieces of wood lent him for the purpose. He gave a bell-like

monosyllablic cry. Afterwards, in an aviary with some Thrushes,

he had a big olive tree to shuffle round, and made the most of

his opportunities to hammer its hard surface for some years, and

added a loud squall to his previous note. He came to hand for

mealworms rather timidly, but, once there, remained and con¬

sumed the tit-bit, instead of snatching it and hurrying off, which

was nice-mannered. He had a very painful bill, when handled,

which made his death by rats the more surprising. The Water-

Rail referred to strode about an aviary manifestly contented with

any soft food and a liberal supply of fresh water. He was always

in perfect feather during his two years with me, and flicked

his tail and flapped about in the bushes very like a Moorhen.

His reddish bill was noticeably translucent in strong sunlight.

Identical in habits, with him are a pair of African Bine Coots;

except that the male shed nearly all his flight-feathers* in one

night last May, and that he never fails to give a loud squeak if a

fire-arm is discharged near him.



BIRD NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.


By The Curator.


The old semi-circular building near the Tunnel pond—

which was formerly used for mammals and, latterly, for the

smaller raptorial birds—has been repaired and flight cages have

been added. It is intended to use it for the smaller Parrakeets,

several of which it is hoped may breed.


The arrivals during the past mouth have been compara-



Tliis is a habit common to all Kails.



