Notes on my birds at Villers-Bretonneux in 1916. 73


certain number of mealworms. Banana he does not appreciate, but

captures a great many insects. He is a very wild bird.


The Wilson’s Paradise-birds each occupy a roomy compart¬

ment in the heated corridor. A most lovely species, with the brilliant

blue skin on the crown of the head, the yellow “rutile ” at the back

of the neck, the back of a bright Venetian red, and the frontal shield

of shining and deep green with violet-brown reflexions, the blue

legs and feet, and above all the two curious crossed wire-like plumes

of the. tail, which curve round and almost touch the ends of the wings.


These birds are very tame, and take insects, etc., from the

fingers. They are fed on the same diet as the Greater Bird of

Paradise.


These, along with the Sunbirds, came to me from the collec¬

tion of the Marquis de Segur, which he had in Paris.


In conclusion, I would write a few words aboat the Motmot4

This bird, a relative of the Rollers, is most amusingly tame, his red,

eyes and his serrated bill giving him an unusal appearance, which, in

addition to his short legs and small feet and his long racqueted tail,

never fail to attract visitors to my birds. I have not been able to

study the moult of the Motmot, but I am inclined to believe that the

racquets form after the two tail feathers are grown, on which they

appear.


LIST OF BIRDS. ( Continued from Page 60.)


Bathilda ruficauda, Starfinch, 4 years, 1 <^, 1 ? .


Pytelia phcenicoptera, Crimson-winged Waxbill, 3 years, 1^,1 2 ;

6 eggs, 2 young.


EEgintha pectoralis, Pectoral Finch, 1 year, 1^,1 2 •


Pocphila gouldice, Black-headed Gouldian Finch, 2 years, 2^,3 2 ;


6 eggs, 2 young,


— mirabilis , Red-headed Gouldian Finch, 2 years, 2^,1 2 5


4 eggs, 1 young.


Erythrura psittacea, Parrot Finch, 1 year, 1^,1 ? .


Neochmia or Erythrura phaeton , Crimson Finch, 1 year, 1^,1 2 •

Eryihrura prasina, Pintailed Nonpareil, 4 years, 2^,1 $ .

Sporceginthus amandava, Amaduvade Waxbill, 4 years, 7 d, 6 2 ; 6

eggs, 2 young.



