Tivo Hangnests and a Troupial.



91



opportunity of acquiring the species when it appeared at a reasonable

price, because it makes a change from the better known bird and is

w r ell worth its keep.



TWO HANGNESTS AND A TROUPIAL.


By Pte. A. Silver.


Somewhere about the middle of 1914 a batch of New World

birds were offered in London, and among this consignment I

discovered a mixed lot of Hangnests. There were one or two young

Bullock’s, some adult and immature Wagler’s, and other oddments

more or less dirty, but sound in constitution, although thin.


I picked out the best Bullock’s and an old male Wagler’s, and

on arriving home caged them separately, and treated both as per my

usual manner with new arrivals.


They both tried their best to become clean and respectable,

but owing to the adhesive quality of the birdlime that had originally

caused their downfall their labours were in vain. This trouble,

however, was soon surmounted, and they “ passed the doctor ”

successfully within the next forty-eight hours. With regard to

Bullock’s Hangnest, I found it resembled in most ways I. baltimore ,

a very charming species that of late years has not been obtainable in

so far as I have been concerned. I fed on a good insectivorous bird

food, plus game meal damped with grated carrot, and gave also fruit,

berries, and live food, and moulted the bird in full beauty and health

the succeeding season. As a Hangnest I liked the bird as well as

any, and on account of its small size found it more dainty in move¬

ment than many of its relations. Although whilst with me it

remained in tip-top health, I found that banana caused it to quickly

become more fat than was requisite, and so latterly, to maintain fine

fettle and prevent too docile a manner, I discontinued its use. The

same experience held good in the treatment of I. baltimore. After

retaining the bird sufficiently long to know it pretty well I exhibited

it on several occasions and disposed of it. Bullock’s Hangnest in

summer may be found in Western North America, and otherwise to

South and Central Mexico.



