on the Celebean Maleo.



169



grey, and the claws yellow. The Maleo has well been called a noble

bird, but only those who have seen it alive can appreciate its true

beauty.


The writer would call attention to an error which has hitherto

disfigured every description of the Celebean Maleo. The casque on

the occult is bright blue during life , not black as always stated -

The black colour seen in museum skins is due to drying, and is not

found during life ; it is unfortunate that ornithologists have not

noted this in drawing up their descriptions, which should always be

done from live or at most recently shot birds. Taxidermists in

setting up this species have followed the ornithologists, and the

writer is unacquainted with any museum in which the Maleo is cor¬

rectly represented ; one finds the occiput daubed over with black

paint, which is devoutly supposed to reproduce the tint of the live

bird. The Maleo is, in fact, similar to the Wilson Bird of Paradise,

in which the bare blue skin of the head fades to leaden colour after

death. Other instances are the bright wattles of Paradigalla

carunculata and the gorgeous neck patterns of many Cassowaries.

The only satisfactory method of representing these hues in museum

specimens is to excise the blackened skin, replacing it with wax

correctly tinted after a water-colour sketch made during life.


Some years ago, by the kind permission of Dr. Kerbert, the

writer photographed a Maleo which was living in the Zoological

Gardens at Amsterdam. The bird was kept in a roomy aviary, with

an outdoor flight and plenty of branches to perch on ; it was in first-

class condition, and seemed as hardy as any Pheasant. “ The Maleo

sits with its head drawn in,” wrote Dr. Meyer many years ago ; and

this Amsterdam specimen looked very fine as it sat dozing on its

perch, the pink breast being beautifully displayed. The flight was

roofed entirely with wire netting, so that the bird could enjoy

every ray of sunshine ; perhaps this accounted for its fine condition.


Only a few examples have been brought alive to England.

The first Maleo was received at the Zoological Gardens in 1848, but

nothing seems to have been recorded about it, though perhaps it was

sent over with some Brush Turkeys which were received the same

year. The next was a private gift from Captain Parish, R.N. He

had acquired it by a happy accident, having obtained it when at St.



