60 F. J. Hunter—Aviculture at the Scottish Zoological Park


of their backs. Cormorants and Solan Geese shared the next enclosure

with a Californian Sea-lion. The birds were standing idly on a rocky

shelf, taking no interest whatever in the graceful movements of the

Sea-lion as it swam round and round the pond. They were probably

patiently waiting for feeding time, for which they are always ready.

A still larger, grassy enclosure contained a pair of Emus, who did not

appear to be very sociably inclined ; one paraded backwards and

forwards at the nearer end of the enclosure, while the other took its

constitutional at the further limit, with an occasional trip to the railings

to gaze at the visitors, probably hoping for some gastronomic delicacy

to be offered. The inhabitants of the next enclosure were numerous

and varied, and consisted of Black-headed Gulls, White Cranes, Pelicans,

Oyster Catchers, Great Skuas, White Storks, Demoiselle Cranes, and

Herons. They had a fine home, with grassy floor and bushes and a small

pond, and although of such diverse breeds, appear to live in absolute

harmony. A small wooden hut, for shelter from extreme weather,

is provided, but rarely used. The Pelicans appeared to be suffering

from some mild form of irritation on their backs, and were busily

scratching with the tips of their long beaks. The most graceful birds

in this enclosure were undoubtedly the Demoiselle Cranes, with their

delicate grey plumage looking beautifully smooth and clean.


Two large flight aviaries and several smaller ones have been erected

in a garden sheltered by high walls. In summer this garden is filled

with brightly coloured flowers, and its general appearance is charming.

Both flights were well provided with shelter at one end, small tree-

trunks with bare branches for the small inhabitants to perch on, and

butter-tubs with small entrance-holes hung from the roofs, and which

made excellent nesting-places. In one aviary were found the Grey¬

headed and Black-faced Lovebirds, Budgerigar, and Cockatiel; in

the other were Blue and Yellow-fronted Amazon Parrots, Rose-breasted,

Leadbeaters, Greater Sulphur-crested and Goffin’s Cockatoos, and

Blue and Yellow, Red and Yellow, and Red and Blue Macaws—these

birds make a beautiful colour show. T was here greeted by a Cockatoo,

clinging to the front netting, with a hearty “ Hullo, Cocky ! ” and an

jnvitation to scratch its poll. This I did, discreetly, with the end of

my pencil, much, apparently, to the bird’s enjoyment. When I stopped



