A. S. Lc Soucf—Birds of Paradise in Captivity 97


it broken up for her, which I suppose would normally be done by her

mate when he returned from hunting; unlike my other Owls she

neither drinks nor bathes at this time, though when not incubating she

regularly uses her bath. If strangers come near she dashes angrily

at them, but she will let me sit beside her and stroke her, and even put

my hand under her and feel the egg.


I suppose this Owl inhabits sandy or desert districts, for the tawny

plumage of the head and back, barred and flecked with black, would

be practically invisible in either sand or dry yellowish grass, and the

eartufts would heighten the resemblance.


It is greatly to be hoped that I shall succeed in obtaining a mate

for my bird, and that next year the rearing of young can be recorded.



BIRDS OF PARADISE IN CAPTIVITY


By A. S. Le Souef, Director of the Taronga Zoological Park, Sydney


Taronga Park was fortunate in securing several Birds of Paradise

in November, 1916. There were six different kinds—Raggi’s,

Magnificent, King, Six-wired, Superb, and the Albert Rifle-bird ; while

a pair of Blue Birds of Paradise were afterwards received on deposit.

They were rather rough when received, and had started to moult,

two or three being lost before this ordeal was over.


They were placed in two large wire aviaries, divided according to

size, for they are pugnacious, and the larger kinds will kill smaller

birds and eat them. The Six-wired, Magnifieents, Superbs, and Kings

were placed together, and got along very well, but a collection of

Finches in the same enclosure was gradually caught and eaten by the

Six-wired.


All the birds proved remarkably hardy, but not good Zoo exhibits,

as they stick to cover for most of the day, only coming into the open

during the early morning and in the evening. They cannot stand much

sun or light, and experience shows that they require a closed-in

compartment where they can sit during the day in semi-darkness.

All the birds here that have not done well that I have been able to

trace have been in enclosures that were insufficiently covered.



