Hubert D. Astley—Miscellanies



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native of the Himalayas, ho is about the same size as our Green Wood¬

pecker. The nuchal crest (extending to the nape of the neck)

resembles the helmet of a Greek warrior of ancient days, and is a

brilliant golden yellow. The back is green, the flights chestnut barred

with black, tho underparts olive grey-brown. But a sketchy description,


I realize !


He loves cheese, and if anything is held a couple of inches away

outside his cage his long pink tongue is protruded through the bars,

quivering and slithering all round the object of his research, be it a ring

on a finger, a sleeve of a coat, or anything else. His usual food is an

insectile mixture, but fruit is also welcomed.


My Motrnot still flourishes ; I have had him since July, 1914. He

is very omnivorous in his feeding, and swallows down large shreds of

lettuce and sow-thistle leaves, which may in part account for his

beautiful condition. A mouse skinned and cut up is very welcome.


In July I received what I believe to be a rare importation amongst

Guans. I am not sure of the species. This Guan is the size of a hen

pheasant, with a very slender snake-like neck. The prevailing colour

is black, relieved by a whitish crest and by narrow white streaks on

the shoulders, with a patch of the same colour on the wing-coverts.

The bare skin of the face is pale grey-blue, the bill being the same with

a blackish tip. Legs and feet, red. The tarsi are rather short. The eyes,

which are full, are of a rich burnt-siena brown. The bird is tame, and

decidedly out of the common in colouring and appearance.


I have four British Nightingales, which I keep in cages with deep

sand drawers, placing in them at least an inch of sand, earth, and

cedar litter well mixed together, which is easily raked over every

morning ; so that the birds are able to keep their feet in good condition,

always a matter of importance with Nightingales. In the summer I

keep up a supply of gentles, which are placed in a large bowl of fine

meal until they are perfectly white and clean, and are then thrown into

the sand drawer, where the birds can hunt for them. Wasp grubs are,

of course, most useful. Live food is absolutely necessary for Nightingales

if they are to really flourish. The cocoons of the gentles are excellent

for them. When will mealworms once more be on the market in

available numbers ?



