II. D. Astley—The Nero Collection at Chateau de Cleres 171


one would not be altogether astonished. Instead of that the songs

and cries of bird’s voices greet one’s ears, for Monsieur Delacour has

dedicated the ground-floor rooms to them.


As one enters there are four large and lofty aviary compartments,

in which there are such birds as Grey Touracos, various Pies (Blue

from South America, Himalayan Wandering Tree-pie, chestnut and

black Magpies), a Green-billed Toucan, Glossy Starlings, a pair of

rare Pied Shrikes ( Urolestes melanoleucus) from South Africa, almost

the size of the Greater Shrike of Europe, but with long tails ; Grey¬

winged Ouzels, and various Mynahs and Troupials. Opening out of

this room is the bird-room proper, where later on Monsieur Delacour

hopes to keep Humming-birds, for all is heated from a furnace with

hot-water pipes. Here on the wall side are a series of large fixed cages

in two tiers, the top one with flat wooden roofs, the lower ones on which

they rest having bowed roofs of wire, and these jut beyond the level of

the upper storey.


On the window-side a long and broad shelf runs where separate

cages are placed. Here are several rarities. A Lesser Paradise bird

and a Javanese Golden Oriole ( Oriolus maculatus) ; a pair of Cuban

Trogons, a rare African Mouse-bird ( Colius erythromelon), a pair of

Amethyst Starlings, a Glossy Calornis Starling, four species of Bulbuls

(Pycnonotus , including P. pygceus, White-cheeked, and Cape). A splendid

Giant Barbet ( Megalcema virens), a bold and beautiful bird ; a Hoary

Jungle Barbet (M. caniceps). A very rare small Woodpecker, not much

larger than the Lesser Spotted of Europe ( Melanerpes wagleri), from

Colombia (Carthagena). A bird with Zebra-like black ami white

body, and a patch of red on the crown. A deliciously tame and lovely

African Roller ( Coracias caudatus), with forked, swallow-like tail,

the whole throat and upper breast of a delicate lilac, the underparts

Eton blue, the wings and tail bright blue and eau de nil. This bird

spreads his wings, calling loudly as a welcome when one enters. As

Monsieur Delacour said, Rollers must have plenty of wing exercise,

since in a wild state they catch their prey after the manner of swallows,

hawking at flying insects.


On the higher ground, concealed from the chateau by trees, are the

magnificent aviaries still unfinished. The whole measure about 98 feet



