M4



haunts. Their coming is delayed this spring, no doubt on account of the

more favourable season in the north. The tameness of all the birds that

were seen was very noticeable.


“For those birds which would stray away large aviaries, with many

sub-divisions, have been erected, and it takes some hours each morning to

attend to the w'ants of their occupants. Parrot and Finch, Wonga Wonga

Pigeon and Peaceful Dove, Wood Duck and Eagle, a pretty Kestrel, and a

covey of Brown Quail, all welcome eagerly the hand that feeds. Many of

them come closely to the netting when any one appears.


* ****** * *


“ The Shell Parrots suggested peace in all their ways. Their nests

were in some hollow limbs, and a little head would now and then emerge

from a knothole to look around. When the hen came off one nest, the

male bird drove her back again ; but the majority were “ kissing ” or

whispering sweetly to each other. Barraband and Port Lincoln, “ 28” and

Cockatoo, Rosella and Betcherrygali were amongst the Parrots and

Parrakeets kept ; of larger kinds the White, Long-billed, Rose-breasted, and

other of the Cockatoo clan were there. In another portion of the aviary, a

little Tribonyx (or native hen) was laying. She had Maned Geese as her

near neighbours, some Assam Pheasants, and a young Muscovy Duck, which

had deserted its kin, bearing the latter company. The Queensland Green

Pigeon cooed, and seemed thoroughly at home. How many birds are in

captivity is hard to discover, since the bushes and reeds are not easily seen

through. One secret of success in keeping all these birds is that they have

abundance of room, and that natural surroundings are provided as far as

practicable ; another is that those wdio keep them love the task of caring for

them, and would as soon think of neglecting their own kin as not supply¬

ing the wants of the birds.”



BIRD NOTES.



Mr. J. H. Gurney contributes his annual Ornithological Notes from

Norfolk and the north of Suffolk, to the March number of the Zoologist.

Among the rarities noted during the year (1901) are the following : Lesser

White-fronted Goose in January; Golden Oriole, White-winged Terns,

Goshawk, and Orange-legged Hobby in April; Woodchat Shrike in June ;

Caspian Tern and Avocet in July; Blue-throat and Roller in September;.

Sabine’s Gull and Teugmalm’s Owl in October; and Allen’s Gallinule in

December.


A specimen of the Yellow-eyed Babbler (Pyctorhys sinensis), which

species was ably described in our last number by Mr. E. W. Harper, has

recently been deposited at the Zoological Gardens by the Honble. W.

Rothschild. It is the first example received by the Society since 1S6S,

and is well worth inspection. It occupies a spacious cage in the Insect

House.


On March 28th last the Zoological Society received a consignment of



