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Mr. R. N. Gibbard.



easily from branch to branch, or descending earthwards with

bounding hops.


The Black American Vulture is here, its sooty plumage

showing lines in it, like black watered silk ; also a Buzzard—like a

miniature Eagle—its brown plumage glossed with purple in the sun¬

light. Here we see the half vulturine Caracara from Brazil, and a

large Horned Owl.


In conclusion we mention the Condor, which has lived many

years in the Gardens; the Golden Eagle; the Bald Eagle from

America—Uncle Sam’s bird of freedom ; the scraggy, untidy-looking

Pondicherry Vultures; the beautiful Curassow, with its blue-black

plumage and intelligent eye, a Pheasant of the New World; the

common Crowned Crane, perhaps the original of the fabled Phoenix;

and the lovely Wood Storks, black and white and pink. Even more

beautiful is the snow-white Egret, its spotless purity set off by the

pale green eye and cere, and black legs and feet. There are two

Marabout Storks: one squats on his tarsus, bis head and neck retracted

between his shoulders; the other stands upright with wings neatly

folded, like some philosophic, very correct old gentleman wrapped in

a long tail-coat. The Black Stork in the collection is a nice bird.

Though much smaller than the familiar white species, he is very

choice, with his plumage shot with changeable purple-bronze, like the

feathers of a Bird of Paradise. Last of all there is a solemn old

Pelican, with plumage agreeably tinted with salmon colour, and a

pale green pouch under his red-tipped beak.


We would recommend all our readers to visit this collection at

least once ; indeed several hours can be profitably spent in avicultural

study at these well-stocked and long-established Gardens.



FOREIGN FINCHES AND WAXBILLS.


By R. N. Gibbard.


Last September I purchased a few foreign birds from the

north of Scotland. I found that they had been kept in a large cage

indoors, with a fire in the room on cold days. The birds included

Cordon Bleus, x\frican Fire-Finch, Orange-breasted, Common and



