304 



FOREIGN BIRDS FOR CAGE AND AVIARY. 



boiled taro (the root of the Caladium ttculentum), 

 rolled into oblong pellets, in the same manner as they 

 fed their pet Wood-Pigeons and Doves. The power of 

 wing of most of the Pigeon tribe is very great, and it 

 also obtains in this bird. It flies through the air with 

 a loud noise like the Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimn* 

 autarcticus) of the Illa.warra district, and many others 

 of the Australian Pigeons ; and Mr. Stair describes it 

 as making so great a noise with its wings on rising that, 

 when heard at a distance, it resembles the rumbling of 

 distant thunder, for which it might be mistaken. Mr. 

 Stair considers that the bird may yet be found at Savaii, 

 the largest and most mountainous island of the group, 

 but thinks it does not at present exist on that of 

 Upolu." 



The first example of this rare Pigeon to reach the 

 Gardens at Regent's Park was presented by Dr. G. 

 Bennett in 1864, a second was presented in 1874, and 

 a third was purchased in 1876 ; the last recorded in the 

 ninth edition of the " List of Animals" was presented 

 in 1887. 



So rarely does this bird come to Europe that Dr. 

 Russ says that it has no meaning at present for avicul- 



ture, but he hopes it may eventually arrive in greater 

 numbers, in which case it will be of the highest interest- 

 I am afraid that hope is destined never to be realised. 



This bird, then, brings my task to a conclusion, and 

 I can only regret that, however much pains one may 

 take, and however zealously one may work, the rapid, 

 ^yearly influx of new forms renders it impossible to make 

 'a work of this kind absolutely complete. However, up 

 to the end of 1908, I think very little is lacking, except- 

 ing those species which, being now unattainable, were 

 purposely omitted, and I believe, as stated in my 

 Preface, the Doves are complete up to the end of 

 1909. The majority of the new forms imported 

 in 1909 have been secured and brought home by 

 collectors specially sent out by wealthy aviculturiste 

 and the London Zoological Society ; consequently it is- 

 probable that many years must pass before they are 

 likely to be offered for sale in the open markets of 

 Europe, if, indeed, the ever-growing mania for excessive- 

 bird-protection does not ere long put a stop altogether 

 to aviculture, and thus inflict a severe blow upor* 

 biological science by greatly narrowing the circle of 

 students of bird-life. 



