MARCH. 61 



is too busy with his own household cares to think of anything outside 

 the family circle. 



The Hogs and Swine I can only just mention in passing. The 

 Patagonian Cavy struck me rather, and also the Capybara Porcupine. 

 Hard by, the Crested Cranes were on view, also the Manchurian, 

 Sarus, Common, Australian, and Indian White species. The Storks 

 were not far away, and I saw the White, Black, Maguari, and several 

 other species of these birds. The Ostriches, Rheas, Emus, and 

 Cassowaries must not be overlooked, neither the curious Kiwi or 

 Apteryx, practically a wingless bird. A male Chaffinch was picking 

 up scraps in and about the Storks' domain. 



To the Magpies, Jackdaws, and Crows I next directed attention, 

 and saw besides these members of this highly-intelligent Avian family 

 the fast-disappearing Chough in most exquisite glossy plumage and 

 bright red bill and feet and the Australian Piping Crow. This 

 latter is a beautiful songster, and treated me to a series of very lovely 

 mellow notes. A white Jackdaw was also included in this collection. 

 The Chough uttered a regular Jackdaw-like note, thrice repeated. I 

 spotted three or four Ravens, the Carrion Crow, and the Black-backed 

 Piping Crow. The latter had a stick in its mouth! Spring is here 

 The small birds hereabouts were the Reed Bunting, Lesser Redpoll, 

 Crossbill in the green and yellow plumage Snow Bunting, Chaffinch 

 and Greenfinch, and a couple of Ring Ouzels, and a really splendid 

 specimen of the Nutcracker was not far away. 



The Spotted Tinamon is a marvel of colouring, whilst the Crested 

 Colin, Sun Bittern, Cape Turtle Dove, Red-crested Cardinal singing 

 deliciously something like "birdie, birdie, birdie," but beautifully 

 musical Crested Pigeon, Mocking Bird uttering all sorts of extra- 

 ordinary notes White crested Jay Thrush a singular bird this, the 

 Jays' head being very marked Crowned Pigeon, Blue Bird, Blood- 

 breasted Pigeon one of the most marvellous colourings I have ever 

 seen, there being a patch of blood-red on the breast which looks just 

 like human spilt blood all possess a charm truly captivating and 

 entertaining. 



I passed several minutes with the Pelicans, such as the 

 White-crested, Australian, Rough-billed, and Red-backed species. 

 One cannot help watching them in their curious mannerisms. The 

 extending and closing of the pouch is a study indeed. How they 

 strut, too, exercising their wings as they go; how they dab down their 

 large webbed feetl The latter, I noticed, were red, pink, and grey 

 in those birds which were in the open. The grey-billed Gannet 



