ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



nor the much-valued of all, "salt," could induce 

 the natives to catch the much longed-for blue 

 bird for him. Eventually, he decided to make 

 use of their superstition, and coiling a large 

 snake around his neck, walked through the vil- 

 lage. He tells me that the effect of this trick 

 upon the natives was most comical. The street 

 emptied itself as if by magic, no native being 

 visible. He then instructed his interpreter to 

 tell them that tiie snake was Ids brother, and 

 that he had decided to depart but leave his broth- 

 er behind, and as lie had many cousins he would 

 call them all, and the village would be alive 

 with them because his brother was very angry 

 that they had taken his presents and not caught 

 him any blue birds! He evidently succeeded 

 beyond expectations for a day or two after the 

 first pair of blue birds arrived, being followed 

 within a few days by another eleven! Unfor- 

 tunately, the natives are very cruel in carrying 

 the birds they bring in. tying them tightly by 

 the thick part of the leg to poles with head 

 downward; when resting they are just pitched 

 anywhere, so that a number are half or quite 

 dead on arrival. Mr. Ward considers that the 

 blue birds are not at all rare, but being a kind 

 of sacred bird it is hard to induce the natives 

 to catch them. Other birds, especially those of 

 bright plumage, the feathers of which they use 

 themselves in their dancing costumes, they will 

 readily bring in in any number. In this altitude 

 Mr. Ward also obtained his superbs and long- 

 tails without trouble. As far as he could ob- 

 serve, the king bird is the only one which does 

 not dance or perform in some way. Parrots 

 and pigeons are very plentiful, and form the 

 main item on the menu. The natives catch them 

 witli snares and bring as many as required for 

 small remuneration. 



One of the most interesting birds is the gold- 

 en-crested bower bird, which is taken in the 

 net. The bower of tin's bird by description 

 must be most remarkable. A straight little sap- 

 ling perhaps two feet high is selected, and in 

 some way the bird kills it and strips it of its 

 leaves. Then he will plant in a circle around 

 this little flagpole, in the shape of a little mound, 

 moss, which in this ever moist and steamy at- 

 mosphere grows very quickly. He will then 

 place a dead stick from the outer rim of the 

 mound against the upright, and build a network 

 of little sticks ii]) the upright and the lean-to 

 stick, leaving an opening on the mossy mound 

 through which he plays. 



One of the most common birds of New Guin- 

 ea is a gorgeously plumed, long-tailed kingfisher. 

 Little bovs catch them any time they want to. 



taking the half-curled bark of a banana tret. 

 and fastening a grasshopper into the centre. 

 Two or three inches each side of it they fix a 

 snare with the noose upright inside the bark. 

 Having located the bird, they put their trap 

 on the ground close by. and clapping their hands 

 so as to attract the attention of the bird, they 

 walk backward away. The bird invariably 

 swoops down in a half-circle, and if he is not 

 caught on his way to the grasshopper, he gen- 

 erally finds himself in the noose getting away 

 from it. To catch these birds, which get their 

 food on the wing, is one thing; to keep them 

 is another. Mr. Ward, .after losing scores of 

 them for want of live food, conceived the idea 

 of bleaching the flesh of pigeons — the only meat 

 available — and getting the natives to hunt up 

 some white grubs, such as are found in decayed 

 wood. He commenced by tying small pieces of 

 this bleached meat on to the white grubs. Each 

 day the grub became smaller, the piece of meat 

 bigger; eventually there was only the still-mov- 

 ing head and the meat attached. In the end 

 even the head went, and Mr. Ward was repaid 

 for his infinite trouble and perseverance by 

 bringing a number of these lovely birds, living 

 on meat, to Sydney — probably the first seen 

 alive out of New Guinea. 



Altogether, the food question for birds dur- 

 ing transport must have been very trying; in 

 many districts Mr. Ward could only get green 

 bananas, and the artificial food brought along 

 would go sour an hour after opening the air- 

 tight tins. Also the trouble he had with his 

 carriers, especially in hostile country, needs 

 remembering, and would dishearten anyone less 

 enthusiastic or energetic. On account of their 

 quarrelsomeness, many of his birds had to be 

 transported in separate cages; others would fight 

 through the bars of their cages and destroy or 

 maim each other, and as the native track through 

 this endless jungle is but the width of a man. 

 the cages would hum]) against any obstacle — 

 little would it trouble the natives if these valu- 

 able birds suffered or not. From a height of 

 (3,000 feet up mountains and down paths almost 

 perpendicular, over ridges sharp as razors with 

 a consignment of rare and valuable birds, even- 

 tually landing them in wonderful condition — 

 one might say almost ready for showing — is an 

 achievement of which anyone might be proud. 

 It is only the few of us — like the writer of this 

 article — who have traversed an inhospitable 

 country similar to New Guinea, suffering the 

 terrors of the tropical jungles, and that scourge 

 of all tropical countries — malaria — who realize 



