48



fifteen others, with round ponds in their centres. The first is

chiefly tenanted by the Ibis tribe, the roseate hues of some of

which are most beautiful. Each of the fifteen smaller aviaries

has two inner apartments, one below, the other above. The

objedt, apparently, of the upper floor is to accommodate races

which like to roost aloft, and to give a quiet retreat to shy birds.

Certainly, this great height shows to the utmost advantage birds

of elegant flight. I specially observed this in the case of some

long-tailed Glossy Starlings and Blue Magpies. In one com¬

partment were strange companions—Peacocks and Pigeons—the

latter the “ Triangular-spotted Pigeon ” of the Cape (Columba

guinea ?) said to be there very numerous and very destructive to

the crops. It is a handsome bird, blue, with maroon markings,

seldom to be met with in England and then by far too dear.


In the next I coveted a lovely Sonnerat’s Jungle Cock.

Not far off was another, both without mates—I suspedt the

survivors of a quartette, imported by an English dealer, and

all sold to the Directorate of these Gardens ; a pair of which I

was disappointed not to get. In Odtober, a Bantam hen was the

companion of one, and was wickedly employed in pecking out

his spangled neck-hackle ; in November, I was glad to find her

removed.


Then come cobalt Vulturine Guinea-fowls, and the great¬

est of the Columbine tribe, the Great-crowned Pigeon (Goura

coronatci ) ; then lovely Siamese Fireback Pheasants (. Euplo-

camus ignitus ) which our older ornithologists called the

“ Macartney cock,” in compliment to the great ambassador.

Then a collection of Pennant’s Parrakeets and Mealy Rosellas—

the contrast of the rich glowing plumage of the former, and the

soft shades of lavender and canary of the latter is beautiful,

and the races seem to live in perfect harmony. Then Troupials

and various foreign Pigeons; then more Bronze-wings, and

more Pheasants ; and in the great end aviary a collection of

small Ducks, Mandarins, Carolinas and others, and various of

the Penelope tribe. Forty-five years ago, in the charming old

“ Dovecote and Aviary,” Mr. Dixon wrote of the Curassows and

Guans as a possible addition in the future to our domestic birds.

I believe they are to-day no nearer domestication than they were

then, and I cannot say that I much admire them, either in the

“ Eastern Aviaries ” of the Regent’s Park, or in their still larger

Parisian abode. They are by nature arboreal in their habits,

and, doubtless, to be seen to advantage should be seen flying

rom bough to bough, in their native South American forests.


(To be continued x ).



