rouges- —our Aurora Finches ( Pytelia phcenicoptera) from West

Africa, so sleek in condition and full of life and activity, with

their fire-coloured rumps and patches on the wing. Hence,,

another door leads into the lofty Central Parrot Hall.


This Parrot hall is far more lofty and airy than the Parrot

house of our own Zoo, though this does not necessarily say very

much for it. A gallery tenanted by Macaws, and apparently not

open to the public, runs round it. In the centre are some

artificial metal trees, not, perhaps, in the best of taste, which

serve the purpose of stands for more Macaws, all of well-known

species. The rows of cages ranged round are just of the

common square shape, in size far too prison-like for some of

the birds. The collection of Amazons is large and good ;

among them, specially handsome, is a Diademed Amazon, and

a rather small Crimson-fronted species ( Chrysotis pretii) much

took my fancy, I do not ever remember to have seen one before;

the band of crimson over the beak is very vivid, as is a fine blue

patch on the wings. Several of the smaller Parrakeets are well

represented—a pair of the engaging little Brotogerys Tuipara,

a single Multicolor in lovely condition, a Blue-bonnet, and a

Nanday. The gems of the collection are a Palceornis colmnboides

of wondrous hues, and, above all, a Queen of Bavaria Parrakeet

(i Conurus luteus) —I had never seen one alive, and from pictures

and even from stuffed specimens had gathered that the general

tint of the plumage was light canary—the reality far exceeded

my visions of it. The general body-colour is of the most

splendid amber, and it seems as if one looks through the rather

downy plumage to richer depths of amber below. The green,

too, of the primary and secondary- wing feathers is vivid bey^ond

description. The figure of the bird is not very elegant, but of

this one cannot judge fairly in a cage, deplorably cramped for

so lovely^ an inmate. Surely it should have an aviary to itself 1

I have no idea if there are in Europe any proud private

possessors of a specimen of this glorious Conure.


The Parrot house concluded my walk, but I should not

fail to direct the visitor to the Musee (I think they call it so)

directly opposite, i.e ., on the right as one enters the Gardens.

It is simply^ a large bazaar where appliances of all kinds for

Poultry-, Pheasants, and cage birds are on view. Every article is

ticketed with its price, and is on sale. It is convenient to look

over the devices of many makers without being invited to buy

them ! Parisian cages are certainly very light, elegant, and

temptingly cheap, and their cane perches look more natural and

comfortable for the feet than the English regulation perch, but



