i65


Gardens above referred to. Both birds carried the feet drawn

up to the body like the Barbets, or like Passerine birds (/). In the

case of Cuckoos I have observed, with wild birds, that both the

Koel {Eudy7iamis honorata) and the Crow-pheasant {Centropus

sinensis) carry their feet behind when well under way. I have

seen this particularly well in the case of the last species, whose

feet in flight have exactly the same position behind as I have

seen in a Pheasant and a domestic fowl, in Kngland. A

Hierococcyx appeared to have its feet drawn up in a short flight.


Domestic fowls, however, in their short flights, usually

carry their feet in front, and this I noticed in a young Centropns,

I had free, but tame, in the Museum compound, and in a Koel in

the large aviary above referred to. As this is done by Pigeons

also when starting, though they afterwards extend their feet

behind, I do not feel absolutely certain about the Woodpeckers,

Barbets and Hoopoes, but as I never saw any backward extension

of the feet in these birds, I think that the forward position iS'

really the permanent one in them, though I should have liked a

good look at a bird in a long flight overhead, at liberty if possible.


With regard to the Parrot and Roller, though these birds

were confined, the former had plent}^ of room for a long flight,

and as to the latter, I have never met with any bird which first

extends its feet behind and then draws them up, so that I consider

the observation on these as sufficiently conclusive for the species,

in question, if not for their allies.


From these experiences I conclude that, supposing the-

same habit of carrying the feet to run through a famil)^ the forward

position of the feet in flight probably characterises Hoopoes,

Woodpeckers, and Barbets, and the backward one certainly

obtains among Kingfishers, Rollers, Hornbills, Cuckoos, and

Parrots.



CORRESPONDENCE.



SCIENTIFIC AVICULTURE.


Sir, — I was much interested in Dr. Bntler's article on " Scientific

Aviculture" in the April number of the Magazine, p. loi, vol. iv.


I quite agree with the views therein expressed, and in this connexion

I should like to know whether measures have been taken to secure the

lodgment of complete copies of the Magazine, from its commencement, in

some of the leading scientific libraries, e.g., that of the Zoological Society

in Hanover Sqtiare, so that they maj- always be available for reference. If


(./) There are, however, exceptions among the Passerine Birds ; a well known.

example of which is the Corn Bunting-. — A. G. B.



