6 o



2 Undulated Grass Parrakeets —Melopsilacus undulatus, var.


Australia. ,, ,,


i Lapwing —Vane Lius vulgaris. Europe. Fisli House.


Snow and frost—such were the conditions under which

my monthly visit to the Gardens was paid, and I must crave

Lidul gence on that account for my notes being somewhat scanty.


In the Western and Eastern Aviaries all the birds were

shut in, and therefore crowded, making observation difficult. The

Lesser Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, seemed to be settling down well

into their new quarters ; but the Japanese Buntings I was unable to

see. In the Eastern, or rather Pelican, Aviary, a fine adult Gaunet

was to be seen knocking in vain for admittance at the door of

the Pelican House. These birds are most interesting in confine¬

ment, where they become very tame, and follow their keeper like

a dog; their chief drawback is their insatiable appetite, and as

they feed solely upon fish, are rather expensive pets. The

remaining place of interest is now the Parrot House, and, for

once in a way, it was the most comfortable ; the new arrivals

include, as usual, several Eclecti, which were in only fair

condition, some of them being rather travel-stained.


The greatest rarities were a pair of Schalows’ Touracous,

on which Mr. Tegetmeier wrote a short account in the Field , of

2nd December (p. 891). There are several species of this group,

all of which closely resemble each other ; they are about the

size of small Pigeons, and the general colouration is green with

purple hues. They all have a large crest on the top of the head,

which, however, differs in shape in the various species. They

are nearly allied to the Cuckoos, feed entirely on fruit, and are

confined to Africa. Three species are at present represented at

the Zoo: Shalows’, Great-billed, and White-crested. The chief

point of interest about this group is the colouring of the

primaries, which are of a bright and translucent red. This

colour is due to a pigment known as Turacin, which is very

soluble in water and is said to perceptibly tint it when they take

a bath.


I notice that a slight error was made in my last notes, and

that the bird described as the Uvcean Parrakeet was in reality

the Orange-shouldered Parrakeet, which was figured in the

Avicultural Magazine not long ago. The Uvoean Parrakeet is a

much larger bird, having a black back, with broad yellow

margins to all the feathers. The head and wings are bluish and

the rest of the plumage is a light 3 r ellow.



