157



The hen is slightly smaller, and her markings are a

subdued copy of those of the cock; the “mask” is only just

visible as a darker patch of grey than her back plumage ; the

breast also is not of so pure a grey as that of the cock.


The White-eyebrowed is a little darker in body plumage

than the Masked, and the cock bird has just such a suggestion

of a mask as has the hen of the Masked Wood-Swallow. It

has the same grey edging to the tips of the wing feathers, but

no grey tips to the tail. Each wing-covert is marked with a

tiny triangular patch of light grey, and these, when the wings

are closed make quite a pretty “spangling.” The breast is of

a ruddy brown. A well defined white superciliary streak, which

is the only white in the bird’s plumage, gives it its name.


As in the case of the Masked Wood-Swallow the hen is

a subdued copy of her mate. The white eyebrow is only just a

suggestion, and the spangling on the wings is missing.


The same Shrike-like beak, slate color for half its length

shading to black at the tip, and the same strong slate-colored legs

and feet are common to all three varieties.


A most remarkable difference in habit is that while the

Dusky Wood-Swallows spend all night and a considerable

portion of the day hanging, as described, from the top of their

cage, the other two varieties show no trace of such a tendency,

but use their perches for roosting as w T ell as in the day-time.



ZOO NOTES.


By J. Lewis Bonhote.

vii.—march.


Mar. 7 4 Cockatiels— Calopsittacus nwvce hollandice


Australia.


,, 13 1 Black-facecl Ibis— Theristicus caudatus


S. America.


2 Grey Strutliideas— Struthidea cinerea


Australia.


,, 14 I Silver Pheasant— Euplocainus nycthemerus


China.


,, 17 1 Greater Black-backed Gull— Lams marinus


Europe.


,, 23 1 Great Bustard— Otis tarda Europe.


1 Snowy Owl— Nyctcea scandiaca N. Europe.


1 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse — Pterocles alchata


X Slender-billed Gull— Lams gelastes


S. Europe.



Parrot House.


Eastern Aviary.


Parrot House.


Pheasantry.


Gull Ponds.

Eastern Aviai-y.

Owls’ Cages.

Western Aviary.


Eastern Aviary.



