153



Ma} r 23 2 Martinican Doves — Zenaida aurita


West Indies.


,, 26 1 Secretary Vulture— Serpentariiis reptilivorus


S. Africa.


1 Spanish Blue Magpie —Cyanopolius cooki


Spain.


,, 30 1 Greater Black-backed Gull— Lams marinus


Europe.



Gull Ponds.



Western Aviary.



Eastern Aviary.



Western Aviarj-.



The chief feature of interest among this month’s arrivals

is the pair of Struthideas, which have been, I hope only as

a temporary measure, lodged in the Parrot House. The

Struthidea is a dull-coloured grey bird, allied to the Jays,

inhabiting Southern and Eastern Australia. It has a short and

obtuse beak, which is well adapted for obtaining the seeds from a

tree in its native country, upon which it feeds to a large extent.

It is not often seen as a cage-bird, and has, I should imagine,

but little to recommend it; it is, however, well worth going to

see even in its present quarters.


From the last-named species to the Piping Crows is but a

short step, in classification, though a long one in the gardens !

The Crows are now well worth a visit, and the collection

includes many species, most of them in grand condition. A

pair of Piping Crows, which had evidently paired up, occupied

an aviary to themselves, and their antics, on the occasion of my

visit, were very amusing, and I trust the result may be equally

interesting.


The Gulls have already begun to nest, and those who, like

myself, so enjoy hearing from twenty to thirty of these birds

utter their weird cry all at once, have abundant opportunities for

giving themselves that pleasure.


It is, as yet, too early for much nesting of any interest to

be taking place in the Western Aviary, but the birds are all

looking their best, and several of the Doves were busily engaged

in matrimonial duties.


There is a very fine collection of British Geese in the

Gardens at the present time, but owing to the bad arrangement,

or rather want of arrangement, it takes a careful search to find

out the various species : they are all to be seen between the Gull

Ponds and the Fox Cages, and the differences between the Pink¬

footed, Bean and Grey-lag, or the Greater and Fesser White-

fronted, may be comfortablj r and profitably studied.


In the Fish House the chief item of interest for this

month was going on, nameljq the mating of a pair of Knots.



