92



with a wonderful nest (fully described) which, by some mistake,

had not been exhibited in the cage with the bird. Being fond of

the Hangnests, I wondered to myself what species this would be,

and made a point of inspecting the class. It turned out that the

“ black” Hangnest was a timid Shama, which I found crouching

in a corner of its cage, only the black feathers being exposed to

view. It is sad that even a critic, and the critic of so important

a journal, should have been led into error by so simple and

common a blunder as the mixing up of the numbers of the

exhibits. The Hangnest was only two cages removed from the

Shama! So much for the critics, including of course the most

humble of your servants." 1



REVIEW.


Foreign Fancy Birds for Voting Fanciers, by Dr. W. T. Greene,

M.A., F.Z.S. f“Pigeons & Cage Birds" Office).


This is an unpretending little sixpenny pamphlet written

in Dr. Greene’s well-known attractive style, and likely to be of

considerable use to the novice in aviculture, if only by intro¬

ducing him to the subject and leading him on to the study of

larger works.


We cannot help thinking the title to be singularly in¬

appropriate—the word “ Fancy ” is quite inapplicable to foreign

birds, which are not bred for fancy points like poultry, pigeons

and canaries ; and we protest against aviculturists being called

“ fanciers.”


We have noted several of the author’s statements with

which we are unable to agree, but as a whole this little book is

much freer from inaccuracies than some other of Dr. Greene’s

later works, and he has wisely refrained from expounding his

favourite scientific heresies, which are made rather too obtrusive

in some of his books. Perhaps this is partly explained by the

fact that in Foreign Fancy Birds scientific names are conspicuous

by their absence, and no sort of classification is attempted.


According to Dr. Greene, “ it is quite certain that an

aviary, even on a small scale, can, if properly managed, be



* Since writing tlie foregoing, I have come across a pair of Forsten’s

Lorikeets which appear to be in adult plumage ; and the difference be¬

tween them and the specimens I had previously seen is marked. The most

striking point in the bird I find is the magnificent bright-red, unbarred,

breast, shining out in contrast with the rich purple of the abdomen and the

curious wavy yellow-green breeches. It is a remarkably handsome creatnre.

— R.P.



