26



Mrs. Johnstone,



In captivity this species becomes white-legged like the

common one—at least this was the case with some I saw in

Calcutta.


With regard to their treatment there, I may mention that

Mr. Rutledge used to give egg to his specimens of both species,

and I should recommend it to keepers of Goldfinches generally,

since they naturally feed partly on insects.



THE NESTING OF FRASER’S TOURACOU.


Turacus macrorhynchus.


By Mrs. Johnstone.


Judging by the rare reference to any species of Touracou

in the Avicultural Magazine, I should say they are somewhat

uncommon as aviary birds, but I think those who have kept

them will agree that they are some of the most delightful and

interesting birds imaginable.


My birds are singularly beautiful, being a soft grass-green ;

the wings and tail a glossy purple. The flight feathers are not

seen until the bird flies, when a broad band of brilliant crimson

is exposed and makes the bird a beautiful object when in flight.

The crest, which can be erected at pleasure, has a bar of white,

the tips being black. I purchased the cock three years ago,

from a dealer; he was quite healthy but almost featherless, quite

a baby, and had to be fed by hand, and the dealer informed me

he was a Senegal Touracou. Examining the Touracous of this

kind in the Zoological Gardens, I came to the conclusion that

whatever my bird was, he was not a Senegal. He soon grew out

of his baby plumage and throve immensely on a diet of soaked

biscuit and chopped banana and sweet-water grapes. His wife

came a year later, and here was a piece of good fortune not often

met with in the avicultural world—the only two Touracous ever

offered me—cock and hen, and the same species !


Last 3'ear they were out all the summer in a large out¬

door aviary, but the weather was too cold and wet and unpleasant,

and they never attempted to nest. The cock was, and is, very

fierce, and would attack me like a tiger if I presumed to offer



