Correspoyidence, Notes, etc.



207



birds on view together; such a collection as has never before

been seen in any European collection.


Mr. Bertling has had the good fortune to witness the

nuptial display of one of the Lesser Birds, which was very

different to that usually represented in mounted specimens and

illustrations. The wings were spread horizontally, and every

now and then appeared to quiver, while the plumes, instead of

being arched in two tufts, were spread together over the back

and tail.


Besides the Birds of Paradise, the very rare Black Lory, so

well figured by Mr. Gronvold in our last issue, is on deposit at the

Gardens, and is, so far as we are aware, the first specimen

exhibited alive in Europe. *


The Parrots in the very exposed Canal-bank Aviary have

mostly stood the winter well. We expected this of the Cockatoos

and Broad-tails, but few would have supposed that Macaws and

Amazons would have passed a trying winter in so bleak a

situation without apparently suffering any inconvenience. In

the centre compartment of the Western Aviary some Toucans

have existed without artificial warmth, and now appear to be in

the best of health. D. S-S.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


THE FORTHCOMING INTERNATIONAL, ORNITHOLOGICAL


CONGRESS.


Sir, —Most members of the Avicultural Society will by this time be

aware that ail International Congress of Ornithology is to be held in

London next June, and we hope to give our brother ornithologists from all

parts of the world a hearty welcome.


As time goes on it is being recognised more and more that many of

the greatest of Nature’s problems are only to be solved by a study of the

living, and since England, so far as I am aware, is the only country that

contains a Society like ours, solely devoted to the study of live birds

exclusive of all domestic forms, I feel that our members should make a

special effort to show how much may be done by a careful study of wild

species in their living state.



* On going- to press we learn of the arrival at the Gardens of a pair of Bourke’s

Parrakeets (Neophema bourhei), one of which has unfortunately died, and two pairs of

Yellow-rumped Finches [Minna flaviprymna).



