Bird Notes from the Zoological. Gardens. 287


o’clock wlien lunch was served in Magdalene College. Professor

Newton in replying to the toast of his health remarked that he

thought that the members had come to Cambridge with the

laudable intention of birds’-nesting. They had come to the

place where the nest was made and the egg was laid which

hatched into the Ibis, which as everybody knows is the famous

journal of the British Ornithologists’ Union. After lunch the

members were invited by Mr. Bonliote to visit his aviaries at

Fen Ditton, and a large number availed themselves of this

opportunity of inspecting his fine collection of Ducks, Waders,

Herons, Owls, Gulls, &c. After tea the party drove to the

station and the greater number left for Bridlington, Yorkshire,

which was reached about midnight. The following morning an

early start was made for the cliffs of Flamborough Head and

Bempton, the breeding place of innumerable Guillemots, Razor¬

bills, Puffins and Kittiwakes. This is one of the very few places

at which cliff-climbers can be seen at work collecting the eggs

on the face of the precipitous cliffs which reach a height of some

three and four hundred feet. Several descents were made by the

climbers while the members of the Congress were present, and

the sight was one that will not be easily forgotten. Most of the

members returned to town the same evening while a few

remained until the following day.



BIRD NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.


A very large number of Pheasants have been hatched in

the Gardens, and about a hundred, consisting of Amherst,

Golden, Silver, Swinhoes, Reeves, Common, and hybrids between

the Common and the Mongolian, may now be said to be

practically reared. Several young of Sonnerat’s Jungle-fowl

have also been reared, and there are some young Greek Part¬

ridges, Californian Quails, Wouga-Wonga Pigeons, &c.


The Grey Struthideas have constructed a curious nest of

mud and hay on a perch in the Western Aviary; the Tickell’s

Ouzels have hatched one young bird in the Southern Pheasantry ;

Red-headed Ground-Thrushes are nesting; and some hybrids

between Andaman and Malabar Starlings have been hatched.



