145



Practical Bird-Keeping.



THE YUCATAN JAY.*


Mr. Beebe in his paper gives a careful description of the

plumages of three Yucatan Jays, which were living in the Zoo¬

logical Park, New York. Most previous writers have considered

that the sexes in this species differed in colour, but, from the

study of his captive specimens, the author shows that the sup¬

posed sexual differences are merely due to age, and that when

adult the sexes are alike. The yellow bill and white tips to the

rectrices, supposed to be characteristics of the female, are now

shown to be merely marks of immaturity, and the full adult

plumage is not assumed for at least two years.


“THE GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA.”


“ The Game-Birds of South Africa” is the title of an important work

which Messrs. Witlierby & Co. are about to publish. The book is by Major

Boyd Horsbrugh, and wall be illustrated by nearly' seventy coloured plates,

reproduced in facsimile from the very remarkable drawings of Sergeant

C. G. Davies. The work will be in small quarto, and will be issued in four

quarterly parts.



THE SOCIETY’S MEDAL.


A medal has been awarded to Mr. W. T. Page for breeding

the Indian White-eye ( Zosterops palpebrosa). Ser. IIP, Vol. 3,

P- _



PRACTICAL BIRD-KEEPING.


XIII.—TOIJRACOUS, BOWER BIRDS AND

BIRDS OF PARADISE.


By Mrs. Johnstone.


Touracous are, I understand, classed with the Cuckoos, on

the ground principally of the likeness of each when in the nest.

I fear I am not scientific, for, in my opinion, the Touracous are

totally unlike the Cuckoos. In their movements and ways there

is no resemblance — the Cuckoo is principally insectivorous, the

Touracous largely frugivorous.



* The undescribed juvenal plumage of the Yucatan Jay, by C. William Beebe and

Lee S. Crandall. Zoologica. Vol. i, No. 7. New York: The Society, The Zoological

Park. 4pp. and 1 coloured plate.



