Bird Notes from the Zoological Gardens.



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several of the islands have species or varieties peculiar to them.

On Palma, for instance, there is a Blue Chaffinch, but it differs

from F. teydea (Senor Gomez is my authority) in having two bars

of white across the wings, being much more distinct than those

in F. teydea , which are merely of a lighter shade than the rest

of the general colour. It is supposed that the Canary Islands

may be the remnant of the great lost Continent of Atlantis; at

any rate it is evident that the Blue Chaffinch is only to be found

there—and perhaps only on one island of the group.


The males are strikingly handsome, their colour is some¬

what the same as that of the Blue Rock Thrush, but it is richer

and more uniform throughout. In shape and demeanour this

bird is a true Chaffiueh.


It would be very interesting if my Chaffinches would breed

in captivity, and I shall encourage them to do so.


Nine of these birds were imported in July of 1S93, which

were purchased by the authorities of the Breslau Zoological

Gardens, one pair of which paired off in a large cage. The hen

built her nest in a bushy branch within an open nest-box.

The nest consisted of hay, moss, charpie and feathers. The

male bird fed her all the time.


The period of incubation was 14 days, and the young were

fed by the hen with fresh ants’ eggs and mealworms.


Several broods were successfully hatched.



BIRD NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.


By The Curator.


The pair of Black-necked Swans on the Three-island pond

have hatched a pair of cygnets, which are up to the present

doing well. It is most interesting to see the parents brooding

them on their backs, the cygnets hiding away completely under

the old birds’ wings. One of the photographs here reproduced,

shows a back view of the male Swan, and under one wing can

be seen the cygnets comfortably tucked away. The male Swan

has been rather savage all the winter, but latterly has become

extremely so, rushing open-mouthed across the water at any



