no



Mr. Coixingwood Ingram,



fastuosa should not be bred, provided that a true pair be selected,

and it is partly with the object of making such a selection easy

that I desired to have the two sexes illustrated in colour. As we

know nothing for certain respecting either the nest or eggs of

this lovely Tanager, to breed it will be a distinct gain to science.


Of all the species of Calliste hitherto kept in cages, C.

fastuosa is about the cheapest and undoubtedly one of the most

beautiful. The following have been imported : Calliste tatao.

C. fastuosa, C. tricolor, C. festiva, C. guttata, C. flava, C. cay ana,

C. pretiosa, C. melanonota , C. braziliensis, C. flaviventris, C.

cyanoptera, all of them beautiful birds respecting the wild life of

which remarkably little has been published.


Why collectors in Tropical America have so rarely sent

home notes on the habits of the birds which they have shot it

would be difficult to say ; unless the explanation be that those

wffio sent them out, cared only for systematic Ornithology, and

therefore instructed their collectors to devote all their time and

attention to making big collections. Of course there have been

private collectors, themselves enthusiastic Ornithologists, who

have been quite as much interested in living as in dead birds,

and it is to these and a few paid collectors that we are indebted

.for all that we know of the domestic economy of Tropical

American birds.



ORIENTAL AVICULTURE.


By Coixingwood Ingram.


In not a few respects, the Oriental is a more ardent and

devoted aviculturist than his fellow-worker in the West. To fully

realise this one has only to watch a Chinaman take his bird out

for an “airing” just as an Englishman would take his dog for a

walk. Cage in hand, the Celestial is observed hurrying through

the dark and squalid streets of his crowded city, making for the

nearest green field or, if this happens to be too far away, for the

nearest open space. Having arrived at his destination, he quickly

uncovers his bamboo cage which he then places on the palm of

his hand and raises overhead, that the bird may benefit as much

as possible from the morning air and sunshine. Thus exposed



