168 Aviculture at the Amsterdam Zoological Gardens.


Starling ( Spodiopsar malaharicus). The building contains two

especially rare birds — the Rhinoceros Hornbill ( Buceros rhinoceros)

from Sumatra, and the Red-billed Hornbill ( Lophoceros erythro-

rhynchus ) from Africa. The Cape Masked Doves ( (Ena capensis) at

Amsterdam are very lovely ; the grey portions of their plumage

exquisitely tinged with blue. Then, again, there is a fine brilliant

Gallinule (. Porphryriola martinica) , a Drongo (. Dissemurus paradiseus),.

Red-cheeked Mouse-bird ( Colins erythromelon), Bell-bird ( Chasmo-

rhyncha nudicollis), together with various Troupials, Jays, Toucans

and Pigeons. Both common and Victoria Crowned Pigeons are very

well represented : the booming note of these birds reminds one of

Bougainville’s sailors. When these heroes first landed in New

Guinea they fled in terror from the concealed pigeons, mistaking

their booming' cry for the signals of ambushed savages !


The small cages on the opposite side of the Bird House

contain much of interest. There is exhibited in this series : (l) a

Senegal Parrot, (2) a species of Pionus (Pionus menstruus), (3) a very

fine male Lesser Bird of Paradise, (4) a Timneh Parrot ( Psittacus

timneh ) (5) a Black-headed Siskin ( Chrysomitris magellanica) , (6) a

Vasa Parrot (Goracopsis vasa), (7) an Eclectus (Eclectics pectoralis),.

and (8) a very good pair of Dinemellia dinemelli, the species well

termed by Sir Harry Johnston “ the King of the Sparrows.” The

series also contains the Paradise Whydah, Pintailed Whydah, Laven¬

der Finch, Scarlet Tanager, Purple-capped Lory, and other well-

known birds.


Amsterdam is justly famous for its rich exhibit of Storks and

Cranes and Herons. This delightful installation consists of a neat,

double row of tiny houses, each with a little yard in front of it,

through which flows a stream of water. The shelter houses are

beautifully finished, almost like doll’s houses with their doors and

windows. It is charming to stand at one end of the avenue viewing

this bird town and its inhabitants, so well set of!' by the rich greenery

in the background. Amongst the exhibits may be mentioned : the

Australian Crane, Stanley Crane, White-necked Crane, Common

Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Goliath Heron, Adjutant or Marabout,

Malacca Heron, African Tantalus, Indian Tantalus—and so forth.


Then, again, the Cassowaries are pleasingly located in a series



