A wonderful collection of birds from Ecuador.



373



these are now a fortnight old and I am intending to take them both

to hand-rear.


The present owner of the first chick writes that the young

bird is now moulting, and is at the same time developing the adult

colouration on feet and bill.


[We could have done with more, especially as it is one of the most

interesting records and accounts we have ever published.—ED.]



A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF BIRDS

FROM ECUADOR.


By H. D. Astley.


On the 7th of September Mr. Ezra and I wended our way

[it seemed almost as far as Tipperary !) to the Victoria docks in

order to meet Mr. Goodfellow who had just arrived with a collection

of birds, which are the property of Mr. E. J. Brook, of Hoddam

Castle.


Mr. Goodfellow, assisted by Mr. Percy Parsons, has been

collecting for the last two years in Western Ecuador, and has brought

back some marvellous birds amongst about 300 specimens. As Mr.

Ezra and I arrived on the wharf, the unloading of the cages had just

commenced, a seemingly endless procession, and as here and there we

lifted the canvas blinds, we could only reiterate “ Oh ! Oh ! Oh! ! ”


Tanagers galore of species never before seen in Europe.

Tanagers blue and tanagers green, tanagers orange and tanagers

with all the colours of precious stones ; bedecked in turquoise, topaz,

and tourmaline, in ruby, sapphire, and emerald, some in colours so

subtle that it is difficult to give them a name, colours which change

according to the light thrown on them or the posture of the bird.


And yet with all this, when I congratulated Mr. Goodfellow

and envied Mr. Brook, the former said : If I could have brought

back all I had at one time, it would have been a wonderful collec¬

tion,” for one large lot was lost through having to bring the birds

from high altitudes and long journeys into torrid heat, besides other

vicissitudes.


I think Mr. Goodfellow is a wonder ! and Mr. Parsons too,

(of whose experiences more anon).



