G. H. Gurney—A Visit to the Brinsop Court Aviaries 55


and on the Sunday evening I saw them roosting on their accustomed

bough at the top of a tall Scotch fir in the garden.


Iir the Paddocks besides the Stanley Cranes were four Manchurian

Cranes, as well as White-necked and Australian. The large pond

beyond the moat held a varied collection of Ducks; most of the

commoner species were represented and I also noticed Scaup, Red-

crested Pochard, Chiloe Wigeon, Falcated Duck, G-olden-eye, White¬

eyed Pochard, and the extremely rare and beautiful little Cotton Teal,

of which there were three or four (I forget) lovely examples swimming

about, rather apart from the commoner herd, as though they knew

their superiority. The geese included Canadian, Bernicle, Ross’ Snow

Goose, Bar-headed, Ruddy-headed, Magellanic, and Grey Lag.


The large series of beautifully arranged and thought-out aviaries

contained a wonderful collection of various birds. I have jotted down

the names of a good many, but the following is a very incomplete list;

the birds I can remember included Barraband Parrakeets, Red Rumps,

Siamese Fire Backs, a pair of Satyr Tragopans, White-crested Jay

Thrush, every shade of Blue, Green, and Yellow Budgerigars, Black¬

headed Caiques, King Parrot, Stanley and Queen Alexandra’s

Parrakeets, Cockatiels, Purple-winged Glossy Starlings, Chestnut¬

winged Grackles, Tree Pipit, Wheatear, American Robin, Orange¬

headed Ground Thrush, African Thrush (Turdus hilimensis), Blue

Birds, Indigo Buntings, Sulphury Seedeaters, Yellow singing Finch,

Violet-eared Waxbill, Taha Weavers ; and of doves in the same aviaries

I noted Diamond, Indian Palm, Bar-shouldered, Crested, and Turtle

Doves, and some Bleeding-heart Pigeons. While sitting on a seat outside

the aviary with Mrs. Astley a perfectly delightful pair came walking up,

one on each side, a Guan and a Trumpeter ; the former hopped on to

the back of the seat, andbegan to amuse himself by pecking Mrs.Astley’s

hat; the Trumpeter, not to be outdone, essayed to jump into her lap,

but that was already occupied by a Pekinese Spaniel, so he had to be

content with standing oil the seat and pulling her jacket with his beak.

A few yards away on a heap of hay, against a sunny wall, basked a pair

of little Duiker Antelopes, a very difficult animal to keep in confinement,

while before long the two Holds walked up and flying up on to the back

of the seat demanded attention. It was all a wonderful picture, and



