J. Delacour—Some Birds in niy Aviaries



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birds are more fruit-eaters, African, and especially American, species

being more insectivorous.


My Asiatic Barbets are the Giant, the Hoary Jungle, and the

Common Bluethroated. Of the last bird, well known to all aviculturists,

I won’t speak. The Hoary Jungle Barbet ( Thereiceryx zeylonicus ) is

an inhabitant of India and Ceylon ; his size is that of a Starling ; his

body is of a lovely pale green, head and neck grey streaked with white,

bill dark yellow, eyes with white “ spectacles It is a bold and

unsociable bird that I keep alone in an aviary of the bird gallery, as

well as the Giant Barbet. The latter ( Megalcema virens ) is the biggest

bird of the family, and a very handsome one. Its size is that of a Jay ;

head and neck very dark bluish-green ; chest, dark brown ; tail and

wings, green ; shoulders, chestnut; underparts, green streaked with

pale yellow ; vent, rich pink. This bird inhabits China. Of the African

species, one is the well-known Levaillant’s Barbet ( Trachyphonus

cafer), a beautiful bird with rather a long tail, a crest, and a fine plumage,

variegated with yellow, red, black, and white. The Black-collared

Barbet ( Lybius torquatus ) is also very handsome and rare. A few have

been imported lately, but when my bird arrived it was only the second

one ever imported into Europe, the first one having been brought into

Berlin in 1912. Its size is that of the Common Barbet; head

and neck, scarlet; wide, black collar ; back, olive green ; wings and

tail, black ; underparts, yellow. My last species is a little Pied Barbet

( Tricholcema leucomelan) of the size of a Sparrow, black and white,

with a scarlet and yellow patch on the head. All these African birds

are quite sociable and harmless, and live in the Bird Gallery with

Tanagers, Bulbuls, etc. I give all these Barbets insectile mixture ;

a little meat, fruit, such as apple, orange, bananas, elder-berries, etc.,

mashed potatoes and carrots and dried figs and raisins. I find them

very robust and most satisfactory aviary birds.


Two rather rare birds that I have kept and have proved a failure

are the Grey Touracou ( Schizorhis concolor ) and the Long-tailed Pied

Shrike ( Uroilestes melanoleuca) . Of the former species I received a

dozen specimens a year ago, with the result that, despite all cares, only

one is still living in my aviaries. I and Mine. Lecallier tried all sorts of

food and accommodations, and always, without any apparent reasons,



