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Dr. M. Amsler — General Notes on Aviculture



I brought home several for the Zoological Gardens in 1908, but none

have been imported since until now, one solitary individual having

arrived. It is one of those common birds in Australia which is not

considered worth bringing home, although it makes a charming aviary

bird and one of the easiest of the soft-bills to feed. In the wild state

it feeds on worms, water snails, and insects of all kinds, but that it

will occasionally eat grain was proved in the old Sydney Zoo, for

some poisoned grain put down to destroy the introduced sparrow

resulted in the death of a number of Pied Grallinas, which also go by

the names of “ Mud-lark ” and “ Pee-wee ”.


Rare American Birds. —Mons. Delacour has returned from his

trip to Central and South America with a wonderful collection of

birds, most of which are new to aviculture. They comprise Humming

Birds, Tanagers, Sugar Birds, Parrots, Curassows, and many others.

We hope to hear more of these when M. Delacour has had time to

settle them all into his aviaries.


South African Birds. — I visited Mr. S. Castang’s shop in

Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, the other day, just after the arrival of

a very fine collection of South African Finches, etc. There were many

Violet-ears, Melbas, Queen Whydahs, Red-headed and Green Singing-

finches, Cape Doves, Ground Larks, and many others. On the whole

they had come through in very good condition.


D. S-S.



GENERAL NOTES ON AVICULTURE


By Dr. M. Amsler


I do not know whether aviculture is on the down-grade, but if

one is to judge by the variety and number of articles appearing in

our Magazine there must be very little doing in the aviaries of

our members.


Only to-day I sorted out the Avicultural Magazine for the

past four years with the intention of having them bound, and I could

not help comparing the present flimsy numbers ivith those fat, well-

illustrated, and interesting Magazines of pre-war days; true, one

or two of our cleverest and most successful contributors have dropped



