J. Delacour—Notes of a Bird-lover in Venezuela 115


Birds (Mimus gilvus), Red Tanagers, Hooded Siskins, Yellow Tanagers

(S. chrysogaster), and Canary hybrids, which are very numerous and

very popular, some exceptionally coloured varieties fetching very high

prices. Yellow-backed Cassiques ( Cassicus persicus) are also to be seen

kept in small cages ; they are often quite tame, and are very enter¬

taining as they imitate all the noises they hear. Troupials ( Icterus

icterus and I. chrysocephalus ) are other song-birds in cages that one

may come across, the latter being obtained at a great cost from the

Orinoco district. Other Venezuelan species are not kept in captivity.


At the Caracas market there is a very charming section where flowers

and birds are sold, one side of the market hall being reserved for the

former, the other side for the latter. In elegant cages of fine workman¬

ship, constructed of slender fibre, Canaries, Parrakeets ( Conurus and

Psittaeula), Tarnis (?), Cardinals, Troupials, Sugar Birds, Quit-quits,

and Tanagers are offered for sale. There are seldom any other kinds

of birds. The most popular are the Troupials and seed-eaters, which

fetch from 30 to 80 francs each. Although birds can be purchased

in the market on any day in the week, the finest selection is on sale on

Sunday mornings. At Maracay, situated at a distance of 200 kilo¬

metres west of Caracas, near the great Lake of Valencia, is the official

residence of General Gomy, the President of the Republic. The

President is the owner of a kind of farm, and being an enthusiastic

naturalist he has transformed it into a zoological garden. The animals

he keeps there in small but well-kept cages include a five-metre-long

Crocodile, a Tapir, Jaguars, Pumas, a pair of African Lions, Monkeys,

including an Albino Capuchin Monkey, and various other local creatures.

A large enclosure, through which runs a stream, is inhabited by hundreds

of great and small Egrets, mostly with full wings. Mixed with them

are a few old and discoloured Water-fowl. I also note an Orinoco Goose,

a beautiful sight in its pearl-grey, black, and reddish-brown livery, with

its carmine beak and feet. How I should like to bring some of these

back to Europe. 1 Some small and uncomfortable looking aviaries

contain Toucans, Colins, and a few small birds. At liberty are to be

observed all kinds of game birds, and midst this crowd are a number of


1 I managed to bring back three Orinoco Geese from the region of Apun.

They are, at the time of writing, at Cleres, in perfect condition.



