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Mr. H. B. Rathborne



THE GREAT AVIARY AT THE DUBLIN

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.


By H. B. Rathborne.


It is now many years since the large Plying Aviary was com¬

pleted at the Dublin Zoological Gardens. It was my privilege just

at that time to have been elected a member of the Council : we all

assembled after the breakfast that fine morning to consult what the

feathered inhabitants should be. There was much diversity of

opinion—some suggested Hawks, others Doves, some Waders, and

others said why not have all together ? It was a lovely spring

morning, and we were all filled with enthusiasm, which is only to

be felt in the very soul of an ornithologist. Lists of bird dealers

were searched and orders were issued, thus: so many Virginian

Cardinals, so many Pope Cardinals, so many hundred Saffron

Pinches; it was a large place and required a great many birds to

make a big show, two were generally visible at a time out of many

dozens. Well, between purchases and presents in a short time a

very fine collection was formed, there were some really good speci¬

mens, including many rara, aves. I think a pair of Hunting Cissas

are a memory never to be forgotten, with their graceful flight and

wanton ways ; but I fear they took toll of many of the smaller

inhabitants. There were also two Peruvian Jays, beautiful birds,

but very delicate, which were cut off by the first frosts ; it was truly

the struggle for life and survival of the fittest in this large open-air

structure. Two quiet Pruit Pigeons, black with red heads, survived

a much longer time ; I think they hailed from the Pacific Islands.

Glossy Starlings lived well and kept in the pink of perfection. There

were a glorious pair of the wedge-tailed Glossy Starlings, birds that

are good company to all, even to the smallest, very unlike their

cousin the vicious long-tailed Glossy Starling, which, with the

exception of the Indian Koel, is the most pugnacious of birds. I

know I had two Male Koels at one time, which I had purchased from

a dealer for a mere song. I expect he was glad to get rid of them,

so was I, as the banana bill was too high. I (like many others of my

fellow-aviculturists, I fear) when properly fed up with birds, give

them to the Zoo ! I remember speaking to one of the keepers in



