202



Bird Notes from the Zoological Gardens.



is being tried of keeping a pair or so of Doves with each pair of

Pheasants. This fine range of Pheasantries is entirely new,

although it is on the site of the old one, and is very well

gquippgd. for its purpose. Many of our readers have looked

with disgust on the wretched way in which the smaller Finches

treated in the past, a number of exceedingly small box-

cages in the Parrot House being the only accommodation

provided for them. This has all been altered now, and all these

little birds have been transferred to the aviaries at the back of

the Insect House, where some of them have actually commenced

to build nests. Other improvements have been made in the

arrangements of the birds in the Parrot House. The Toucans

have been transferred to the Western Aviary, and their large

cages are now occupied by the smaller Parrakeets and Lorikeets.

The large new aviary on the north bank of the Canal is tenanted

by a number of Crows, Gulls, Herons, etc., and it is intended

later to transfer some of the hardier Parrots thither also.


Mr. Bertling, who has for some years been engaged in the

Superintendent’s office in the Gardens, has been appointed Head

Keeper, and the Secretary informs us that he has given him

special charge of the Birds. This is an exceedingly satisfactory

arrangement, as Mr. Bertling is an enthusiastic and experienced

aviculturist, and a member of the Avicultural Society.


The following is a list of the additions to the collection

for the month of February 1904:


Feb. 2. 1 Ring-necked Parrakeet ( Palcsornis torquata) 3 .. India.


,, 2. 5 Hybrid Silver Pheasants


(Euplocamus nycthemerus x Phasianns colchicus) s


,, 3. 1 Levaillant’s Amazon (Chrysotis levaillanti) .. Mexico.


,, 3. 1 Malabar Parrakeet (Palceornis peristerodes) .. S. India.


„ 3. 1 Philippine Racket-tailed Parrot


(Prioniturus discurus)* Philippine Islands.


,, 3. 1 Everett’s Thick-billed Parrakeet


(Tanygnathus everetti) ? ,, „


,, 3. 2 Red Lories (Eos rubra) .. Moluccas.


,, 3. 2 Blue-streaked Lories (Eos reticulata ) .. Timor Laut.


,, 3. 1 Tabuan Parrakeet (Pyrrhulopsis tabuensis) .. Fiji Islands.



* This bird is entered in the official list as Prio?iituius filaturus from Celebes, but I

pointed out to the Secretary that it was the Philippine P. discurus, and in a letter dated

Feb. 22, he writes “I am satisfied that you are right about the Racket-tailed Parrot, and I

have changed the name.” This species is easily distinguished by its bright blue crown.—

D. S.-S.



