94 
The Blue-Be<i];('d Weiiver-Binl. 
Bill with edges of the mandibles, orange-red : upper tail-coverts, 
glossy bright crimson like the throat. 
The two commoner species have been known as at any 
rate possible, though rarely imiiorted cagel)irds for many years, at 
least since the beginning of the l'.)th century, as there are coloured 
plates of both species in Vieillot's Oiseaux Chanteurs, which was 
published in 1805. In Reichenbach's Singvogel (18()1) there are 
also coloured i)lates of the two species. At the Zoo there have 
been a few specimens at dififerent times, and as recently as 1906 
Mr. Hamlyn brought two examples of haematina back with him 
on his return from one of his expeditions to the West Coast of 
Africa, but hitherto they seem to have never been imported except 
in ones and twos, and then more or less accidentally. They 
seem to be birds which ai-e easily catered for in captivity. The 
bird I brought home in July did well on canary and millet seed, 
and is now at the Zoo in the Small Bird House, where she gets 
and enjoys a mealworm or two daily in addition to the ordinary 
seed diet. 
The Aviaries and Birds at Benham Valence. 
By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., M.B.N.H.S. 
On Good Friday last I was privileged to visit Newbury, and the 
day proving fine and sunny, was able to secure some photographs 
of the handsome aviaries and rare birds, which are included in 
Mr. Astley's large and varied collection ; some of the photographs 
illustrate these notes, making lengthy description unnecessary. 
The aviaries are exceedingly handsome structures, as will 
be seen from the illustrations ; they are also well arranged, con- 
sisting of a house and wire flight. The house of the largest aviary 
(A) has a walk right through, on the left are the enclosures open- 
ing into the three outside flights, and on the right are a series of 
well lighted indoor flights. The houses are heated by a system of 
hot water radiators and much care and thought has evidently 
been l)estowed on the well-being and comfort of their inhabitants. 
As I purpose dealing with the birds separately and apart from the 
aviaries, it will suffice to say here that all the occupants were ex- 
ceedingly fit ; they have access to the outer flights all through the 
Abdomen, black 
Abdomen spotted or barred with white. 
Entire head, crimson 
= rnhricdpilla. 
= (pittata 3 . 
= (iidtata ? . 
