llie Aviaries and Birds at Benham Valence. 163 
wide. This will, with the aid of the i)hoto-reproducti()ns, indicate 
what splendid ((uarteivs are allocated to these bir<is, of which there 
is a very tine and varied series. In the varied hues of their 
plumage nearly every colour of the I'ainhow is represented. 
The Waterfowl were also represented by a larye number of 
full winged Ducks, etc., at liberty upon the large lake opposite the 
house, and by no means the least interesting feature of my visit 
was the ojiportunity to observe the wing evolutions of many 
species in the air an<l the varied manner in which each alighted 
upon the waters of the lake. 
Some of the iridescent plumage of the various species of 
Teal will linger long in my memory, several species of which are 
beautiful almost beyond description. 
Ducks : Mandarin, Summer, Shoveller. Rosy-billed, 
Chiloe Widgeon, Tufted and Pintail ; White-eye FeiTUginous and 
Crested Pochards : Common and Ruddy Shelducks, Bahama, 
Variegated and Japanese Teal. 
Geese : Canadian, Bernicle, Snow, Maned and six Ruddy- 
headed Bernicles, a very rare species from the Falkland Islands. 
Ibises : Austi-ilian Straw-necked, a very beautiful species. 
Black-headed (Indian) and White. 
Cranes : European, Australian, Sarus, White Asiastic, 
Manchurian, Demoiselle, West African Crowned, and the very 
uncommon White-necked. After much hesitation 1 have re- 
produced a photo of the latter species, they were in very rapid 
movement to and fro while the photo was being taken, and we 
were also compelled to expose against the light, i)ut I think the 
species of sufficient interest to warrant the inclusion of even so 
unsatisfactory a result. 
Swans : Two species were represented here, viz., the Black 
and the Black-necked ; of the latter species two photographic 
reproductions accompany these notes, viz., the adult pair which 
were engaged in incubating six eggs and two of their young which 
were hatched July liK)9. The latter photo had to be taken at very 
high speed as the young birds (a very fine couple) were wildly 
swimming to and fro while the exposure was being made. 
I must also make passing mention of a very fine Black 
Stork and two very rare Reddish Egrets, the two latter being I 
think immature birds and a recent acquisition, 
