40 
The issue is very simple, for the matter is in our own hands, and under 
our control, so far as conditions in this country are concerned — we have 
simply to have no transactions with any dealer who does not keep his birds 
under humane conditions, or properly pack them for transit, or who habitu- 
ally sends out such, that the majority die shortly after receipt. 
To keep a large number of birds crowded together and leave them to 
"wallow in their own filth" no matter how they be fed or watered, is simply 
hrutal, and our duty is quite clear, viz., to report at once all such cases to 
the R.S.P.C.A, 
Month's Arrivals. 
Private Importation : —On August 8th Mr. A Sutcliffe and I 
received from the West Indies a rather large consignment of birds. 
They, however, were not what we expected. It is very annoying 
to get a quantity and find they are practically all duplicates of 
what you already possess: there were 192 Einches, amongst 
them being 6 Fire Red Finches, 21 Guttural Finches, 33 Jacarini 
Finches 8 Tropical Seed Finches, 32 Blackheaded Lined Finches, 
1 Thick-billed Seed Finch, 2 Buntings in immature plumage, still 
to be identified, the remainder being Grey Finches (Spermophila 
grisea) a very fine songster, one yellow Hangnest, one orange 
ditto, one Mocking Bird, 4 Blue and 2 Palm Tanagers, 23 Cowbirds, 
and 57 Euphonias, violacea miiiuta, trinitatis ; and on August 
26th two pairs of Nonpareil Buntings, 25 Indigo Buntings, and 
one hen Parva Finch (Spermophila parva). The expenses of im- 
portation are very heavy, and the mortality in the hands of the 
ship's butcher is a factor to be reckoned with. The minimum 
charge is 20s. per cage, and a like sum for the butcher. When 
you specially stipulate that they must not be crowded, you must 
allow Is. 6d. per head of living arrivals for transit purposes, and 
to be able to send duplicates to a dealer you should purcliase at 
2s. 6d. per pair. The majority of the birds, however, cannot he 
purchased for double this figure, so that this consignment has bee.i 
verj' unsatisfactory and disappointing. 
E. S. 
At the Zoo : Among other interesting arrivals we may mention three 
specimens presented by our esteemed member Dr. E. Hopkinson, viz. : Ox 
Bird (Texlor alector), Variegated Turaco ( Schizoris africana), and a Double- 
spurred Francolin (FraiwoUns bicalcaratus). The above are located in the 
western aviary, and some notes concerning the Variegated Turaco will be 
found in this issue under " Birds of Gambia " and of the Ox Bird in the same 
series (Vol. viii, p. 39). 
Ross's Plaintain-eater (M(tsopha<ja rnss(e) : A fine pair of this rare 
species from Uganda— the first to reach this country alive— have been pre- 
sented to the Zoo, by Mr. L. M. Seth-Smith, and are now located in one of 
the flights of the Small Birds' House ; they are well worth a visit, being not 
only very rare, but an exceeding beautiful and brilliantly clad species. 
