Karl Plath—-Notes from a Chicago Aviary



35



seen alone would be quite beautiful. It was possible for me to acquire

these exquisite birds through the generosity of Mr. E. H. Lewis, super¬

intendent of the Catalina Island Aviaries in California. On a recent

visit to Chicago he made the remark that my Bluebirds were in

better plumage than his owing to the fact that his had to be kept

indoors for show purposes all the year round. The Fairy Bluebirds

have been happy all summer long in the outside aviary and I hope

they will continue to do well in their winter quarters. They sit more

or less upright with the tail pointed down and are usually quiet. The

note most often heard is a sharp, whistled “ whit-whit (I have

just seen Lord Tavistock’s article on his Fairy Bluebirds and his

description of the note is “ kwit-kwit ”, which is just as accurate a

description.) Their food seems to be mainly fruit mixed with the

Mocking-bird food. They have never taken a mealworm but I have seen

them fly to the ground to pick up a cricket or moth. Owing to the short

legs they do not appear to be at home on a flat surface. I have heard—

and seen—the female warble a subdued song that was rather pleasing,

but the male so far has not shown any musical ability.


Another favourite bird—kept in a separate cage for obvious reasons

—is a Cissa or Hunting Crow (Cissa chinensis). When I received this

bird in July it was a lovely shade of green, especially on the head and

breast, where it reminded me much of the peculiar tint of the Luna

moth’s wing. The jet black band on the head and the mahogany

brown of the wings, together with the vermilion beak and legs composed

a colour scheme that was very fascinating. In certain lights the wings

showed crimson lights. I had to go out of town for several days and

just before it was time to leave, my neighbour called me and said

that my “ Crow ” was out. I found him on the roof and then—gone.

As I had exchanged three of my rarer birds for him and planned to use

him in a special painting I had to carry this frustration away with me.

But before leaving I took time to sketch the bird in colour in two letters

I sent out to friends in public museums. Whenever a peculiar bird

turns up it is immediately reported to them so that if my Cissa ever

was captured I knew they would hear about it. On the day of my return,

in fact it was just an hour before, one of my friends telephoned and

reported that my bird was located.



