36



Karl Plath—Notes from a Chicago Aviary



A lady who lectures reported seeing it at the Municipal Tuberculosis

Sanatorium about a mile from my home. It seemed to be poorly cared

for, she said, and thought something should be done about it. She

was shown my letter with the sketch and identified it as the bird she

had seen. Of course, I went over as soon as I could and got my Cissa but

his green colour was gone and he was now a pale turquoise and very

thin. Aside from my great luck in regaining the bird is the interesting

incident that later it transpired that only three of these birds were

imported to this country and these three went to three men acquainted

with each other but who had acquired them without the others knowing

it. They were Mr. Crandall, curator of birds of the New York Zoo ;

Mr. Maresi, Secretary of the Avicultural Society of America ; and

myself.


After a heavy moult in August, during which the black feathers

surrounding the eye and on the sides of the head came completely

out, the bird is now in full plumage. At times when it is excited there

is a curious formation of long eyelash-like feathers above the eye which

remind one ridiculously of one of our Hollywood movie stars with

exaggerated eyelashes ! The original green tint is slowly coming back,

especially on the head and silky crest and on the tail. The forehead

is now yellowish green. It is truly one of the loveliest of the Jays or

Magpies, whichever family it belongs to. No bird in my collection is

so vivacious in movement, and its calls are loud and varied. It also

warbles a subdued little song quite melodious were it not interspersed

with a harsh note now and then. This song is much like the one the

Magpie sometimes sings. In summer he has a roomy cage outside,

but in winter is kept in a box cage 3 by 3 feet and 20 inches

deep. He is allowed a flying period each day in the studio and there

takes his bath and when he is ready, sooner or later, goes back to his

cage. He is extremely fond of mice and sparrows, and usually gets

one or the other every day. His food also consists of chopped raw meat,

grated carrots, fruit, insects, etc. I am hoping that a continuance of

this diet will restore his original hue completely. He always selects

a dark corner and seems to avoid the sun.


The smaller waders were always favourites of mine and I have had

Rails and a Turnstone for years. Last year I bought two male Ruffs,



