G. H. Edwards—Yorkshire Aviaries



5



gave me a better idea of an undoubtedly magnificent creature. What a

pity they are so rare in aviaries. Scott-Hopkins purchased this Bulwer’s

when it was a yeai old, and it died when it attained its full plumage,

and, by the way, full plumage is not attained by hulweri until they are

three years old.


Next I inspected a conservatory that had been adapted to house

a lovely collection of exotic Finches. They were all lively, healthy

specimens. I left them, feeling that the view I had long held—that

the small exotic seed-eaters need to be kept under glass to do them

justice—had been confirmed.


Back to Nawton. Here, Mr. Lambert’s wife gave me a cordial

welcome, and here I met Mr. Lambert’s son, J. Lambert, who is the

Secretary of the Ornamental Pheasant Society, and as keen a Pheasant

lover as his father. There is an enormous range of pheasantries at

Nawton, and here again shrubs and bushes inside the pens make

delightful settings for the birds.


Whilst wandering around the pens, I noticed an exceptionally

fine Temminck’s Tragopan, T. temmincki, a poem in carmines and

reds. Is there anything quite as lovely as a Temminck’s ? This bird is

ten years old, and is still very fertile. Next I saw the Bornean Crested

Fireback, Lophura ignita, general plumage black, with a purple

sheen.


Swinhoe’s were much in evidence. Silky of plumage, masterful of

carriage, no collection can possibly be complete without them. The

White (albinistic) Pheasants were very pretty. I saw two White

Pheasants ; I saw Satyr and Temminck’s Tragopans ; I saw Impeyans,

Cheers, Elliot’s, Crossoptilons—and the Crossoptilons were present in

blue and brown varieties. Peculiar looking birds, these ; and so very

tame. There is quite a dog-like devotion in their manner, and they

are birds that can be given free range.


There were adult and young albinistic Peafowl at Nawton. They

had not attained their full trains when I was there. Personally, I do

not consider the white Peafowl to be as pretty as the Green or the

Blue; nevertheless they are quite fascinating. To see an albino

Peacock display is to witness a splaying fan of white, and the tremulous



