P. Barclay-Smith—King Ferdinand’s Collection



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In the second was a large collection of Waxbills including the

rare Esirilda atricajpilla and E. nonnula from West and Central Africa,

Melba, and Wiener’s Waxbills, Violet-eared and Australian Waxbills,

Rufous-tailed and Heck’s Long-tailed Grassfinches, Chestnut-backed

Mannakins, Alario and Cuban Finches, Queen Whydahs and Orange

Weavers. There was also a Plumbeous Redstart, Red-crowned Hanging

Parrots, and Cape Doves. Though the aviary is so thickly populated,

Cuban Finches, Cut-throats, Silverbills, and Common Firefinches

have all reared young successfully.


Aviary number three contained a similar collection of Finches,

among which Cuban and Red-headed Finches have bred, Waxbills

and Munias. In addition, there was a Ruby-throated Warbler, some

Three-coloured Parrot Finches, and Chinese Painted Quail.


In aviary number four there was a fine collection of Weavers,

many of them busily constructing their nests of blades of coarse green

grass, large stacks of which were placed in the corners of the aviary for

their use. Some nests were completed and some were nearing comple¬

tion when I saw them. The bird takes about two or three hours to build

a nest and then most frequently pulls it all to pieces again. Here

were Grenadier, Orange, Crimson-crowned, and Red-beaked Weavers,

and in addition Golden-breasted Buntings and a White-capped Redstart.


There were more Weavers in aviary number five, also Longtailed

Whydahs, Redfaced Lovebirds, and Scarlet Tanagers, and, in addition,

Black-necked Mouse Birds ( Colius striatus nigricollis ) which have

successfully reared young, a notable achievement though C. striatus

appears to have been bred on two occasions in the British Isles. The

Mouse-birds are intensely interesting and queer looking birds—they

appeared in fine condition and were flying about and hanging on

the side of the aviary, altogether seventeen of them. Red-headed

Finches have also bred in this aviary and a Chinese Painted Quail

had a family of chicks behind the stack of grass provided for the

Weavers.


Aviary number six contained a magnificent collection of Whydahs

and Weavers, the brilliant plumage of the cocks making a striking

blaze of colour. There were Paradise, Red-shouldered, Red-collared,

Yellow-backed, and White-winged Whydahs, several species of Weavers,



