J. Delacour—Macaws bred in Confinement



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MACAWS BRED IN CONFINEMENT


By J. Delacour


In Dr. E. HopkinsoiTs interesting note on Macaws bred in confine¬

ment there seems to have been some confusion between the English

and Latin names of two species : The Red and Yellow Macaw is

Ara macao, while the Red and Blue is Ara chloroptera. It is, therefore,

difficult for the reader of the note to find out which species is really

intended in the different records. The species breeding at Lilford is

the Red and Yellow ( Ara macao). Also the records should be com¬

pleted by the mention of two beautiful hybrids, Blue and Yellow

(A. ararauna), Red and Blue (A. macao), now living in the Catalina

Island Bird Park, California, which I mentioned in last year's

Magazine (p. 138).



ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT SOCIETY NOTES


The activities of the O.P.S. have naturally advertised the keeping

of Ornamental Pheasants in our aviaries, and this has led to one

result which is possibly not altogether desirable. In past years one

has heard of several dealers in England importing rare Pheasants

from India and the Far East, dealers on the Continent have done

likewise. This year there has been an unprecedented rush to import

Pheasants, quite regardless of being certain to find the birds suitable

homes. One wonders how many of the numbers that leave

India alive will reach European shores in reasonably good con¬

dition. Has sufficient care been taken to ensure the comfort of the

birds on the voyage ? Were they in a fit condition to travel or were

they trapped and shipped before being kept in aviaries for purposes

of taming and bringing them back to a good travelling condition ?

Has the crating been properly attended to ? All these matters give

rise to serious thought. If Pheasants have been brought into first-

class condition before leaving the port of embarkation, fed in a proper

manner, and receive expert attention, then there is no reason to suppose

that many casualties will result. But are such precautions always

taken ? Is it not customary for Pheasants, and indeed, other birds,

to be packed in inadequately small crates and cages, fed in a haphazard



