N. Wharton-Tigar—London Zoo Notes



145



Philippine Islands ; grey and black with naked flesh-coloured head, a

very strange bird and rare, brought over, I believe, by Mr. Walter

Goodfellow. There are two varieties of the Amethyst Starling

(.Pholidauges leucogaster) from Gambia, and Verreaux’s Amethyst

Starling ( Pholidauges leucogaster verreauxi) ; what a glorious bird this

last-named is ; the Zoo have kept their specimen in the wonderful

condition it is to-day since June, 1921. Seventeen years !


One of the rarest Starlings in the collection is the Chinese [Sturnia

turdiformis) also brought over by Mr. Goodfellow. The Pagoda Starling

(Temenuchus pagodarum ) from India, is beautiful and very amusing,

and the Mandarin Starling [Sturnia sinensis) is very small, white and

grey, with black wings and tail. It is said to breed easily. The Rose-

coloured Starling ( Pastor roseus) is a handsome commonly imported

species, with a crested black head—the rose colour fades in captivity.

It is a peaceful and sociable bird.


Then there is the Chesnut-winged Starling (Amydrus morio) from

South Africa, and finally a grand pair of Rothschild’s Grackles, five or

six years in the collection, and like silk, their plumage snow-white

and glistening. I was told they would most likely breed if they

could be given an aviary to themselves. So far only Mr. Ezra has bred

this species in captivity.


The Mynahs are an amusing lot, headed by the large Nepal Hill

Mynah [Eulabes intermedia ), North India. Two specimens in cages are

always surrounded by visitors listening to their distinct talking. They

are not always willing to do it, because a great deal of their time is

taken up in eating. The Crested or Chinese Mynah [Mihiopsar crista-

tatus , syn. Acridoiheres cristatellus) is a good mimic too, for the one

at the Zoo was copying exactly his neighbour in an adjoining aviary,

the Laughing Kingfishers. Then there is the Co mm on Mynah ( Acrido -

theres tristis) India, and the Ceylon Mynah (A. tristis melanosterms ).

The Brown or Jungle Mynah [Mihiopsar fuscus) India, and lastly the

small and very charming Golden-crested Mynah [Ampelicip coronatus),

Burma. While I was watching, one in the outside flight treated me to

a very quaint little song.



