164 Account of the International Ornithological Congress


comprising Humming Birds, Fairy Blue Birds, Sun Birds, Cocks of the

Rock, and many others all in perfect condition and health showed

what could be done by means of moist heat.


On the 12th we were taken for a long drive in the lovely valley of

the Seine, through the Forest of Bretonne, Mauny and Roches d’Orivel.

These forests, nearly all beech, just then in their freshest green, are

extremely beautiful, but not very prolific in bird life. It must be

owned, however, that an invasion of from fifty to sixty people, all

talking, was not exactly calculated to encourage birds to show

themselves !


The noteworthy events were the sight of a Goshawk on her nest

which was shown us by the Foresters, finding a Stone Curlew’s nest

on an open heath, and a couple of small birds’ nests.


In the evening the town gave us a magnificent banquet, followed

by speeches from the President, Professor Ghigi, and the Mayor of

Rouen and others.


On the 13th we saw more films : a wonderful slow motion of a

Humming Bird’s flight showing the movement of the wings ; Captain

Knight’s “ Something New of Africa ”, Secretary Birds, Crowned Eagles,

and Hammerheads nesting and feeding young ; the display of the Great

Bustard and, perhaps the best of all, Herr Siewert’s “ Year in the Life

of an Elk ”, which not only showed us these magnificent creatures in

their homes, and as they have their being, but included the birds

to be found there, a Bittern with her nest, Black Storks, and others.

A really marvellous achievement. The same afternoon Captain Sutton

gave a lecture on birds he had seen during his recent expedition in

Mexico, very beautifully painted from life by himself. These showed

many birds which were practically unknown to ornithologists.


Dr. Chapin gave us an account of his newly discovered African

Peacock and encouraged us to hope that it may be seen in this country

before many years have passed, as it should not be difficult to rear.


This brought the first part of the Congress to its close. We left

hospitable, charming Rouen with regret, feeling very grateful for the

kindness shown us, and repaired to Paris, where on the 14th May

we were received by the Director and Professors of the Museum at the

Galerie de Botanique ; on the 15th we were shown round the Zoological



