N. Wharton-Tigar—London Zoo Notes



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birds known as Darwin’s Finches. These birds, which are about the

size of a Sparrow, were written about by Charles Darwin in The Voyage

of the Beagle and the Origin of the Species , following a visit he paid to

the islands more than a century ago. The birds present a unique

biological problem, and we want to find out why they have turned

into so many different kinds. Our study may help to increase our

knowledge of evolution. We are taking much equipment with us,

including a quantity of tinned food presented to the expedition. The

four other members of the party will join us at Ecuador.”



LONDON ZOO NOTES


By N. Wharton-Tigar


Taking a stroll round the small Bird House, looking about for

something of interest to readers, especially distant ones, I bethought

myself of the Tanagers. I found that there are at present few of these

beautiful birds in the collection.


First to catch my eye, darting about the large middle aviary,

were several very fine Superbs, Tanagra fastuosa, usually acknowledged

to be the most lovely of all; a native of the state of Pernambuco,

Brazil, where it must be plentiful indeed, since countless thousands

have been shipped from there and they still appear to come over

fairly often in spite of restrictions placed by Brazil on the export of

birds. In this same aviary is a perfect pair of that charming little

Tanager, Nemosia pileata, which I brought for the first time to this

country in 1933. Pretty little things, blue grey above and white

below, with a black hood in the cock which is absent in the hen ;

both sexes have a bright yellow eye. Also in this aviary is a pair of

the Ornate Tanager, Thmupis ornata, South-East Brazil, and the

well-known Scarlet Tanager, Rhamphocelus brasilius, and its near

relative, the Maroon Tanager, Rhamphocelus carbo.


In one of the large cages there is a very fine pair of the Magpie

Tanager, Cissopsis leveriana, Pernambuco, Brazil, a striking black and

white species with a long tail. For a number of years a grand pair of



