N. Wharton-Tigar—Notes from the London Zoo



49



NOTES FROM THE LONDON ZOO


By N. Wharton-Tigar


It has been suggested that monthly notes written on matters of

general interest about the birds to be seen at the Zoo would be welcomed

by many who live too far away to pay a personal visit, and I propose

to open the series by giving my impression of the various Birds of

Paradise now housed at the Zoo.


These are, perhaps, the most glamorous birds in existence, and

make a great appeal to the imagination. They are very beautiful,

all have a wonderful display, and even to-day very little is known of

their wild life. In giving any description of the Zoo collection, pride of

place must be given to the Lesser Bird of Paradise, Paradisic/, minor,

from North-West New Guinea and Mysol Island; this bird has been

in the collection for at least six years, and at this time of the year is

in glorious plumage, and frequently displays ; the plumes are yellow,

becoming white at the tips. Near by is Paradisia apoda, from the

Aru Islands, the Greater Bird of Paradise, with exceptionally long

plumes of beautiful golden yellow, shading to pale chocolate at the

extremities. In another large aviary we find the Empress Augusta

Victoria’s Bird of Paradise, Paradisia augusta victoria, from the

Rawlinson Mountains, North-East New Guinea—-in colour something

between minor and raggiana. And from the same locality there is the

Emperor of Germany’s Bird of Paradise, Paradisia gulielmi.


Then we come to two beauties, Count Raggi’s Bird of Paradise,

Paradisia raggiana, which occurs in South and South-East New Guinea,

and has the most beautiful brilliant crimson plumes, and Paradisia

dicora, the Grey-breasted Bird of Paradise, from far Ferguson Island.

This is the most beautiful and interesting of recent importations.

Mr. Shaw Meyer, the first to bring it alive to ‘this country, obtained it

after suffering many tribulations, privations, and exciting adventures.

Ferguson Island, owing to being a cannibal island, was, until recently,

not considered safe to a white man. When this Bird of Paradise arrived

this spring it fairly took our breath away ; the plumes are the most

vivid red, the head and shoulders are rich straw yellow, and the breast

is a beautiful mauvy grey.



4



