110



J. Delacour—American Aviculture



some Pheasants and other Game birds, he is mostly interested in the

rarer insectivorous and frugivorous species. In his garden, there are

two large pergola-like aviaries, containing mixed collections, mostly

of seed-eaters and native American birds ; a series of pens for Pheasants

and other large birds, and an excellent bird-room, including three

large indoor compartments, connected with outdoor flights, to which

birds have access in good weather. A corridor runs in front of the

indoor flights, and on the other side excellent fixed cages cover the

whole wall. The room is well lighted and heated, painted with white

enamel, and perfectly kept. Mr. Maresi’s collection contains several

hundreds of birds, and many unusual ones ; there are different Rock-

Thrushes, a curious Glass-eyed Thrush ( Turdus jamaicensis), a lovely

Fauny’s Tanager (Calospiza nigrocincta), several Cuban Solitaires

(.Myiadestes elisabethse) , Western Bluebirds, Maroon Orioles, a fine Cock

of the Rock, many other species of Tanagers, Starlings, Barbets,

Finches, etc. I cannot give here a complete list of all the fine things

that I saw there and elsewhere : our Editor would be frightened of

the room it takes ! And I am frightened of her.


The next day we went to the Bronx Zoo, where it is always a joy

to meet Mr. Lee Crandall, the very capable and kind Curator of Birds.

The Bronx Zoo is exactly to-day what it was ten years ago, and the

bird-house is typical of those that one sees in public gardens all through

America. There is a large hall with big compartments right round,

and a great flight in the middle. Two smaller rooms adjoin it,

also with aviaries all round, some of which have outdoor flights as

well. The roofs are mostly of glass ; palms and bamboos in tubs here

and there. The collection in the house is very fine, the best of the

kind in America, and quite comparable to that of the London Zoo as

far as Passerine and Picarine birds go. There are no fewer than fifteen

species of Birds of Paradise, some very rare Hornbills, including the

fine Berenicornis comatus, Sunbirds and Humming-birds, different

Cotingas ; the Pompadour and a pair of pretty green Euchlornis

auripectus ; a very rare Caique ( Zarhynchus wagleri), many unusual

Toucans, Fruit-Pigeons, several rare Tanagers, including Compsocoma

sumptuosa, Thraupis olivicyanea, etc. Very tame and performing

Greater Bird of Paradise and Cock-of-Rock are of special interest.



