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J. Delacour—American Aviculture



lie has a beautiful semi-circular aviary for small birds, consisting of a

central house with eight flights radiating from it. There he keeps all

sorts of Finches, Tanagers, and other small birds, and also some Road-

Runners, the curious desert Ground Cuckoos of the south-west. It is

one of the most varied mixed collections of birds that I have seen in

the district, and artistically shown. Large box-cages are the home of

some Tahitian Blue Lories, which nested last summer, but unfortunately

resented inquisition and forsook their eggs. Some miles away, but still

in Los Angeles City (one must not forget that the city limits include

many towns, oil-fields, marshes, waste grounds, and cultivated tracts,

its diameter being some 30 miles), Mr. Sheffler has built a large block

of aviaries, walled-in, with a central house. They consist of four rows

of flights, completed by a fifth row outside, and, in front, by a very

large and high flight cage, containing a pond for Waterfowl. He keeps

there several species of Tree-Ducks, Teal, and small Ducks, South

African Sheldrakes, Curassows, a few male Pheasants, lots of Cockatiels,

and Doves, Jays and Magpies. In the numerous compartments live

many different species of Parrakeets ; Mealy Rosellas and Pennant’s

breed very freely, as well as different Cockatoos and Conures. I noticed

especially several Brown’s, a pair of Norfolk Island’s, Lugon

Tanygnathus, Mitchell’s and Forsten’s Lorikeets, and hybrids wdth

Swainson’s. There are also quite a number of Jay Thrushes, Mexican

Jays, etc., and a fine pair of Harris Hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus),

various Pheasants and Quails.


Dr. R. A. Woods also possesses remarkable birds, mostly Parrakeets,

and has great success with King’s, Bourke’s, and other rare species,

as well as with Finches. I noticed several All-green Tanagers, out of

doors, in perfect condition, which is not often seen. Dr. Woods is also

a keen field ornithologist and oologist.


Other interesting collections of Finches, Parrots, and Parrakeets

are those of Mr. A. G. Orear, the editor of Aviculture ; Mrs. V.

Wright; Mrs. H. Scheu (who has blue and yellow Masked Lovebirds) ;

and Miss I. Maurois, to mention a few I have visited. Mr. C. Naether

has some excellent Doves, which he is studying very carefully.

Mrs. S. Tomlinson, who has given up most of her birds after her husband’s

death, still has, in perfect condition after more than four years, her



