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J. Delacour—American Aviculture



Kagus, Galapagos Gulls, all sorts of Herons, Tree Ducks, Ibises, Storks,

Cranes, etc. The other one, just completed, is larger still, and contains

Eagles and Vultures. The Birds of Prey collection is excellent, and

I noticed especially four Galapagos Buzzards and a California Condor.

The San Diego bird collection, one of the best in America, has the

great advantage, owing to the climate, of being kept in the open where

they have a much better chance to become established and to breed.

At liberty in the grounds are literally hundreds of Chachalaca ( Ortalis

vetula ), or Texas Guans, which all come from a dozen originally

introduced birds, and breed freely in the trees, as well as some other

Game birds.


Another interesting establishment is the Catalina Island Bird Park.

Catalina Island is about 20 miles from San Pedro Harbour. It is a

large, mountainous island, sufficiently well watered and wooded, the

property of the Wrigley family (of chewing-gum fame), who have

developed it into a pleasure resort. The late Mr. Wrigley, who was a

keen bird fancier, combined his taste with his interests and created

the Bird Park both for his amusement and as an attraction to visitors.

Since his death, it has been maintained mostly for the second reason.

Eor many years the Bird Park was managed by Mr. E. H. Lewis,

who is now organizing the Waikiki Bird Park at Honolulu. The Bird

Park is situated a few miles inland in a pretty and well-sheltered

valley. It is a walled-in enclosure, with a large and high round-shaped

flying cage in front, and several paths with rows of aviaries, all nicely

built and laid out. At the back there is roomy breeding accommoda¬

tion. The collection of birds is large and general, and contains very good

things. There are many Pheasants and other Game birds, some Water-

fowl, Ostriches, Rheas, Cassowaries, various Cranes, and other Waders,

different Crowned Pigeons, Doves, a large number of Parrots, and many

small birds, including Birds of Paradise. Many birds breed, and I

noticed some curious hybrids : two beautiful Macaws (Blue and

Yellow X Red and Blue), a lovely apricot colour underneath, pale

greenish blue above, much prettier than either parents ; some Lories

(Eos bornea X Tricoglossus moluccanus), and Mikado X Swinhoe’s

Pheasants. The collection is well cared for by Mr. D. G. Mobley, and

kept up to its standard, and it is quite an interesting and pretty show



