M. Amsler—Recently Imported Bluebirds



139



to the public. It is only to be regretted that the larger birds are not

kept in more roomy enclosures.


I must stop here, and I fear that I have not done justice

to our American colleagues ; but our pages are, alas, limited. I hope,

however, that it will give our European members some idea of what has

been achieved in the United States, mostly in the course of the last

ten years, which is quite remarkable. Also my numerous American

bird friends, who gave me such a cordial welcome, may find here a

small tribute to their great kindness and hospitality.



RECENTLY IMPORTED BLUEBIRDS


By Maurice Amsler, M.B., F.Z.S.


It is entirely thanks to the enterprise and keenness of that ardent

naturalist, M. Jean Delacour, that we aviculturists have recently had

the opportunity of seeing and some of us even of possessing two new

species of Bluebird (Sialia).


When I describe these birds as new I am open to correction ; but

as far as my own knowledge goes they certainly have not been imported

into Europe for very many years. An article by Mr. Karl Plath in the

Avicultural Magazine of 1934, page 40, described the Western and

Arctic Bluebirds, and made our mouths water for even a glance at these

rarities which were described as much more beautiful than the Common

or Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), the Blue Bobin which we all know

and love. It speaks volumes for M. Delacour’s pull as a celebrated

ornithologist that he was permitted to collect and bring to Europe

several pairs of the Western and two pairs of the Arctic species.


All the Bluebirds are very strictly protected in the United States

and in Canada and this is as it should be for their diet consists almost

entirely of insects, very little fruit being taken and of the latter

practically none is cultivated fruit. The genus is, therefore, entirely

a desirable one and in addition to this Bluebirds are so familiar and

beautiful that they are looked upon much as our own redbreast is in

Great Britain.



11



