Foreign bird keeping / by Arthur G. Butler.

  • Arthur Gardiner Butler
Date:
[1899-1900]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Foreign bird keeping / by Arthur G. Butler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Corn Bunting’s zweezh is pure, then this Troupial’s tschivee (which is probably a foreign version of the same note) is entrancing. The Yellow-shouldered Troupial is gregarious, being- seen in Hocks throughout the year ; and, as it feeds upon the ground, upon insects and seeds of weeds, it ought to be easily captured in abundance, yet it is hardly a cheap bird in the market, though I paid no excessive price for my specimens. The nest is neatly made of dry grass and is attached to rushes growing in the water. The eggs are white, spotted at the larger end with dull brown and black ; they are four in number and pointed at the small end. TYPICAL TROUPIALS. (,Sub-family Sturnellince.) Thjs Military Troupial. (Trupialis militciris). This bird inhabits Chili, Patagonia, and the Falkland Islands, and only differs from the following in its slightly superior size, and in having the under wing-coverts white instead of black. It is freely imported, and my friend, Mr. James Housden, of Sydenham, has often had it; but as the general appearance and habits of both species are alike, and I possessed the slightly smaller bird, it did not seem worth while to purchase the other. De Filippi’s Military Troupial. (Trupialis defilippii.) Inhabits the Argentine Republic and Uruguay. It exactly resembles the Red-breasted Marshbird in both sexes, excepting that the bill is very long and gradually tapering, giving it a far more Starling-like aspect. Of course it is a typical Troupial, and has no near relation- ship to the Hang-nests, although it is placed in the same family with the latter ; it is indeed much nearer to the Meadow Starlings or Marsh Troupials. (Male, in winter plumage.) 1 imported a pair of this species from La Plata in July, 1893, and they lived in one of my aviaries for about two years, but never became really tame; so that, in spile of their beauty and the ease with which they could be catered for, their loss did not break my heart. At lirst I tried them in a cage, but found that they rattled about to the injury of their flight and tail feathers. Either in cage or aviary they spent much of the day roosting on a perch, but always occupied the floor at night. In their wild state, according to Hudson, they “ never perch on trees, but frequently alight on the roof of a rancho or other elevation affording a secure footing. They are tame birds and fly reluctantly ; when approached, they usually crouch down, hiding their crimson bosoms, and remain motionless in order to escape observation. In disposition they are peaceful, and so fond of society that when one becomes separated from his fellows, he will unite with birds of another kind.” So utterly does the same bird in captivity change in its nature that, with the single exception of its crouching to hide its crimson bosom, it could hardly be credited. lu their nidification both Military Troupials are alike, making their nests of dry grass and rootlets and attaching them to the rushes in marshy ground, just above or upon which they are constructed. Five white eggs, spotted or blotched with reddish brown, represent a clutch. In their migrations these birds move over the ground in a huge flock consisting of from four to five hundred or even upwards of a thousand individuals, and are said to have the appearance of a disciplined army on the march. Unlike the more commonly imported Military Star- ling, this species soars for a short distance into the air to utter his extremely excruciating song in which respect he resembles the Red-breasted Marsh-Troupial. Although, like all the Troupials, these birds will eat soft food, if seed is withdrawn from them, they refuse to toucli it when their natural diet (of seeds and a few insects) is supplied; during importation my birds were fed upon hemp, but canaryseed should form the staple, a little millet and hemp and perhaps a few oats being- added. CASSIQUES. (Sub-family Cassicince.) The Mexican Cassique. (Cassiculus melanicterus.) Inhabits Western Mexico, whence unhappily it is not very often imported. The male is glossy black ; the lower back, rump, upper and under tail-coverts, basal half of the tail and a spot on the wing deep shining yellow; bill yellowish white, feet black, iris blue. The female is very similar, but perhaps somewhat more shy. According to Russ, this and its allies are beautiful, but very peculiar birds, requiring plenty of space, and, being- unsociable, must on no account be kept in company with even other strong feathered pets; but, like all Star- lings, become tame and confiding. All Starlings, how- ever, do not become anything of the kind ; indeed, of all the Ieteridce I believe only the Hang-nests become really tame; in a small cage a Troupial may sometimes seem tame, but once give him two or three yards to show his temper in and he is as wild as a hawk. The Black Cassique. (Cassidix oryzivora.) Ranges from Mexico to Peru and Paraguay. It is a rarely imported species in the market, and evidently has never come into the hands of Dr. Russ, who merely mentions its name. The male is shining purplish black, the neck feathers elongated and expansible. The female is similar, but smaller and less glossy. Mr. Russell Humphreys exhibited a specimen of this species at the Crystal Palace Show for 1898, and he tells us that he has found it quite peaceable towards other
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