FEATHERED BEAUTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 36, 14 July 1939, Page 5

FEATHERED BEAUTY

' IN A MATATA AVIARY BRILLIANT PLUMAGED BIRDS ,e Visitors to Matata, who view the d wide expanse of water sanctuary and n the wonderful variety of wild bird "s life thereon, little guess that withi.j a comparative stone's throw, exists fI an aviary with some of the rarest c specimens of feathered life it is pos. sible to obtain in New Zealand. The aviary is the property of Mr j R. Rondin. who for many-years ha* devoted most of his spare time to. wards this instructive and fascinat- - ing hobby. Mr Rondin's interest in ■ i birds has resulted in their natural 1 fear of human being replaced Mby a remarkable bond of friendship - and affection. In no eases do they leveal the slightest traces of shyness or excitement. The aviary comprises i a cluster of neat roomy cages, allow* . ing plenty of space for exercise, _ wherein is grown the type of berry ; or shrub upon which the; birds feed in their natural surroundings. In this [. way Mr Rondin has met with remark , able success in his experiments in breeding and acclimatisation. 5 GORGEOUS PLUM A GE. ) The Blue Mountain Parakeet (Aus- . tralia) is One of the most colourful of the parrot section. In the samo Cage is the American, Pennant Bird, a gorgeous piurriaged denizen of the new'world. Ir. striking'contrast is the neat little Australian Cockatiuel, I which has a predominance of grey* at this time of the'yfcar. J Mr Rondin has a full cage ot Wvdahs arid Weavers, lively little birds which are a delight to watch. ■ I Another rare specimen is the genuine I ojd English Pouter* which 1 habitually bursts its breast in its I vain efforts to expand itself by inflating a bladder-like gland in its lower neck. There are the even rarer Cuban, finches, to say nothing of tV I English Linnets and the diminutive Zebra finches. Visitors will not easily forget the flame and burnished gleams in the amazing pluma,ge ( of the Virginian Cardinal Birds, or the, Royal Starling, (the only one of its kind in New Zealand). The latter wjth its golden breast and . royal blue and green [tints on head and jv.ings is one, of tlio most colourful birds iii the avairy. Another cage houses the Indian DyaH Bird and the Canton Mlnah. while in i a neighbouring compartment the splash of darting colours reveals the Australian Rosella 1 parakeets. Anoth, r er unusual bird -is the American red- ( winged blackbird. • TINIEST-OF ALL. : I The tiniest of air is the miniature Sydney Waxbill, a, -bare inch in yet a sprightly,: happy bird in spite of its stature. The African King Bird sports red blue and green wings, while there is nothing daintier than the. Chinese 1 praintied quail. ''Roubles Parakeet'* is another rare specimen, while the -Java Sparrpws have no difficulty in. feeling quite at { home with a cage full of Budgerigars, t

In another part of the. grounds Mr Rondin has some good~specimens of the Chinese Golden arid Silver pheasants/ while above on a series of perches sit quite a bevy of turtle doves, of faultless white. It is only at such places one may meet up with a, tame -magpie, which spends the whole day plaj'ing with a half.grown kitten. Just how long the unusual friendship will be maintained is purely a matter of conjecture. However it nevertheless p remarkable contradiction of nature, and is hot the least feature ; of an establishment which is unique in the wide variety of bird life it has to exhibit. .

JAPAN WANTS NEW ZEALAND

There were large numbers of Japanese in Australia, and these made no secret of their confidence that it would not be long before both Australia and New Zealand would be a pa,rt of the Japanese Empire, said Mr T. Bransgrove, New Plymouth to a Tarannki Herald reporter. Mr Bransgrove has just returned from an extensive tour of Australia. At Ilockampton, in Queensland, he noticed a great number of Japa.nesej said Mr Bransgrove. He went into a Japanese shop, and the proprietress became annoyed when he declined to buy h::r wares. "You.go back to New she said. "Very soon Japan will have, bqt,h Australia . and New, Zealand. ia're on'top now but ; Japan will be the one on top soon.*'

fellow-citizens who introduce a little colour and gaiety in dr'ess, and pro. mote such nights of good-fellowsh'p. The writer of the article quotes the names of the members of the borough council to show that Scotland produces no one fit to take "the arena of public affairs. Names are misleading these days and plenty of ''Macs'' have just as much English blood sis Scottish, but the writer conveniently forgets that a McCracken, a Burnett, a Smith, a McCulloch and a McCreadv sit on the county council, sister bo/.lv to the borough council. Most of the libels have been removed from tli«' and it is hoped that Scotsmen will view it with an indulgent eye. Incidentally, the "strong...Eu£. ... , . i . h ■ T;i lish arm 1 of Butcher Cumberland was aj German one. Ed.)