Rare Tropic Birds Arrive by Remuera

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 440, 23 August 1928, Page 1

Rare Tropic Birds Arrive by Remuera

Brilliant Plumage of Rainbow Hues FROM CENTRAL AFRICA Among the drab sacks and concrete of a 'warehouse in Beach Road were gathered all the brilliant colours of the tropics. Yesterday afternoon that workaday building zvas alive and alight with the orange and crimson, scarlet and gold, rose-red and blueblack sheen of birds’ wings. A cargo of valuable feathered beauties had arrived from Central Africa, via England, by the Remuera, and among them were several varieties which are the first to be brought to New Zealand. Hunters in Abyssinia, Nyasaland and other parts of tropical Africa had caught the birds which are now to make their homes in Auckland aviaries. Despite the long journey from their native forests and fields the birds arrived in excellent condition. A few were rather down-hearted at their long confinement, but an hour or two of today’s Auckland sunshine and the attention of . their future owners soon restored them to animation and constant piping. LONG JOURNEY The London firm of Spratt’s Patent, Ltd., supplied the birds to Hutchinson’s Wholesale, Ltd., Auckland, who had ordered them for their clients. On the long journey on the Remuera they were cared for by the ship’s carpenter. , There were 200 birds in the original consignment. The first death occurred within 13 days of New Zealand. A few days later the ship ran into a cyclone, and the stormy weather killed several of the most valuable specimens. This is probably the finest collection of rare and tropic birds which has been brought to the Dominion. Their loveliness is a joy. Even now their colours are marvellous, though some are bedraggled by being caged for some months. Two rainbow buntings are the first of their kind to arrive in New Zealand. This bird is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Its head feathers are a brilliant blue, its breast is rosepink, and its wings are a lovely mixture of green and dark grey. Only one Spreo starling arrived. He comes from Abyssinia and is a lovely feathered creation of black, turning to the most rich raven’s wing blue. His breast and the under part of the body are a dull orange. FIRST OF THEIR KIND Four black-cheeked love-birds are also the first of their species to reach the Dominion. They are brilliant fellows and withstood the arduous journey very well. As their name denotes, their heads are almost black. The neck feathers melt into a bright crimson, which again merges into dark and light green of wings and back. The beak is scarlet. Several varieties of love-birds were included in the cargo, and each variety seemed to be more lovely than the last. Unfortunately the most valuable of all —the blue love-birds—died on the way out. Nature was in lavish mood when she designed the most chatty of the loVe-bird family. He is the creation of a great artist, with a bright, bright yellow head and beak and marvellously striped green wings and body. On either side of the head and just above the beak there are sky-blue’ dots of feather, whieh are repeated .again on the wings. FINCHES AND WEAVERS Of finches and weavers there are dozens in the recent importation. A golden-breasted waxbill, tinier than a wee mouse, flitted about his cage, displaying his beautiful breast and blue tail to perfection. The tiger finch was strangely striped and extremely handsome. There was a tiny wren with a bright pink underbody and the most delicate dove-grey head and wings. The orange-cheeked waxbills were just as beautiful as their tiny brothers and sisters with the golden breasts. Madagascar weavers. who weave hanging nests for themselves, arrived in excellent condition; the Senegal finches were as perky as their British cousins, only they are much rarer. Grey-singing finches will warble in a new home in a sunny corner of Remuera. Most of the birds were imported fo ' Mrs. Hugh Campbell, of Arney Road, Remuera, and Mr. G. Rowland Hutchinson, Keith Avenue, Remuera. Others went to J. Walker and Sons.