3-008-474 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Chinese magpies in the Zoological Society's Gardens, Regent's Park, [London], 1862. 'The building in the northern part of the Zoological Society's Gardens in Regents Park, called the "Parrot-house," contains at the present moment, besides its legitimate occupants - a noisy and numerous set of parrots - several other kinds of foreign birds of great rarity and beautiful plumage. Amongst them is a fine example of the Chinese magpie (Urocissa sinensis), which, although well known from preserved specimens in museums and from its being a very frequent subject of representation in Chinese drawings, has seldom if ever been previously received alive in this country. This bird...was in bad plumage on its first arrival some months ago from the effects of its long voyage and the confined space allowed to it on board ship, but has rapidly recovered itself in the large cage in which it has been placed in the Society's Gardens, and is now in perfect feather. It is lively and active in its habits, and, with its red bill and legs and brilliant plumage, forms a very attractive object'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.