The Laughing Thrushes Also Seemed to Belong to the Mummy Shanghai Museum (Berlioz, 1930), and (Garrulax Species) Class, but He Was Much More Rugged

Part II

The Laughing Thrushes also seemed to belong to the mummy Shanghai Museum (Berlioz, 1930), and (Garrulax species) class, but he was much more rugged. maintained ever since at the Natural Josef H. Lindholm, /II Very bald, he always wore a small History Museum in Paris (France's Fort Worth Zoological Park Greek cap and his high cheekbones, much older equivalent to our he appearance of living speci short nose and shaggy moustache Smithsonian Institution), remain the mens of GanuWxgalbanmin immediately suggested a jack-in-the only ones in any collection. Thus, T Europe in 1988 rekindled box. Brusque and rough, with no great efforts to conserve this species in ornithological interest in what had interest in his work, he had little Jiangxi are all the more important. been a rather obscure, if enigmatic patience with young zealots, and we In a September, 1996 communica species. It was first described by the were never very good friends. tion to Christopher Brown, Curator of British naturalist H.H.Godwin-Austen Trouessart [the head Curator] hated Birds 'at the Fort Worth Zoological in 1874, from specimens he collected him, and I always suspected that the Park, Roland Wirth discussed a survey in the remote Manipur Valley in north professor's pronounced friendship for in progress at Wuyuan, jointly funded eastern India in 1873 (Long, et ai, me was partly caused by Menegaux's by his Zoological Society for the 1994). Subsequent specimens were antagonism. I had marvellous fun in Conservation of Species and collected in Manipur by Godwin witnessing extraordinary scenes Populations, Stiftung Avifauna Protecta Austen in the 1890s, and, a couple of between these two curious men... not (another German nonprofit organiza other persons since then (Ibid, 1994). very inspiring to young naturalists.... tion), and the Oriental Bird Club: ''The In nearby Nagaland, the great They somehow disorganised for a time project aims to survey a whole range American ornithologist (and avicultur the study of mammals and birds in of 'mini-protected areas' in the district ist) Dillon Ripley collected study skins Paris... Fortunately Jacques Berlioz to record and map the birds and rare in 1950. replaced Menegaux soon after the plants... It is thought that these areas Other collectors from the 1890s to [First World] war, and the old traditions may contain the major remaining pop the 1950s gradually established that of the museum were happily carried ulations of courtoisi.. .". The field this species also occured in the Chin on again. French ornithology started researchers are three staffmembers of Hills of Myanmar (Burma) (not far anew and regained its importance." the Wuyuan Forestry Office and from Manipur), as well as the Indian In light of the above, given that the Reserve Management Office, while the states of Assam and Mizoram. In addi original description of Ganulax cour Project "Liason Person" and Project tion, there is a probable sight record toisi was made by Auguste Menegaux Supervisor is Dr. He Fen-qi of the from the republic of Bangladesh (Ibid, in 1923 (Long, et ai, 1994), it is scarce Institute of Zoology of the Academica 1994). From these records, it appeared ly surprising that Berlioz had doubts Sinica in Beijing (China's eqUivalent to that G. galbanm's remote and little about the type locality ofthis Laughing the Smithsonian). Wirth expects to studied range by and large conforms Thrush, and relegated it to subspecies hear some news shortly. . to that of Blyth's Tragopan (Tragopan status. (Jean Delacour, who many Jacques Berlioz (1930), thinking it b. blythz), one of the last-discovered readers of this magazine do not need most unlikely that a bird known previ and least-known pheasants, and one to be reminded was one of the great ously from India and Burma should of the rarest in captivity. est ornithologists of all time, was great otherwise occur far to the Northeast in There was one glaring exception to friends with Jacques Berlioz-He Shansi, but considering the two Paris this generalization. In 1919 two speci described the Quangtri subspecies of specimens had come from the mens were collected very far to the the Silver Pheasant as Lophura nycthe Shanghai Museum, surmised that they east from the above localities, in mera berliozi in 1928). might have originated somewhere in Wuyuan, in China's Jiangxi (formerly As it turns out, GanuWx albanm South-east China. As it happens, aside Shansi) Province. These were original courtoisi does come from Jiangxi from Jiangxi, the only other known ly considered a new species, but in Province after all, a fact established in Chinese locality for Ganulaxgalbanm 1930, the great French ornithologist 1994, three quarters of a century after is in Yunan-the province in the far Jacques Berlioz not only lumped them Menegaux's specimens were collected. South-west corner of China. There, in under Ganulaxgalbanm, as the sub Funded by the Munich based Simao, three specimens were collected species G. galbanm courtoisi, but Zoological Society for the in March 1956. Two of these are now called into question their Jiangxi col Conservation of Species and at Wuhan University, in Central China. lection locality. Long, et al (994) states Populations (of which Roland Wirth is The third is in Beijing, at the that Berlioz gave no reason for doing Chairman and Founder), an expedition Academica Sinica. that. I believe one may gain some led by the ornithologists He Fen-qi and These three remain the only field insight from Jean Delacour's fond Zhang yi-sun to Wuyuan turned up "a collected museum specimens of the account of office politics at the specimen in a local house" and Yunan Yellow-bellied Laughing Department of Birds and Mammals at "People who knew it albeit uncom Thrush. (There has circulated the mis the Museum of Natural History in monly" (Long, et ai, 1994). conception that the Beijing specimen Paris, in pages 31-32 ofhis autobiogra However the two specimens was the only one in existence, but phy (Delacour, 1966). He relates: "The described by Menegaux, sent to him Long, et al (994) have clarified that sit assistant curator, Auguste Menegaux, by Father Courtoise, Director of the uation.) A scientific description of this afa WATCHBIRD 53 subspecies was not forthcoming for 26 arrived twenty Yellow-bellied breeding this bird in 1991. The 11 years. In 1982 it was described as Laughing Thrushes at the San Diego hatched that year arrived in May, June, Garrulax aalbanus simaoensis by Zoo. A month later six of these were July and August Ooanne Earnhardt, none other than Cheng Tso-hsin, the transferred to the San Diego Wild pers. comm.). Only one of those sur "Father of Modern Chinese Animal Park. vived more than a month. The nine Ornithology," and colleague Tang I am aware ofonly one other group hatched in 1992 (of which two sur RUiChang. of Yellow-bellied Laughing Thrushes vived) arrived in April, May, June, July, Making up for lost time (he was that arrived in the U.S. Between 29 and August. Again, only two survived imprisoned and kept from his ornitho November, 1990, and 28January, 1991, out of the six hatched at Lincoln Park logical work during the 15-20 years of the Lincoln Park Zoo, in Chicago, pur in 1993. These were in three clutches the "cultural revolution"), Dr. Cheng chased 10 birds, arriving in three con of two each, hatching in April, June, attended to unfinished business. This signments, from the Illinois firm Bird's and August. Breeding also took place included comparing the three 1956 Haven. It is uncertain whether other at Lincoln Park in 1996, but I am not Yunan-collected G. galbanus with the specimens were recieved by this com yet aware of the number. two 1919 Jiangxi specimens (in Paris), pany. I believe they were imported I am not aware of any published and the Indian specimens (at the directly from China (or perhaps Hong accounts of the San Diego or Lincoln British Museum, the Smithsonian, and Kong. At any rate, I don't believe they Park breedings, nor does anything the University ofMichigan). Birds from went through Europe). appear to have been written about the both the Chinese localities were at Breedings commenced at both the 1991 and 1994 hatchings at the once distinguished from the Indian San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park National' Avairy at Pittsburgh. Aside and Burmese Garrulax qalbanus qal in 1990 and continued inboth collec from these notes, the only published banus by the beautiful blue nape and tions for the next two years. discussion of an American zoo breed crown of the head ("greyish olive 1990 appears to be the year for the ing of this species, so far as I know, is green" in the Indian birds), as well as first captive breeding of this species. the brief account by Hope Bellino a bright "lemon yellow" (as opposed The Duisburg Zoo in Germany also (993), on the hatching of three speci to "maize yellow") throat (Long, et ai, was successful that year. First hatch mens at the Fort Worth Zoological Park 1994). On the other hand, the Yunan ings at the two San Diego collections on 11 and 12 May, 1993. The parents birds (G. q. simaoensis) differed from were almost exactly a week apart: on (an imported male, purchased from the Jiangxi birds (G. q. counoisi) in 17 April at the Zoo, and 25 April at the the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the only possessing "a broad yellowish-grey Wild Animal Park. Only a single bird 1991 Lincoln Park chick to survive to band across the chest, which is lacking hatched at the Park, but was fully adulthood) were at large, with another in G. q. counoisi " (Ibid, 1994). reared. Of the 10 hatched at San Diego Lincoln Park female, in Fort Worth's All of this was neither here nor Zoo that year, only four (all males) sur multi-species outdoor walk-through there to the avicultural community, as vived. Aside from the above-noted first aviary. The chicks hatched after a 13 Garrulax galbanus, collectively, had two, these 10 zoo chicks hatched in day incubation period. "At eleven no captive history at all. May. The seven bred at the zoo in days, the chicks fledged and were Then, ih 1988, living specimens 1991 (of which four survived), and the transferred to a .9m x 1.5m x .3m appeared in the commercial bird trade. four bred there in 1992 (all dying) indoor cage attached to the aviary, The first ones, out of Hong Kong, were all hatched in April and May where the parents continued to feed showed up in Europe (Pasini, et ai, (Marvin Jones, pers. comm.). The sin the chicks." (Bellino, 1993). 1994). Further specimens were not gle bird bred at the Wild Animal Park Two further hatchings have thus far long in arriving in the U.S. in 1991 (which died at 17 days of age) taken place at Fort Worth, on 10 Well aware that all sorts of marvel hatched in June, but only one of the August 1995. Both babies disappeared lous birds were arriving in Europe, but six bred there in 1992 hatched that three days later. This, with the loss of not necssarily ending up in America, month, the rest arriving in April and some adult specimens, has resulted in Dr. James Dolan, Director of Animal May. (Two of these six survived), No the establishment of off-exhibit facili Collections for the Zoological Society further specimens have since hatched ties for this bird, in consideration ofthe of San Diego, engaged the services of at the Park. None hatched at the zoo in importance of propagating it. F. J. Zeehandelaar, in the animal 1993 or 1994, but 18 were bred there In 1996, two groups, each consist importation business since since 1952, in 1995. ing of a male and two females, were bearing the justly earned formidable All of the San Diego Zoo and Wild set up in adjoining cages, 140 ft. long, reputation as the wizard of logistics Animal Park hatchings took place out 70 ft. across, and 96 ft. high. Nests and red-tape-cutting, the master ofget of-doors, whereas the Lincoln Park were shortly built in each aviary, both ting live animals from point A to Point Zoo hatchings occured inside that of twigs and raffia. One was a rather B. Since the late 1980s, Mr. zoo's venerable, recently remodeled, small cup in a Ficus benjamina, the Zeehandelaar has brought to San bird house. This may explain the con other was built in a wire basket in Diego a stream of rare birds through trast in time of year this species bred which material had been placed Europe, originating from around the there, as opposed to the San Diego beforehand. Typically, this basket was world. Thus, on 21 April, 1989, there collections. Lincoln Park commenced investigated immediately after its intro- Continued onpage 56. 54 MarchiApril 1997 Aviculture ln• the USA join hundreds of bird lovers AUGUST 6-9 AFA Convention 1997 at the Camberley Gunter Hotel in historic, fun-filled San Antonio, Texas Seminars • Workshops • Social & Networking Opportunities plus a variety of fun & exciting events!

Before 6/15/97 take advantage of these early bird rates: Full registration - $180 for members • $210 for non-members Hotel accomodations: $99 single/double before 7/15/97 For hotel reservations call 800-222-4276 For convention registration and general information contact: AFA, P.O.Box 56218, Phoenix, AZ 85079-6218 • phone 602-484-0931, fax 602-484-0109

River Walk Texas town in the golden age of rock San Antonio, Texas The River Walk or Paseo del Rio is 'n roll. There are music and dance an ideal a must-see for any visitor. Cobblestone shows, boardwalk rides including a and flagstone paths border the San massive wooden roller coaster restau Convention City Antonio River, 20 feet below street rants, architecture and craft demonstra level, as it winds its way through tions all in the theme of the "city." We are please and excited that AFA parks, sidewalk cafes, specialty bou Convention 1997 is being held in San tiques and shops, art galleries, antique Art Galore Antonio, right in the heart of Texas. shops, nightclubs and restaurants. For the art lover, San Antonio offers San Antonio is rated among the top Nearby La Villita is a shoppers par many art museums and galleries with five vacation and convention cities in adise, set in a fonner Spanish settle wide ranging collections from post the U.S. and one of the four most ment, where visitors can watch as impressionists, Modem Art, antiquities unique cities in the U.S. San Antonio shopkeepers make their own wares Mexican folk art, pre-Columbian art, offers all the luxuries and facilities of a and offer demonstrations of glass Spanish Colonial art, Native American major city, with all the charm and blowing and pottery making. and Contemporary art. friendliness of a small town. Feast. and Fiesta Remember the Alamo Excellent Zoo . and more Dining options range from fine San Antonio abounds with things to The San Antonio Zoo is ranked as French to Texas sized steaks and bar do, many in downtown and others just one of the best zoos in the country b-que, but pure San Antonio is Tex a short 50 cent streetcar ride away. with a collection of more than 3,000 Mex at its finest. After dinner,' San You'll find the Alamo, a shrine and animals and an impressive bird collec Antonio offers country western music, museum that was originally a mission tion including Black Cockatoos and local "conjunto" band music, jazz, sing and then a fortress where 189 men Queen of Bavaria Conures. Other fun a-long at an Irish Pub and even a hard defended it against 4000 Mexican filled attractions are Six Flags Fiesta Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood. troops for 13 days--in the name of Texas, a town built just for fun, and Texas Independence. Along with the Sea World of Texas that boasts the stay Tuned Alamo, there are four other Spanish world's largest marine life park. Six Stay tuned for more convention missions that form the ~an Antonio Flags Fiesta Texas is a Don-stop cele information in upcoming issues ofThe Mission National Historical Park, which bration a Southern Texas, created W:iltchbird and Fast News. Experience is a wonderful way to explore the around four themed areas; a small "AFA Convention '97" and San city's roots and Spain's influence on Mexican town, a German village, a Antonio, it will be an AFA convention the Southwestern palt of the U.S. 1920's cowboy boomtown and a small that you are sure to remember! afa WATCHBIRD 55 duction on 5June, though serious nest China. The far less important, but cer Finally, seven more of San Diego building did not commence until 21 tainly very interesting question of Zoo's birds are listed as "Austen's June. Things then proceeded quickly, which subspecies all these birds are, is, Laughing Thrush (Garrulax galbanus the construction of an again, rather I think, one yet to be definately courtoist)." small, cup-shaped nest amidst the raf answered. This uncertainty in classification of fia and twigs, being followed by a pair Over the last several years there has what appears to be a single taxon of of eggs, laid on the 26th and 27th of been some controversy over the iden bird is due to the difficulties inherent June. The breeding pair (a wild-caught tity of Yellow-bellied Laughing in comparing living captive specimens male from the San Dieogo importation, Thrushes in American Zoos. This will with the respectively 87 and 40 year and a Lincoln Park bred female) toler be quite apparent to anyone perusing old specimens of G. galbanus courtoisi ated their cagemate, one of the Fort the last several ISIS Bird Abstracts, and G. g. simaoensis. Worth-bred 1993 offspring, but it did published by the International Species Two articles detailing research in not take part in incubation. Information System twice each year, this direction both reached the same Unfortunately, these eggs proved clear. listing all birds reported present by the conclusion: The birds that arrived in No eggs were laid in the other cage, 461 participating institutions. The same Europe, commencing in 1988, are G. g. where a nest was con~tructed in the collections, in different years, have var simaoensis (Long et ai, 1994; Pasini et Ficus tree. This may be because the iously identified their specimens as ai, 1994). It was of course obvious that Lincoln Park bred male was hand Garrulax galbanus or Garrulax gal they were not the nominate subspecies raised-though he does feed wax banus simaoensis, but the Abstract for from India 'and Myanmar. Quite aside worms to his females. 30 June, 1996, complicates matters fur from the fact that nothing gets com In October, 1996, a female was ther. mercially imported from that sub transferred from each of these off As of 30June, 1996, ISIS (996) indi species' range, head coloration clearly exhibit aviaries to a compartment of cates that 11 U.S. zoos held a total of identifies that these are Chinese birds. the Fort Worth Zoo's Pheasantry, 56 specimens, a substantial increase They have gloriously blue crowns and where these Lincoln Park bred birds from 31 December, 1995, when Robert napes, whereas G. g. galbanus' nape joined two newly acquired San Diego Webster (996), ranking by size ISIS and crown are described by Long et al Zoo bred males. The females were listed U.S. North American zoo popu (994) as "olive green." introduced without complication a~er lations of passerine birds, found that, The identification of the imported a day in a "howdy cage." with 47 specimens, Garrulaxgalbanus living birds as G. galbanus simaoensis During this introduction period, (collectively) tied for twenty-ninth by Long et al (994) and Passini et al both males hung all over the cage sus place with the Eastern Bluebird and (994) appears to be based entirely on pended in their aviary, quivering their the Gold-breasted Waxbill. the color ofthe underbelly. Ofthe two wings and vocalizing. This provided The 56 mid-year birds are listed by known specimens of G. galbanus an excellent opportunity for me to ISIS (996) under three separate head courtoisi, one is too dishevelled for a make detailed comparisons between ings. Thirty-seven of them (scattered diagnostic comparison. The other, San Diego and Lincon Park birds. They throughtout nine zoos) are simply list however is "grey (colour near to no. are, for all practical purposes, identical. ed as "Yellow-bellied Laughing Thrush 209 of Seguy's universal colour chart) For me, at least, it lays to rest a cru (Garrulax galbanus)." from the upper breast to the vent" cial question in the future mangement The pair at Houston and the three according to Dr. Chr. Jouanin at the of this bird in American aviculture. pairs at Minneosta Zoological Gardens, Paris Museum of Natural History, There is no subspecific difference as well as a further bird at Fort Worth where both specimens repose (Pastini between the San Diego birds, import and three at San Diego Zoo are listed et ai, 1994, Long et ai, 1994). ed through Europe, and the Lincoln as "Austen's Laughing Thrush The captive specimens are pale yel Park birds, which came directly from (Garrulax galbanus simaoensis)." low from the lower margin ofthe chest to the white vent. The yellow is of a Table I. distinctively paler shade than the beau

YellOW-bellied Laughing Th.t'ushea (Garrulax qalbanus) hatched in AaerlcanZooB, 1959-1995. tiful rich yellow throat. This golden (CO.piled ~ro. the InternaHonal Zoo Yearbook (1959-93) and ISIS (1994-95». yellow throat, combined with the blue Institutions Years hatched Number hatched (Juvenile deaths) San Diego Zoo 1990-92 & 1995 39(13 + unspecified) crown and nape, and black mask and San Diego Wild Animal Park 1990-92 8(5) Chicago (Lincoln Park) 1991-95 43(21 + unspecified) beak, make this bird reminiscent of a National AViary at PittsbUl'gh 1991 & 1994 4(1 + unspecified) Fort Worth 1993 & 1995 5(2) Mountain Tanager, a reason, along with its rather non-agressive behavior, that it drew the interest of zoo people ~. even before its rarity was understood. ~:~~~V-bellied Laughing Thrushes (Garrulax galbanus) hatched in European and Asian Between the yellow throat and (Ca.piled fro. the International Zoo Yearbook (1959-93) and ISIS (1994-95». underparts is a brownish-gray chest. Institutions Duisburg Years hatched Number hatched (Juvini1e deaths) Whether or not this detail correso Ocean Park (Hong Kong) 1990 2( 1) Rotterdam 1992 2 ponds to the "yellowish-grey broad Tierpark Berlin 1992-94 8(5 + unspecified) 1994 2 ( 1) band," by which Doctors Cheng and 56 March!April 1997 Tang distinguished G. g. simaoensis tion of G. g. simaoensis in Table I. of simaoensis specimen, shows the from G. g. courtoisi CLong et ai, 1994), Long et al (994) is the very narrow, underside ofthe tail. It would be help is a matter of contention. Dr. Cheng but clearly defined halfmoon, of a ful to understand precisely what was Tso-Hsin, himself, after examining beautiful shade of blUish-white, meant by "dark Chestnut." (I have photographs oftwo birds purchased in between the eyes ofthe zoo birds, cre eaten many chestnuts whose shells Italy in 1988 by the Milanese avicultur ating a boundry between the blue were almost black.) ist Alberto Pasini, replied thusly to crown and the plushy black feathers Again, this situation certainly sup Pasini, in 1993, "The pretty photos you above the beak, which form part ofthe ports the view that large series of pre enclosed... are, indeed, of much inter black mask. The Table I. description of served museum specimens are essen est to all of us, and the yellow-bellied G. g. simaoensis describes the crown tial to really understand what is going babbler is surely to be Garrulax gal as "deep bluish," with "no supercili on with a given species. banus simaoensis, as so proposed in um." I am under the impression a An intriguing possiblility is that the my paper..." On the other hand, Dr. He "supercillium" is an eyebrow like birds exported to Europe and America Fen-qi, also of the Academica Sinica, marking, over the eye. However, the may represent an otherwise unknown and the rediscoverer of G. a. courtoisi, term is not defined in Long et al. 's population of Garrulaxgalbanus. In a wrote, in a letter to Roland Wirth, also (994) table. Instead, the crown of G. 1993 letter to Roland Wirth, He Fen-qi in 1993, that photos he had been sent g. courtoisi is described as being dis suggests the, "possible existence ofthe of birds in Tierpark Berlin appeared to tinguished by "a broad bluish white bird in certain regions in Northern represent G. g. courtoisi "as they have band grading back into azure blue." If, Guangxi, Southern Hunan, and else no obvious necklet on their breast." as I infer, a "supercillium" equals a where, as actually it seems almost Perhaps this is more a matter of "broad bluish white band," I suppose a impossible for a Laughing-thrush bird semantics. At any rate, the fact that the narrow, sharply defined band could be with its subspecies segregated in such imported living specimens all have the one too. a long distance with each other [sid." yellow on the throat separated from These interesting discrepancies may As earlier noted, Dr. He, with the assi that of the underparts by a grayish well be due to semantics. It is a pity tance ofRoland Wirth and the Zoological chest led Long et al (994) and Pasini that the photograph, published in Society for the Conservation of Species et al (994) to clearly identfy them as Long et al (994), provided by Roland and Populations, rediscovered G. gal G. s. simaoensis. Wirth, of the Academica Sinica G. g. banus courtoisi. This expedition cost Comparison between observations I have made of San Diego- and Lincoln tR1 19 Park-bred specimens at the Fort Worth _------.,,If! C +.c------, Zoo, and the key to the three G. gal ~ ~ ~ ...... , banus subspecies prepared by Long et ; /Y);> ~ ~ ~(; ...... al (994), has led me to'question as to o "V':: ~" + OF A'I\(; whether G. g. simaoensis is truly the subspecies these birds correspond to. According to Table I. in Long et ai, UGifts that Keep on the central tail feathers of G. g. simaoensis are "ash-brown, with a Giving" broad terminal band of dark chestnut, tipped paler," while those of G. g. courtoisi are "dark grey, their distal The American Federation ofAviculture's halves black with pale tips." When at rest, the central tail feathers of these birds almost completely cover Endowment Fund the other feathers, which, with sharply contrasting dark and white patterns, .~:(0?t)(-1g;). are a startling sight as the bird flies away. The central tail feathers of the Leaving a Legacy to the Future captive birds are gray at the base, with a clearly defined blackish area toward For Further Information on How to Participate the tips, which are whitish. I interpret "dark chestnut" to be some shade of Through Honoraria and Bequests, Please Contact reddish brown, which certainly does Jim Hawley, Jr., AFA ChiefFinancial Officer not describe the very dark color of the distal halves of the zoo bird's feathers, P.O. Box 56218 perhaps aptly described as "slaty." Another very noticable feature that Phoenix, AZ 85017 appears to be at odds with the descrip-

afa WATeRBIRD 57 less than $2,000. Naturally, Dr. He Cologne Zoo. geographically close] nominate gal would very much like to attempt a An American Studbook keeper has banus in any morphological charac similar rediscovery of G. g. simaoensis, yet to be designated, but is certainly ters. This fact, that the two Chinese as well as an exploration ofthe above one of the reccomendations of the subspecies may represent a species of noted localities. No one appears to Passerine Taxon Advisory Group, their own, makes conservation action know from where the commerical which provisionally designated this and proper captive management only Chinese trappers obtained the export species as one of the four members of so much more urgent." ed specimens. It is disturbing that none the genus Garrulax to be maintained appear to have left China since 1990, as an established population in North Acknowledgments despite the fact that Chinese hird ship American Zoos. At the time of the I am very grateful to Roland Wirth, Chairman of the Zoological Society for the Conservation of ments (especially from Yunan) contin TAG's working meeting in Seattle, in Species and Populations, for providing, over sever ue to arrive in this country. September 1995, the question as to al years, a great deal of information on Ganulax galbanus. I am also indebted to Marvin Jones, As long ago as 1993, Roland Wirth whether two subspecies were present Registrar Emeritus of the Zoological Society of San expressed the concern that the entire in the U.S. was a major concern. I Diego, Joanne Earnhardt, Registrar at the Lincon population may have been trapped hope I have satisfactorily addressed Park Zoo, Chicago, and Rebecca Dillinger, Registrar at the Fort Worth Zoological Park, for fur out. One may instead hope that the this in these pages. nishing their respective institution's records for this collection locality was'a particularly One recommendation I strongly species. I likewise wish to thank Christopher out-of-the-way place where no one urge is discontinuing the use, in ISIS, Brown and Lis Hudson, respectively Curator and Assistant Curator of Birds at the Fort Worth goes anymore. At any rate, finding that of "Austen's Laughing Thrush" as a Zoological Park, Robert Webster, Supervising habitat is imperative. The American common name. While it is true that Keeper of Birds at the San Antonio Zoo, and Dr. zoo community is showing some H.H. Godwin-Austen did describe the Roger Wilkinson. Curator of Birds at the Chester Zoo, for generous provision of information and interest in supporting field research. If nominant Indian subspecies in 1874, materials. any individuals are interested in assist having collected the type specimens ing future projects of Dr. He, through the year before, it happens that the REFERENCES Roland Wirth and his Zoological Brown-capped Laughing Thrush, of Bellino, H. (993) Fort Worth Zoo hatches Society, they may contact me through Assam and Myanamar, was described Yellow-bellied Laughing Thrushes. AAZPA Communique 1993 (No.9), 10. the Fort Worth Zoological Park (Bird as Garrulax austeni. This species has Berlioz, J. (930) Revision systematique du Department), 1989 Colonial Parkway, never appeared in aviculture but I genre Garrulax Lesson. (Part III.) Fort Worth, TX 76110. think it is best to avoid any potential L'Oiseau X 1:129-159. DELACOUR, J.T. In the meantime, there is the cap confusion. (966) The Living Air. Country Life tive population to conserve. In addi Rarely has zoo aviculture found Ltd. International Species Information System 0995 tion to the 56 specimens in 11 itself in such a situation. To have 96) ISIS Bird Abstract as of 31 American zoos, the 30 June, 1996 ISIS acquired a fairly large and genetically December 0994 & 1995) Bird Abstract lists 20 in six zoos in the diverse number of founders of a bird United Kingdom, Holland, Germany, subsequently discovered to be almost Lindholm, J.H. (994) Old World Sparrows and related weavers (Passer and and France,' and indicates that repro unknown to science is not a usual Petronia). A.FA. Watchbird XXI duction occurred in the last year at occurrence. The fact that this species (No.4), 39-46. Chester and Mulhouse. These hatch has proved fairly prolific, and that Long, A., M. Crosby, & T. Inskipp (994) A ings (two at Chester, and four at numbers in American zoos have thus review of the taxonomic status of the Yellow-throated Laughingthrush Mulhouse) took place in 1996, as the far grown steadily, gives one reason (Garrulax qalbanus). Oriental Bird 31 December 1995 ahstract lists no for optimism. It is certainly to be Club Bulletin. NO.19. 41-48. European hreedings for 1995. This list hoped that attentive management Oeming, A. (968) China, Land of Zoological of European collections is not com (including the eventual distrihution of Gardens. In Kirchschofer, R. (968) The World (!f Zoos Viking Press, 262 plete. In addition, there are specimens specimens to private aviculturists) will 265. maintained by private aviculturists as result in a firmly established, self-sus Pasini, A., D. Arsuffi, G. Micali, & e.G. Violani well (although I am aware of none in taining population ofthis beautiful and (994) Identification and captive American private collections). enigmatic Laughing Thrush. breeding of Yellow-throated While there have been fewer docu Laughingthrush (Garrulax aalbanus). Oriental Bird Club Bulletin. No.19, mented hatchings of this species in Postscript 49-50. European and Asian public zoos, in I received the following comments Rank, M. (996) Recently published (Part comparison to U.S. ones, the from Roland Wirth on 17 December Chenq and the Golden Pheasant by Continental European and British pop 1996: "It has been suggested... that the Yang Qunrong). Ibid. No. 23, 61. Webster, R. (996) Most-numerous Passerines in ulations are presently more closely "galbantd' two Chinese forms of are North American ISIS Institutions, managed. The British studhook is perhaps a separate species. In my December, 1995, and a comparison maintained by the famed avicultural view, that makes perfect sense, con oftaxa populationsfrom one andfive historian David Coles, Curator at Beale sidering that the two described suh Years past. San Antonio Zoo. Park, Lower Basildon, Reading, while species are very similar despite their Zoological Society of London 0959-96) Species the one for the Continent is kept by of birds bred in zoos and other insti widely separate ranges, whereas tutions 1967-1993 International Zoo Teo Pagel, Curator of Birds at the simaoensis does NOT approach [the Yearbook IXXXIV. • 58 March/April 1997