It is so called because of its thin legs. It is said that someone who eats it must die. Its nest it used to heal asthma after tattoos are made on the ailer’s chest. In the Tembo tales, this bird was good at singing and the dog was good at dancing. Then one day it […]
Bird stories, African Olive Pigeon
Because of its song “Ngiuu, Ngiuu,†the Tembo people think that it is ill and about to die. It is also called “Chitinga†(= crown) because it has a crown on the head. It is a kingly bird. Edible. Kizungu, B., et al. ETHNO-ORNITHOLOGY OF THE TEMBO IN EASTERN DRC (FORMER ZAIRE): PART ONE, KALEHE […]
Bird stories, African Grey Parrot
There was once a Banker who taught his Parrot the speech of men. The Parrot made such progress that he was soon able to take part in any conversation, and he astonished every one by his intelligence. One day a Parson came by the Parrot. My respects to your Reverence, said the Parrot. O reverend […]
Bird stories, African Dwarf Kingfisher
The birds associated with elephants are a species of hornbill (kohekohe), yellow- spotted barbet (bururu) and amasanginbo (unidentified small birds). It is said that, if men approach an elephant, these birds fly around the elephants, making a noise at the ears to inform the elephants of danger. The dwarf and pygmy kingfishers (manganlako) are also […]
Bird stories, the Great Blue Turaco
There is a food taboo for this totemic animal of a particular clan. The clan members cannot eat this animal called ngini-so (things prohibited), or ngini-so-su (things prohibited to us), which symbolize their membership of a particular clan. Should one eat such a prohibited animal, his teeth would fall out. There are other birds avoided […]
Bird stories, the Barn Swallow
A species of marmot is native in Poland and in nearby Galicia, as well as in the lands to the east as far as central Asia. It is also very common in Eastern Siberia. There, as elsewhere, the little animal is called Bobac. Under the shoulder of the Bobac, in the flesh, may be found […]
Vintage plate of White-bellied Emerald (Agyrtria candida)
This plate is from around 1850, it was then called White-breasted Emerald (Thaumatias candidus) and the information states: The Thaumatias candidus ranges widely over the southern parts of Mexico and Guatemala, and, judging from the number of specimens which have been transmitted to Europe through the instrumentality of De Lattre, Salle, Skinner, and Salvin, it […]
Vintage plate of White-throated Hummingbird (Leucochloris albicollis)
This plate is from around 1850, it was then called White-throat (Leucochloris albicollis) and the information states: The southern part of Brazil alone, so far as we yet know, is the native country of this very pretty and well-marked species, and numerous are the specimens that from time to time are sent to Europe from […]
Vintage plate of White-bellied Hummingbird (Leucippus chionogaster)
This plate is from around 1850, it was then called White-breasted Leucippus (Leucippus chionogaster) and the information states: If this bird had been one of the most beautiful, instead of one of the plainest and most modestly attired species of the family, it could scarcely have received a greater degree of attention than has been […]
Vintage plate of a Hybrid species Sauccerotia beryllina x Agyrtria cyanocephala
This plate is from around 1850, it was then called dOcas Amazili (Amazilia Ocai) and the information states: The only example I have yet seen of this very distinct species of Humming-Bird was obtained at Xalapa in Southern Mexico, by M. Rafael Montes d’Oca. I have placed this new bird in the genus Amazilia, because […]