/-/-/ THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY EDITED BY PHYLLIS BARCLAY-SMITH, M.B.E. VOL. 70 JANUARY, 1964, to DECEMBER, 1964 Hertford STEPHEN AUSTIN & SONS, Ltd. 1964 CONTENTS Title-page ......... i Contents ......... iii List of Contributors ....... iv List of Plates ........ vii Officers for the Year 1964 ...... 1 Officers of the Avicultural Society Past and Present . 2 Magazine ......... 1 Index 23 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS ARTICLES Aiuto, Russell. Sex-linked colour inheritance in the Zebra Finch, 48. Boorer, W. Some notes on the behaviour and breeding of the Celestial Parrotlet ( Forpus coelestris ), 23. COLLARD, W. H. Breeding the Maroon Tanager, Rhamphocelus jacapa, 55. Copley, Robert A. Breeding Black-necked Swans, 154. Hooded Mergansers — rearing problems, 182. COTTERELL, SlR RlCHARD, Breeding the Vinaceous Firefinch ( Lagonosticta vinacea ), 106. Coupe, M. F. The new Tropical House at Chester Zoo, 172. Breeding the Red-billed Weaver ( Quelea quelea), 229. Cummings, W. D. Breeding results at Keston Foreign Bird Farm, 1963, 56. Cutler, J. A. Breeding of the Port Lincoln Parrakeet, 212. Delacour, J. In memory of David Seth-Smith, 28. California aviaries, 177. Everitt, Charles. Breeding the Natal Kingfisher, 1 5. Breeding the Fairy Blue Bird, 18. Breeding the Pale-vented Robin, 46. Breeding the Natal Robin, 70. -V Breeding the Red-winged Starling, 133. Breeding the Hoopoe, 163. Breeding the Joyful Greenbul, 170. The Masked Wood Swallow, 186. Breeding the Red-eyed Bulbul, 214. Breeding the Golden-crested Myna, 216. Fletcher, A. W. E. News from the Chester Zoo Bird Collection, 38. Forshaw, Joseph M. The parrots of Australia : — 7. The Port Lincoln Parrot ( Barnadius zonarius ), 59. 8. The Mulga Parrot ( Psephotus varius), 136. 9. The Red-capped Parrot ( Purpureicephalus spurius), 201. Gewalt, Wolfgang. The first success in zoo-breeding Great Bustards ( Otis tarda), 218. LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS V Goodwin, Derek. Observations on the Dark Firefinch, with some comparisons with Jameson’s Firefinch, 80. Grummt, Wolfgang. Some notes on the breeding of the African Cattle Egret, 222. Hardy, John William. Left- and right-footedness equally prevalent in Halfmoon Parrakeets, 76. Harrap, K. S. Breeding the Natal Francolin ( Francolin natalensis ), 146. Harrison, C. J. O. Notes on the Rufous-breasted Dunnock [Prunella strophiata), 184. Kendall, S. B. Notes on my cockatoos in 1963, 26. Klos, Heinz-Georg. News from the Berlin Zoological Garden, 29, 147, 219. /Lint, Kenton C. Breeding of the Thailand Hoopoe, Upupa epops longirostris Jerdon, 119. Lotshaw, Robert. Downy Woodpeckers in captivity, 28. McCance, Norman. “ Treating ’em rough ! ”, 12. Pheasants at the Sydney Royal Show, 168. Mallet, John. Breeding of the Red-billed Francolin, 72. Me aden, Frank. Breeding the Waxwing (B omhy cilia garrulus) , 191. . .. Nielsen, Aage V. Breeding the Red-faced Lovebird in Denmark, 39. Oliver, Thomas C. Breeding of the Loo Choo or Lidth’s Jay, Lalocitta lidthi (Bonaparte), 212. Ornamental Pheasant Trust. Annual report, 1963, 2. Partridge, W. R. Breeding the Greater Patagonian Conure ( Cyanolyseus byroni ), 109. Breeding the Cayenne Seedeater (Sporophila frontalis) , hi. Breeding the Magpie Starling ( Speculipastor bicolor ), 196. POULSEN, HELGER. Scaly-legs in captive birds, 69. Prestwich, Arthur A. British Aviculturists’ Club, 31, 74, 114, 223. News and views, 32, 74, 115, 149, 189, 225. VI LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS Reed, B. E. A near miss with a Scarlet-chested Sunbird, 166. Richardson, R. A. Liberty White-eyes in 1963, 27. SCAMELL, K. M. Breeding the Malachite Sunbird ( Nectarinia famosa ), 158. The breeding of the Shelley’s Starling ( Spreo shelleyi Sharpe), 198. Throp, Jack L. The Curassows — who they are, how they are kept and bred, 123. Vevers, Geoffrey. In memoriam — Cecil Stanley Webb, 173. Wayre, Philip. Californian Quail ( Callipepla californica) , 1. Notes from the Norfolk Wildlife Park, 10. Whitmore, G. E. Breeding the Thick-billed Green Pigeon ( Treron curvirostra) , 1 46. Wicks, Eve. “ Sukie ”, baby African Grey Parrot, 155. Yealland J. J. Two Wood Partridges, 14. The breeding of the African Cattle Egret, 2 1 . London Zoo notes, 34, 73, 113, 149, 188, 225. Toe deformity in pheasant chicks, 38. The Blue Snow Chat ( Grandala coelicolor ), 79. CORRESPONDENCE Treating ’em rough, J. J. Mallet, p. 77 ; Bartlett’s Bleeding-heart Pigeons, J. Delacour, p. 1 18 ; The Port Lincoln Parrot, A. C. Hunt, p. 229. LIST OF PLATES * Californian Quail ...... facing page i Aage V. Nielsen with one of the A. pullaria youngl The A. pullaria family in the outdoor aviary | 55 39 (Mousebirds behind) J Female Port Lincoln Parrot emerging from the nesting hollow ...... ,, 64 Salmon Gum and scrub country near Balladonia, Western Australia : haunt of Barnardius zonarius ,, 65 Chaffinch ( Fringilla coelebs) with scaly legs . . ,, 69 ^Blue Snow Chat ...... ,, 79 Male Thailand Hoopoe at nesting hole offering insectile food to chick. Young twenty-one days old . „ 1 19 Thailand Hoopoe chicks ( Upupa epops longirostris) . Age twenty-nine days, 29th May, 1964 . Male Hoopoe feeding smaller chick. Notice adult’s bill is inserted deeply into chick’s gape when bill is open. Young twenty-nine days old Mulga Parrot. Skins of birds collected from ' related localities in New South Wales : note the varying amounts of red on the abdomens Skins of birds collected in distantly separated localities : note similar amounts of red on the abdomens ...... 53 120 3 3 I 2 I :39 A stand of Mulga and stunted Eucalyptus near Cocklebiddy, W. A. : haunt of the Mulga Parrot Female Mulga Parrot ( Psephotus varius) at the nesting hollow ...... African Grey Parrot chick fifty-four days old. Perching ...... African Grey Parrot chick when six months old. Shows eye fully pearled .... 142 J43 155 * Denotes a coloured plate. LIST OF PLATES viii The new Tropical House at Chester Zoo . . facing page 1 72 Cecil Stanley Webb — Whipsnade, 1952 . . „ 173 A Waxwing pair at a feeding tray, one bird fluffed in partial display while the other looks expect¬ antly for an offering . . . . . „ 191 Here one member of a pair approaches another' with an object for the gift-passing ceremony. 5? r94 The waxwing on the left is in the inflated display posture with head turned away Magpie Starlings ( Speculipastor bicolor) , August, 1964. Bred by W. R. Partridge . . . „ 196 A stand of Marri (. Eucalyptus calophylla) in cultivated farmland near Busselton, Western Australia : haunt of the Red-capped Parrot . . . ,, 204 Adult Red-capped Parrot approaches the nesting hollow ....... ,, 208 Adult male Purpureicephalus spurius leaves the nest ,, 209 Great Bustard cock in full display in the West Berlin Zoo . . . . . . . ,, 218 A Great Bustard chick, born in the West Berlin Zoo, three weeks old . . . . . „ 219 Heron aviary in Tierpark, Berlin . . . ,, 222 British Aviculturists’ Club Dinner, 14th September, 1964 . . 223 AVICULTURAL ,r< MAGAZINE CONTENTS Californian Quail ( Callipepla calif ornica) ( with coloured plate), by Philip Wayre Ornamental Pheasant Trust — Annual Report, 1963 Notes from the Norfolk Wildlife Park, by Philip Wayre “ Treating ’em Rough ! ” by Norman McCance Two Wood Partridges, byj. J. Yealland . Breeding the Natal Kingfisher, by Charles Everitt . Breeding the Fairy Blue Bird, by Charles Everitt The Breeding of the African Cattle Egret, by J. J. Yealland Some Notes on the Behaviour and Breeding of the Celestial Parrotlet ( Forpus coelestris ), by W. Boorer ....... Notes on My Cockatoos in 1963, by Dr. S. B. Kendall Liberty White-eyes in 1963, by R. A. Richardson In Memory of David Seth-Smith ...... Downy Woodpeckers in Captivity, by Robert Lotshaw News from the Berlin Zoological Garden, by Dr. Heinz -Georg Klos Council Meeting .... British Aviculturists’ Club News and Views .... London Zoo Notes, by J. J. Yealland Reviews . . . Notes . . . OL. 70 No. 1 PRICE 7/6 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1964 THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Founded 1894 President : Miss E. Maud Knobel. Hon. Secretary and Treasurer : A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood, Nr. Edenbridge, Kent. Assistant Secretary : Miss Kay Bonner. Membership Subscription is £2 per annum, due on 1st January each year, and payable in advance. Life Membership £25. Subscriptions, Change of Address, Names of Candidates for Membership, etc., should be sent to the Hon. Secretary. THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Hon. President : Mr. Jean Delacour. President : Mr. A. N. Lopez. Secretary: Mr. David West, 209 N. 18 th Street, Montebello, California, U.S.A. ; The annual dues of the Society are $4.00 per year, payable in advance. The Society year begins 1st January, but new members may be admitted at any time. Members receive a monthly bulletin. Correspondence regarding membership, etc., should be directed to the Secretary. . THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE The Magazine is published bi-monthly, and sent free to all members of the Avicultural Society. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year on the payment of subscription. All matter for publication in the Magazine should be addressed to : — The Editor : Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, 51 Warwick Avenue, London, W. 9. Telephone : Cunningham 3006. The price of the Magazine to non-members is 7 s. 6d., post free, per copy, or £2 5 s. for the year. Orders for the Magazine, extra copies and back numbers (from 1917) should be sent to the publishers, Stephen Austin & Sons, Ltd., Gaxton Hill, Ware Road, Hertford, England. Telephone : Hertford 2352/3/4. Avicult. Mag. Californian Quail Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 70.— No. 1, — All rights reserved. JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1964 CALIFORNIAN QUAIL ( Callipepla calif ornica) By Philip Wayre (Great Witchingham, Norfolk, England) This quail has done exceptionally well in captivity and is therefore the best known of its group, which includes the Plumed or Mountain Quail {Callipepla picta), Gambel’s Quail [Callipepla gambeli), Douglas’s Quail ( Callipepla douglasi), Scaled Quail ( Callipepla squamata), and Banded Quail [Callipepla fasciata). All these species are found in the western United States and in Mexico. While the range of the Californian Quail extends, as its name suggests, over most of California, it is such a popular game bird that it has been introduced into many other parts of the United States, New Zealand, and Chile. It is a bird of arid country, living in the valleys and on the lower slopes of mountains wherever there is sufficient vegetation. The most attractive feature of this bird is the male’s headdress of long black spatulate feathers hanging forward like the plumes on some old-fashioned military helmets. Its voice is also quite attractive and varies from a quiet clicking sound like two small pebbles being tapped together to a loud whistle of three syllables, something like “ let me in ”, repeated frequently. These birds thrive in captivity provided they are kept dry and free from draughts. They hate damp ground and need a warm shelter in winter. Unlike most quail they are fond of perching quite high off the ground, especially to roost at night, and several perches should there¬ fore be provided in their quarters. It is unlikely that this quail would survive our winters if turned down and even less likely that it would successfully rear its chicks in our wet climate. The hens lay large clutches of eggs which are relatively pointed and attractively coloured, being a rich mottled brown. Quite often they fail to rear their chicks in captivity and it has been found best in the Trust’s collection to collect all the eggs and hatch them in a still-air incubator. They are not difficult to hatch and the tiny young are then removed to a “ Cotswold ” type partridge brooder in which heat is 2 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT provided by an electrical rubber pad under which there is just room for the chicks to creep so that the warm pad is actually touching their backs. It must be raised as the chicks grow. They thrive on a diet of very small pheasant starter crumbs with a little grated yolk of hard-boiled egg and finely-chopped lettuce for the first few days. If the crumbs seem too large to start with they can easily be ground smaller by rubbing between two ordinary bricks. Breeding birds do well on a similar diet of crumbs with a little millet and canary seed fed several times per week. * ❖ * ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST ANNUAL REPORT, 1963 LIST OF OFFICERS President Jean Delagour Vice-Presidents The Lord Walsingham, D.S.O. A. A. Prestwich Hon. Vice-President Professor Alessandro Ghigi Trustees The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Chaplin Philip Wayre Hon. Treasurer R. Q, . Gurney Hon. Director Philip Wayre Hon. Secretary J. J. Yealland Council Miss P. Barclay-Smith, M.B.E. Miss K. Bonner Dr. J. G. Harrison, M.A., M.B. Dr. Edward Hindle, F.R.S. F. E. B. Johnson Gordon Jolly, M.R.C.O.G. Terry F. Jones G. S. Mottershead Professor Charles Sibley Newton R. Steel ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT 3 REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1963 Most members will already have heard with sorrow of the death of David Seth-Smith last November at the age of eighty-nine. He was one of our founder Trustees and until recently had always taken the chair at meetings of Council. His guidance and advice during the formation of the Trust was invaluable and when he was no longer able to attend meetings he was missed by everyone. Since its formation four years ago the Trust’s work has been hampered by the difficulty of obtaining quarantine quarters for birds it wished to import. Various zoos have generously provided these facilities from time to time but very often their quarters are full of their own importations. It is thus very gratifying to be able to report that as a result of strenuous efforts by Lord Bessborough, the Ministry of Agriculture has agreed in principle to the Trust having its own quarantine station subject to certain conditions. It is hoped that a suitable site will be found within the city of Norwich and that building will be started during 1964. Your Council is extremely grateful to Lord Bessborough for all the trouble he took to present the Trust’s case so successfully. The erection of quite a small wooden building, with the necessary services in the form of light and water, will cost a considerable sum and Council will be most grateful to any member who is willing to contribute towards this expense. It is hoped that it will be possible to quarantine birds for members so long as the number of requests for this service does not become excessive. In January a firm of local millers applied to the Norfolk County Council for planning permission to build a large concrete mill, with a tower 70 feet high, at the top of the hill overlooking the Trust and the Norfolk Wildlife Park. This proposal was turned down by the Rural District Council and planning permission was refused by the County Council. The applicants appealed to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, who ordered a public inquiry to be held in East Dereham on 1 8th September. During the proceedings the Hon. Secretary wrote to the Minister setting out the Trust’s reasons for objecting to the scheme. Most helpful letters supporting our objection were sent to the Minister by a number of national bodies including the Avicultural Society, the World Wild¬ life Fund, the Council for Nature, the International Council for Bird Preservation, the Zoological Society of London, and a number of private individuals. Council is most grateful to all who rallied in support of the Trust, which was represented at the public inquiry by the Hon. Director and by Mr. Nigel Bridge who is recognized as the leading Counsel in planning matters. 4 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT The Minister has recently made known his decision to dismiss the applicants’ appeal and in his report the Inspector said his recom¬ mendation was strongly reinforced by the presence of the Ornamental Pheasant Trust and the Norfolk Wildlife Park close to the appeal site. On 30th May, Professor Bennet-Clarke, Dean of the Biological Faculty of the University of East Anglia, lunched at the Trust and discussed the possibility of co-operation between University and Trust in research. He felt the University would be pleased to make use of the facilities which the Trust could provide and hoped that both bodies would benefit from the association. On 17th July some twenty members of the Avicultural Society visited the collection as guests of the Hon. Director and Mrs. Wayre. Having looked round the Norfolk Wildlife Park they were entertained to tea and to sherry in the evening after being shown round the Trust’s breeding pens and rearing lawn by the Hon. Director. Negotiations continue for the return of a number of Swinhoe’s Pheasants, bred in the collection, to Taiwan where they are to be released to reinforce the depleted wild stock of this species. The Taiwan authorities have now intimated that they are considering the creation of a National Park or Reserve in which the birds will be released and have asked that in the meantime they may remain in the Trust’s care. The joint co-ordinating committee of the World Wildlife Fund/ ] International Union for the Conservation of Nature/International Council for Bird Preservation has written an “ influence letter ” of encouragement and support to the Taiwan authorities in favour of the Trust’s project. It is hoped that when the birds are finally shipped the World Wildlife Fund will be able to contribute towards the cost of the air freight. On 24th September, a party was given in London by Mr. Norman Collins, Chairman of Associated Television, in honour of H.R.H. The Prince of the Netherlands. The Hon. Director and Mrs. Wayre met Prince Bernhard, who is President of the World Wildlife Fund, and were pleased to find that both he and his aide , Colonel Geertsema, were very interested in the Trust’s work and the Prince expressed a wish to visit the collection one day. The Trust has been informed by Messrs. J. Rank, producers of Blue Cross Poultry Foods, that as from April, 1964, they will no longer be able to continue their annual grant of ^300-worth of free feeding stuffs in return for the display of their advertising boards. This will be a substantial blow to the Trust’s income, especially as the cost of feeding the Trust’s birds far exceeds this figure. Once again, at the request of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, a Wildlife Exhibit was staged at the Royal Norfolk Show ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT 5 on 26th and 27th June. Although this exhibit was primarily the concern of the Norfolk Wildlife Park, a section was devoted to a display from the Trust and included Himalayan Monal, Silver and Yellow Golden Pheasants. In addition, the Trust’s literature was available and 2,000 leaflets were distributed. The President, M. Jean Delacour, visited Great Witchingham on 10th June and once again showed his interest in the Trust’s work and put forward many helpful suggestions. Mr. R. E. Moreau, President of the British Ornithologists’ Union, is continuing his research into the taxonomic relationship between Common Quail ( Coturnix c. coturnix) and Japanese Quail ( Coturnix c. japonica ). As part of this work the Trust has successfully bred thirty-five j hybrids of these sub-species, some Common X Japanese and some Japanese X Common Quail. In addition, a number of recordings of Quail calls were made by the Hon. Director for Mr. Moreau. During the past eighteen months the general public has taken a far greater interest in Ornamental Pheasants than hitherto. This trend has resulted in a large increase in the number of inquiries received by the Trust. Most of them have been from people wishing to buy birds for their private collections and it seems a pity that generally speaking only half a dozen species are regularly offered by breeders, out of a total of 150 forms known to science. It is hoped that this enthusiasm will result in much larger numbers of some of the rarer pheasants being bred in captivity, for only by this means will the rare ones be saved from extinction in the long run. It is not enough that they should be bred only in the Trust’s collection and for this reason it has always been the Council’s aim to sell surplus young stock to members as soon as a reasonably safe nucleus of breeding birds has been built up. This year, for the first time, the Trust has been in a position to dispose of a few pairs of such species as Koklass and Blue Eared Pheasants and Tonkinese Red Jungle Fowl to members. It is understandable, though unfortunate, that most breeders desire to acquire a collection composed of as many species as possible. This is the natural inclination of the collector rather than the breeder and in most instances little or no breeding success is achieved. Such collections are expensive to maintain and derive little in return from the sale of young stock. It is to be hoped that more pheasant collectors will become pheasant breeders, specializing in two or three of the rarer forms. When it is remembered that ten breeding pairs of one species is generally assumed to be the minimum safe breeding nucleus, it will be appreciated that even this number of species involves the keeping of quite a large number of breeding birds. If only this could be achieved breeders would be making a really valuable contribution towards saving rare pheasants from extinction. 6 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT In this connection the Trust will continue to concentrate on building up numbers of those species at present scarce in captivity. As each becomes established a nucleus will be maintained and emphasis laid on the next form to be increased. The Collection At the time of writing this report the Trust has sixty breeding pens containing pairs or trios of pheasants, and this number does not include odd birds, nor pairs of partridge, francolin, quail, etc. Of the sixty breeding pens, thirteen contain species common in captivity, Silver, Reeves’s, Golden (including yellow mutation), and Lady Amherst’s pheasants. The Trust’s collection now consists of 387 birds of forty-six forms excluding mutations. The following is a list of birds in the collection at 1 st December, 1963 : — M. F. Total Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyr a) . .... Temminck’s Tragopan ( Tragopan temmincki) . Cabot’s Tragopan ( Tragopan caboti) .... Common Koklass (. Pucrasia m. macrolopha ) Himalayan Monal ( Lophophorus impeyanus ) Tonkinese Red Junglefowl ( Gallus g. jabouillei ) Sonnerat’s Junglefowl ( Gallus sonnerati ) .... Black-breasted Kalij ( Lophura leucomelana lathami) Silver Pheasant (. Lophura n. nycthemera ) .... Edwards’s Pheasant (. Lophura edwardsi) .... Swinhoe’s Pheasant ( Lophura swinhoei ) .... Lesser Bornean Crested Fireback ( Lophura i. ignita) . Greater Bornean Crested Fireback ( Lophura ignita nobilis ) . Vieillot’s Crested Fireback ( Lophura ignita rufa) Szechuan White Eared Pheasant ( Crossoptilon c. crossoptilon) Brown Eared Pheasant ( Crossoptilon mantchuricum) Blue Eared Pheasant ( Crossoptilon auritum ) Elliot’s Pheasant ( Syrmaticus ellioti ) .... Mikado Pheasant ( Syrmaticus mikado ) .... Hume’s Bar-tailed Pheasant ( Syrmaticus h. humiae) . Scintillating Copper Pheasant ( Syrmaticus soemmerringi scintillans ) Reeves’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesi) .... Southern Caucasus Pheasant ( Phasianus c. colchicus ) . Kirghiz Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus mongolicus ) Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) .... ,, ,, yellow mutation .... Lady Amherst’s Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) . Bornean Great Argus (Argusianus argus grayi ) . Indian Peafowl (Pam cristatus) ..... Black-shouldered Peafowl (Pavo cristatus var .) . Indo-Chinese Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus imperator) Malay Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) . Palawan Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron emphanum ) . Chinese Francolin (Francolinus p. pintadeanus) . Chinese Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola t. thoracica) Stone Partridge (Ptilopachus petrosus) .... Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) .... Himalayan Chukor (Alectoris graeca chukar) Painted Spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata ) .... Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca Cypriotes) I 1 2 4 7 1 1 1 4 5 7 8 15 3 0 3 2 6 8 1 1 2 1 1 2 28 14 42 3 2 5 W 15 32 - — • 2 2 1 2 3 1 1 2 — 1 1 1 1 2 5 5 10 6 7 13 3 3 6 1 1 2 2 0 2 12 6 18 1 1 2 1 1 2 12 3 15 5 8 13 9 5 14 1 1 2 9 12 21 1 0 1 — ■ 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 3 1 0 1 2 0 2 1 0 1 2 2 4 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 3 5 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT 7 Indian Grey Partridge ( Francolinus pondicerianus ) Californian Crested Quail (. Lophortyx calif ornica) Scaled Quail ( Callipepla squamata ) Bobwhite Quail ( Colinus virginianus ) Ferruginous Wood Partridge ( Caloperdix oculea ) Common Quail ( Coturnix c. coturnix ) Japanese Quail {Coturnix c.japonica) Grey Francolin ( Pternistis afer swynnertoni ) Hybrid Quail ( Coturnix c. coturnix X Coturnix c. japonica) M. F. Total 1 0 1 28 20 48 1 1 2 10 10 20 1 1 2 2 2 4 2 2 4 1 0 1 19 16 35 A total of 340 young birds of seventeen species was bred in the collection this year. This is the best result so far achieved and much of the credit must go to Roy Grout of the Norfolk Wildlife Park, who, through his keenness and enthusiasm, successfully reared this number. Infertility continues to be the greatest single problem in building up numbers of many species, and it is always most prevalent in birds bred from many generations of captive stock. Perhaps the greatest achieve¬ ment this year was the breeding of two young Mikado Pheasants from the wild-caught hen sent direct from Taiwan last year and generously donated to the Trust by Mr. John Swain. Both young birds appear to be females and with any luck should help to re-establish this rare species which is so close to extinction in the wild. As will be seen from the analysis which follows, both Common Koklass and Blue Eared pheasants bred well. The former looks like becoming established in Britain for the first time, and it will be remembered that it was only two years ago that the Trust bred the first Common Koklass in this country. The wild-caught imported Tonkinese Red Junglefowl have settled down and bred successfully, producing twelve young this year. Since virtually all the other Red Junglefowl in captivity in this country are impure, this success will help to establish a pure strain. For the third year running three Cabot’s Tragopan were reared from the original pair sent by Dr. K. C. Searle and once again all appear to be hens. Cyprus Rock Partridge bred in the collection for the first time. These handsome birds are similar to French Partridges only larger and more brightly coloured. It is essential to provide these birds with rocks and stones in their pen to prevent excessive growth of the upper mandible. The hatching of the Trust’s eggs has been greatly facilitated due to the construction by the Norfolk Wildlife Park of a large range of broody nest-boxes and feeding cages which are entirely under cover. This arrangement has proved very successful and labour-saving. Apart from anything else both the staff and the birds remain dry in wet weather. Samples of egg white from infertile eggs have again been sent to Cornell University, U.S.A., to help Professor Sibley in his research into the taxonomic relationship of birds by means of electrophoresis of egg-white protein. 8 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT Infertile eggs, chicks which had suffered early mortality, and one or two adult carcasses were again sent to the British Museum (Natural History) . Breeding Analysis, 1963 Eggs, Temminck’s Tragopan . . . . 19 Hatched. 8 Reared. 5 Cabot’s Tragopan 4 3 3 Common Koklass 27 19 17 Tonkinese Red Junglefowl 19 15 12 Silver Pheasant 63 44 40 Swinhoe’s Pheasant . 38 16 16 Greater Bornean Crested Fireback 2 0 0 Brown Eared Pheasant 8 1 0 (Deformed Elliot’s Pheasant 44 8 3 feet) Mikado Pheasant — wild caught 8 3 2 ,, ,, original stock 3 0 0 Reeves’s Pheasant 52 3i 27 Golden Pheasant 14 8 8 ,, ,, yellow mutation 30 l5 12 Lady Amherst’s Pheasant . 33 19 17 Indian Peafowl 18 13 !3 Indo-Chinese Green Peafowl 10 0 0 Cyprus Rock Partridge 16 3 3 Red-legged Partridge 9 8 6 Californian Crested Quail .... 43 Bobwhite Quail ..... 59 Hybrid Quail ...... 35 Total ..... 340 Acknowledgments Council is most grateful to the following individuals and bodies who have helped the Trust during the year : — Dr. Arthur Jennings, of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Cam¬ bridge, for continuing to conduct post-mortem examinations and diagnosis of disease. Mr. W. H. Barrow for preparing skins of the Trust’s birds. Mr. John Wood for veterinary advice. Mr. Ben Stimpson for placing his office duplicating equipment at the Trust’s disposal. Mr. R. Stainsby for the loan of an adult male Brown Eared Pheasant for breeding purposes. Dr. Clayton, of the Institute of Animal Genetics, Edinburgh, for presenting two pairs of Japanese Quail. Dr. K. C. Searle for purchasing birds in Hong Kong on behalf of the Trust and arranging packing and air shipment. Mr. Legge, of Belle Vue Zoo, Manchester, for kindly arranging to quarantine birds for the Trust. Importations A total of seven birds was imported during the past year : — M. F. Palawan Peacock Pheasants Chinese Francolin Chinese Bamboo Partridge 2 1 2 P. L. W. ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST — ANNUAL REPORT, 1963 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT 9 co CO on -^-oomooo • co o rpcoo ci m , co o co ci h m -g Sh -O ,g 0 po o * 3 ci !_ d 0 O rra P-i J Ph PP C/3 Ph H 00 o o m . mo COrjH . O <0 1^. S? n co co « ci co Tp on 1 1 1 1 CO Cl <-> TP co on m ci 0^ Cn ci co On $h o 30 1-1 8 Q jj w § £r 2 2 O n 3 £ 3 -a TO® P 3 o Ci 53 C - •*£ 3^ 3 n & cn § X Q g 11 10 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT NOTES FROM THE NORFOLK WILDLIFE PARK By Philip Wayre Despite rather a wet summer this year over 63,000 people visited the Park during the first twelve months it was open. As members of the Ornamental Pheasant Trust will know, a representative selection of the Trust’s breeding birds is on show within the Park in twenty-nine large pens, many of which are planted with shrubs appropriate to the part of the world from which the birds themselves originate. The recently constructed pheasant lawn is beginning to appeal to visitors, who are able to wander freely amongst a mixed collection of nearly a hundred cock pheasants of nine species. When all are in full plumage the riot of colour is sensational, more especially as the whole enclosure has been attractively planted with flowering trees and shrubs. An area has been separated by rustic rails at each end, thus providing two refuges for the birds where they can get away from people and where they are fed and watered. Over 170 ducks and geese of twenty-nine forms were bred in the Park during the year. A number of geese have been left full- winged, including Grey Lag, Blue Snow, and Barnacle ; the sight of them flying round is a source of constant pleasure to visitors. Unfortunately the Grey Lag may have to be caught up and feather-clipped before next breeding season as they are inclined to attack other breeding pairs. A new innovation is the wader pool, which is currently being im¬ proved in the light of experience. This is a smallish enclosure made to represent a pool in the sand-dunes of the north Norfolk coast. Artificial dunes have been planted with Sea Lyme Grass ( Elymus arenarius) which was brought from the coast. This looks rather like Marram-grass ( Psamma arenaria) but, unlike the latter, it will grow in stable soil. Tree Lupin ( Lupinus arbor eus) and Sea-buckthorn (. Hippophae rhamnoides ) have been planted round the edges, while a shingle spit of beach shingle and scattered oyster and mussel shells complete the effect. The waders in the enclosure are all pinioned and include Common and Stone Curlew, Oyster-catcher, Green Plover, and Redshank. Pairs of Common Shelduck and Wigeon share the pool and artificial burrows have been constructed in the dunes for the Shelduck. When completed the public will be able to walk through the enclosure and will be separated from the birds by a single rail. It is hoped that some of the waders will breed freely under these conditions ; courtship display has already been observed in Stone Curlew and Oyster-catchers. It is part of our policy to display both birds and mammals whenever possible in surroundings similar to their natural habitat. Not only is the result far more pleasing from the aesthetic sense, but it has far greater educational value. PHILIP WAYRE - NOTES FROM THE NORFOLK WILDLIFE PARK I I Next to the wader enclosure is a small shallow lagoon planted with shrubs and reeds ( Phragmites sp.) The Pool has been clayed to provide nesting material for the Flamingos which share the enclosure with Spoonbills. For the latter a fallen bough at the edge of the water provides natural perching space. The birds are, of course, pinioned. Perhaps one of our most popular exhibits is the walk-through aviary. A darkened porch at each end gives access to the wide gravel path running down the centre of the enclosure. The whole area inside has been landscaped, two rocky pools made, and banks of rhododendrons and other shrubs planted. The effect is a most attrac¬ tive wild garden in which many kinds of British birds fly freely. During the summer over twenty species were exhibited in this way and it was interesting to hear the comments of people who, unfamiliar with our native birds, were able to see such species as Goldfinches, Bull¬ finches, and Redstarts at really close quarters yet virtually unconfined. It is unlikely that successful breeding will take place in such a mixed collection but a number of planted aviaries have been built nearby for individual pairs of British and European birds. Both Eagle-Owls and Snowy Owls made attempts at breeding. The Snowy Owls laid four eggs, the first on Whit Sunday in a shallow scrape against the wire of the outside flight of their aviary. A screen of wattle hurdles was hastily erected to shield the nest from the public but the owl chose to lay the rest of her clutch in a dark corner inside the shelter. Soon after hatching the owlets disappeared and were apparently eaten by the female. Little Owls laid eggs which were infertile, so perhaps they are not a true pair. Two nesting platforms were built for the White Storks, one only 4 feet high and the other 12 feet high, both reached by rough ladders. Although the birds are pinioned one pair took possession of the highest platform and were frequently seen displaying with much bill clappering. While our policy is to exhibit British and European birds and mammals, a number of foreign species are also kept. Liberty Macaws with headquarters in a fallen tree are always a draw, as are a mixed colony of Laughing Thrushes in a large planted aviary and a pair of Rheas bred at Frankfurt Zoo and now sharing a large enclosure with Cereopsis Geese and wallabies. The parrakeets have not had a successful breeding season ; all four pairs of Pennant’s laid and one pair reared their four young to within a week or so of fledging, when they were suddenly found dead in the nest for no apparent reason. The Stanley’s managed to rear a solitary youngster. Our bird of prey collection has recently been increased by the arrival of a fine pair of Booted Eagles and a Griffon Vulture from 12 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT Spain. The latter is exceptionally blonde for a Griffon and for some reason was promptly christened Mandy by our staff ! The tame birds of prey are put out on their blocks on the hawk lawn during the daytime ; all are trained to fly loose and the Bateleur Eagle is often flown in the Park itself. She is the best performer of all the eagles and in warm weather will soar to a height of several hundred feet over the heads of visitors before stooping to land on the lure. Unfortunately Bokhara, the male Golden Eagle, has to be flown out¬ side the Park owing to his habit of attacking the pinioned waterfowl ! Over twenty-five nest-boxes for small birds and three for owls have been put up in the Park. During the summer they were occupied by Tawny Owls (one pair), Great Tits (one pair), Blue Tits (two pairs). Tree Sparrow (one pair), House Sparrow (two pairs), and Pied Wag¬ tail (one pair). * * * “ TREATING ’EM ROUGH !” By Norman McCange (Avonsleigh, Victoria, Australia) Here on a mountain ridge 35 miles east of Melbourne, in a very beautiful and secluded setting, I read in the Avicultural Magazine of Jan. -Feb., 1962, about Mr. and Mrs. Milligan’s “ Methods of Keeping Pheasants ”. These aroused my indignation and general displeasure, goading me to this protest. Their “ methods ” are not only based on a vast amount of quite unnecessary hard labour, but are calculated to deter, discourage, and dissuade all who, as novices, contemplate keeping pheasants. That is the burden of my complaint. A good man and his wife worked seventy hours or more a week for two months annually. Their standards of hygiene were ridiculous. They scrubbed, or had scrubbed, every food and water-pot first thing every morning. They cleared away droppings each day. They picked up uneaten food each evening. They kept sixty-odd aviaries ready for royal inspection. Was all this bother and fuss and scrubbing and sweeping necessary ? It was not ! It made what in Australia we would call “ dam’ hard yakker ” out of the pleasant routine of pheasant-keeping. So far from the birds being all the better for this fussing and botheration, they probably held indignation meetings about it. Especially about the introduction of a rotoscythe into their homes ! Single-handed, for thirty years, I have maintained, for fun and fancy, not for profit, quite successfully up to forty-five aviaries. I treat the pheasants with the respect due to royal birds and interfere as little as possible with their privacy. My best advertisement for “ treating NORMAN MCGANCE - “ TREATING ’EM ROUGH ! ” 1 3 ’em rough ” is their astonishing longevity and complete freedom from disease. The star attraction of the collection is my twenty-two year old Lady Amherst’s cock about to become a father once again, to judge by his enthusiastic display. I went into his aviary the other day and said : “ Move over ! The Milligans in England say your pen should be cleaned daily and it has not been swept or raked for nigh on twenty years !” I do not pick up food after it is distributed. I throw upon the ground each morning a handful of warm mash at just that degree of moisture which makes it crumble and spread as it hits the earth. Wheat in the evening ; green-food whenever I think of it ; and shell-grit when I remember. They have very little shelter from rain, but ample protection from strong winds which at this altitude of 1,000 feet reach ioo m.p.h. now and again. But all the aviaries are thickly planted and covered with creepers and shrubbery run wild. The birds seem to like this natural sort of surrounding, and rain improves their plumage. The time spent in feeding is about forty minutes in the morning and half that time in the late afternoon. I admit that there is a risk in leaving high-protein moist food lying about for more than twenty-four hours, but this can be avoided by limiting the day’s ration to the consumers’ capacity. I will a secret formula impart that, as a factor in ensuring health, long life, and iridescence, is worth far more than fussing about with brooms and cleansing apparatus. By the way, did you ever know a gallinaceous bird that did not prefer stale water to fresh ? Or food off the ground rather than in little dishes ? This formula has been used for my birds as a daily ration for the last ten years and there is proof of its efficiency in hardening plumage ; preventing perosis, which produces crooked toes ; and greatly lessening the “ dead-in-shell ” chicks . It is recommended by our Department of Agriculture. Take of manganese (not magnesium) sulphate 4 oz. and mix with 10 lb. of table salt, very thoroughly. Dissolve this mixture in the hot water of mash in proportion of one heaped dessertspoonful to 5 lb. of dry grist. This is roughly 25 parts of manganese per million. It is pure white magic, and the colours are enriched and polished after a brief course of treatment. Try it. 14 ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT TRUST - ANNUAL REPORT TWO WOOD PARTRIDGES By J. J. Yealland This brief note concerns two little-known Wood Partridges of south-eastern Asia, both the only species of their respective genera. Crimson-headed Wood Partridge Haematortyx sanguiniceps This bird is found only in the mountainous parts of Borneo. Smythies says that “ its particular ecological niche is the leached out sandy forest of the valley bottoms ”. It also occurs in primary forest, but is not so common there. It is said to have a habit of running along tracks ahead of travellers, keeping to the path, and this renders it easy to shoot. Harrisson says that it is easy to catch, but almost impossible to keep alive. The food is said to be insects and berries. The nest is built of dry leaves and situated on a tussock of grass or lichen “ in forest that is liable to flooding ”. The eggs are buff-coloured and smeared with darker brown, particularly at the larger end. The sexes are much alike — crimson head, neck, and upper breast, rather duller on the throat, rest of the plumage dark greyish-brown : the longer under tail-coverts are broadly tipped with crimson and the male has two spurs. Black Wood Partridge Melanoperdix nigra There are two races of M. nigra , the nominate one living in southern parts of the Malay peninsula and in Sumatra and the other (M. n. borneensis) in Borneo. The habitat of the Malayan bird is given as dense jungle in the low country and up to 2,000 feet, usually where there is much undergrowth ; the Bornean bird lives in primary forest in the lowlands of southern and south-western parts. A coloured plate may be seen in vol. 3 of The Birds of the Malay Peninsula , by Robinson and Chasen. The male is glossy black, brownish on the wings, and the female brown with black markings on the flanks and back. The legs and feet are bluish-grey and a curious feature is the nail-like claw of the hind toe. The Bornean race is described as “ less deep black with a slaty greenish tinge, the feathers of the upper side having lighter and more slaty edges ”. The female is of a deeper chestnut-brown on the chest. Three or four specimens of this species were brought by the late W. J. C. Frost in about 1955, but what became of them is not known. CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE NATAL KINGFISHER 5 BREEDING THE NATAL KINGFISHER By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N. J., U.S.A.) One of the smallest known Kingfishers, only about 5 inches in total length of which more than an inch is made up of bill, the Pigmy King¬ fisher — Ispidina picta picta — is to be found over a wide area in Africa. North of the equator its habitat extends from the west coast, south of the Sahara, through Nigeria and clear across to Ethiopia and Somali¬ land. It also goes southward over the equator to Angola, through the Congo and up into Kenya. A sub-species Ispidina p. natalensis, with which we are now concerned, known as the Natal Kingfisher, carries on down the east coast through Tanganyika, Mozambique, the Rhodesias and the eastern parts of South Africa. Although so widely distributed, they are not often seen in captivity out of their native regions, owing to the difficulty of transporting them alive for they are strictly live-food eaters, in the wild, and require regular feeding. Mr. Boehm had seen the nominate race during his collector’s trip in Kenya in i960 but had not been fortunate enough to obtain any at that time. Nevertheless, they were not to be forgotten and, eventually, in June, 1961, a small consignment was received from Lourenco Marques. I say small, for there were only three birds, two of which were dead on arrival. The third had managed to survive on the mealworms provided but, judging from the voracious way in which it went for those offered to it in its cage, it would not have lasted much longer. In March, 1962, a further batch of eight was received from the same source, this time all alive. They were fairly young birds, some of their bills not being completely out of the immature black phase. The eight of them, plus the original bird, were put in one of the pens in the main bird house. Four were later presented to the Bronx Zoo, the remaining five living together quite amicably. The diet they now thrived on was mealworms, strips of raw beef heart and live minnows. The latter were placed in a shallow pan of water for the birds to dive into and fish out for themselves. The sexes are alike in coloration, the forehead and crown being deep violet-blue with light blue barrings. The violet-blue colouring extends through the mantle, wings, rump, and tail, the under-parts being rich rufous. This rufous shade is evident also in a superciliary stripe reaching to the nape of the neck. The ear-coverts and cheeks are mauve except for a patch below the ear, the upper portion of which is violet-blue, the lower part being white. They have a throat patch of white and the bill, legs, and feet are bright orange. The difference in the sexes lies in the shape of the lower mandible, that of the female being more keel-shaped than that of the male. Careful thought was given to the breeding of these little beauties for I 6 CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE NATAL KINGFISHER Mr. Boehm realized that special provisions would have to be made for them. With this sole object in view, the aviaries shown as numbers 14 to 18 on the plan in A.M. i960 (113) were stripped down and recon¬ structed into one single flight of some 60 by 16 feet, the height being increased to 20 feet. Across twelve feet of the lower end, against the bird-house wall, an earth embankment, 3 feet wide and 2 high, was erected. It was held in position by 2 by 1 inch wire, faced with cement. In this facing, holes, 4 by 2 inches, were made through the cement and inner wiring so as to expose the bare earth beyond. The top of the bank was planted with azaleas and various shrubs to bind the earth together. In addition, a shallow pool with continuous running water was installed, and the entire aviary was replanted with trees and shrubs, the task being completed in April 1963. In May it was decided that the weather was sufficiently settled to permit birds being transferred from their winter quarters, and the following pairs were released into this aviary : — Lesser Niltavas, Black-chinned Wren Babblers, Crimson Chats, Red-headed Tits, Yellow-billed Chlorophonias and the five Natal Kingfishers, which were then known to consist of three males and two females. Sub¬ sequently a pair of Eastern Bearded Reedlings were added to this 1 collection. To assist in the identification of each bird for the daily check, they all bore coloured leg bands, those allotted to the King¬ fisher males being blue, orange, and green. The females were banded red, and white, the latter colour being assigned to the bird originally received in 1961. As is the case with the majority of outdoor aviaries, we were blessed with a goodly following of field mice so, when scrapings and small holes j began to be made in the exposed earth patches in the face of the em¬ bankment, little attention was paid to it at first. However, at one early morning check, on 10th June, to be precise, a Kingfisher was missing. A thorough search was made with the dreadful fear that one might have reached an untimely end. With the aid of an electric hand- torch, the holes in the face of the bank were examined. It was in the sixth, the furthest from the entrance door to the aviary, that the j little feathered jewel was located. What a relief, and what a thrill. All that could be seen of it was its head at the end of a tunnel, about 20 inches long, that obviously dipped down at the end. The passage was perfectly straight, a great asset from the viewpoint of making regular observations of the nesting. The next task was to ascertain which of the Kingfishers it was, and a check of the band colours revealed that the bird in the nest was the white banded female. Later in the same morning, this bird was seen on a branch overhanging the pool and a quick look into the nest showed that there was another bird in there. A further “ band ” check pin¬ pointed the “ blue ” Kingfisher as being the new occupant. The days CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE NATAL KINGFISHER I 7 following proved this conclusively for “ blue ” or “ white ” was always perched in close proximity to the nest hole and it was observed that a change over was made every 2 hours or so, at least during the day. The incubation period lasted eighteen days for, on 28th June, one of the parent birds was seen to fly into the nest with a small minnow in its bill. It made this trip four times in fairly quick succession, not being in the nest for more than about 15 seconds at any one time. A look into the burrow showed nothing but the head and upper breast of an adult bird and it was not until the sixth day that two little bald heads were first seen endeavouring to get out of the beam of the torch. As with the incubation, the feeding of the young was shared and it became apparent that none of the food taken to the nest was for other than the nestlings, for, as soon as the change-over by the parents was effected, the bird vacating the nest promptly had a good meal itself. They did not appear to discriminate in the food they fed for they were seen to take minnows, mealworms, meat strips and crickets, plus an occasional moth they might catch. In the early days, the fish they selected for the nestlings were small but, as time progressed, they were observed taking fish of 2 to 2 J inches in length, and spending no more time with the feeding than they did with the smaller ones. A careful study of their feeding showed that they fed the young birds about 8 courses every hour. It became easy to know when they were going to eat a fish themselves or feed it to the young for, once they had snatched it out of the pool, their method of killing it appeared to differ. If for their own con¬ sumption, they held it across the bill by the head when knocking it on branch to stun it and then, with a deft flick, transferred it lengthwise so that the fish’s head was in their bill, swallowing it thus, head first. When it was caught for feed for the young, they held the fish towards the tail crosswise in their bill, killing it in the same manner as described above. This time, however, the flick transferred the fish tail first into their bill, leaving the head protruding. When it came to the larger sized fish, they looked rather grotesque as they flew off with about ij inches of fish sticking out in front of them. On the tenth day, 2 soiled eggs, clear, were found on the ground below the entrance to the nest and it was from these that the following data was obtained. Pure white, almost round, measuring 16 by 14 mm. From the twelfth day on, both parents spent most of the day out of the nest, making their hourly trips with feed, and it was normal for each bird to make 4 or 5 sortees at a session. The nestlings were now feathering up and the bright violet-blue of the head and the rufous under-parts were clearly visible in the light of the torch. It was on 16th July, at eighteen days old, that they finally vacated the nest. Except for the general colouring being softer, the bills shorter and black in colour, the fledglings were replicas of their parents. As during the nesting time, the adults continued to share in the feeding of the 2 I 8 CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE FAIRY BLUE BIRD young birds, one of which was seen to make an ineffective dive towards the fish pool within hours of leaving the nest. They became inde¬ pendent relatively quickly, for, by 21st July, they were selecting food for themselves, although they still accepted tid-bits from either parent. During this period the other three adults spent most of the time at the far end of the aviary, making secretive raids on the minnow pool and the cricket box whenever the coast was clear. On 23rd July, fresh scrapings of earth were seen below the entrance to the old nest and a quick look showed that there was a bird in there. A check revealed that it was the same female and male involved and, from this second round, one more chick was subsequently reared to independence. It seemed that once again four eggs comprised the clutch for three, all clear, were rolled out of the nest prior to the nestling leaving. Even this family of three does not appear to satisfy them for, as I am writing this, they are sitting once more. The other three adults appear to have paired up for “ green 55 and “ red ” are always together, leaving the “ orange ” male as the odd man out. However, they have shown no signs of going to nest yet. Maybe the female is too young for she was the last one of the 1962 birds to obtain the clear orange bill of an adult. Now that Mr. Boehm has bred them and has full records regarding their age, it should be possible to ascertain at exactly what age they do acquire complete adult colouring. Further information on this will be given in due course. In the meantime, if anyone has had previous experience with the breeding of this species, details of any data they garnered would be appreciated. * SjS * BREEDING THE FAIRY BLUE BIRD By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N. J., U.S.A.) The sight of a Fairy Blue Bird male flying in a sunlit aviary is one of the most attractive in the realms of aviculture. The brilliant ultra¬ marine-blue, with its pinkish sheen, of the crown, neck, back, lesser wing-coverts and under tail-coverts contrast so sharply with the velvety black of the remainder of its plumage. The bill, legs, and feet are black but the iris is a brilliant red, another striking contrast to the black of the face. The female is much more subdued, being basically peacock- blue with brownish-black wings and tail. The two central tail feathers have a tinge of ultramarine, as do the tips of the two pairs of feathers each side thereof. The greenish-blue feathers of the back have dark shafts, which gives an impression of the feathering being streaked. As with the male, the bill, legs, and feet are black, but the iris is orange to reddish-brown. They are about 1 1 inches in total length. CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE FAIRY BLUE BIRD 9 There is still a certain amount of doubt as to the correct family to which these birds should be allocated for, although skeletal structure leans towards that of the Orioles, the Oriolidae family, the similarity is not borne out so far as breeding habits are concerned. Most of the true Orioles build a deep cup-shaped nest, suspended high from a fork at the slender end of a branch, and the incubation period is from six¬ teen to eighteen days. The Fairy Blue Birds, however, build open cup¬ shaped nests and have a much shorter period of incubation, some thirteen days only. Further, young of the Orioles are covered initially with light coloured down, white in many instances, whereas those of the Fairy Blue Birds are dark. These characteristics tie them up closer with the Ioras , genus Aegithina, and the Fruit-suckers, genus Chloropsis and, therefore, the Fairy Blue Birds, genus Irena , generally are regarded as one of the three groups making up the family Aegithinidae. The nominate race, Irena puella puellay is to be found in the north¬ eastern parts of India and Burma, but the range of the genus extends as far south as Ceylon and eastwards through Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Further, there are races to be found in the Phillipines, Indonesia, Borneo, the Andamans, and the Nicobars. Variations in size, colouring, feathering, etc., occur throughout their wide distribu¬ tion and they have all been recognized as sub-species of the nominate race. Mr. Boehm always desired at least one pair of these beautiful birds to grace his aviaries with but, until late 1961, had not been able to obtain a true female, all the purported females eventually showing themselves to be young males. At that time, however, it seemed fairly certain that at last he had three males and six females. Early in 1962 the three pairs were transferred to planted aviaries, one pair to each, but one male became the victim of a rat thus reducing the stock to two pairs and four females. These latter birds were later disposed of, as the accommodation they were occupying was required for some new arrivals of other species. It was not until 1963 that either pair showed signs of going to nest, and then it was the pair in a 30 by 20 ft. aviary, which they shared with a pair each of Natal Robins and Bronzy Sunbirds, that made a move in this direction. The female began building an open, cup-shaped nest of coarse grasses and fine twigs, lined with fine grasses and dog’s hair, in a hemlock tree close to one side of the aviary. At the same time the Sun- bird female started to build in a crab-apple tree on the extreme opposite side. Having no information on the behaviour of Fairy Blue Birds during nesting time in captivity and, wishing to avoid any interference by one family to the other, it was decided to split the aviary in two with a Visqueen drop-sheet, thus giving each nesting pair an area of 16 by 20 feet. The Natal Robins were left in the Sun- birds’ side of the aviary. 20 CHARLES EVERITT— BREEDING THE FAIRY BLUE BIRD The Fairy Blue Birds nest was very thrush-like in its general structure and appearance, although no mud, an intregal ingredient of most thrushes nests, was used by the female, who completed the nest on her own. About three days were occupied with this task, the male just standing by challenging the world with his short, sharp, and loud whistling. The first egg of three was laid on 28th June, the others following on each of the next two days. They were fair-sized eggs, 28 by 21 mm., with a ground colour of greenish-white, heavily blotched, spotted and mottled in reddish-brown and grey, in some parts almost obscuring the basic colour. As with the nest building, the incubating was carried out by the female only and, on nth July, the first chick hatched. There was a second the following day but the third egg was clear and it was removed, thus enabling the above data on size and colouring to be obtained. The nestlings were pink skinned, thickly covered with nigger-brown fluff, and had pink gapes, margined in white. There was a single black spot in the centre of the inside of both the upper and lower mandibles. Their development on a pure live-food diet of crickets, mealworms, moths, and any other insects the parents might forage, was rapid, their eyes being open and quills showing in the wings at four days old. The male certainly began to make up for all his idling now for, although he whistled whenever he had the chance, he was most attentive to the young birds, continously going to and fro with food. The female fed also but, as she did all the brooding of them in the nest, a considerable amount of her spare time was spent in feeding herself, bathing ,and preening. At nine days old their backs were completely feathered, the wings being blackish-brown, the remainder of the upper parts being bluish. Their heads, however, were the last to be feathered and, when they left the nest at thirteen days old, their heads were but a mass of pen feathers. Although it seemed a little premature for such fair-sized birds to fledge, they were comparatively strong on the wing and soon selected perching sites from which they kept up an incessant cry for food. Now the male worked harder than ever, the female just lending a “ bill ” now and again as the pace got too much for him. She appeared to adopt an attitude of complacency as if she felt that she had done her part with the nest-building, egg-laying, incubating, and brooding of the nestlings. If their growth in the nest had seemed rather swift, their development once they had fledged was even more so for, at four weeks old, they were completely feathered, similar colouring to the adult female, and were about 9 inches in length. Independency, however, seemed to be another thing, for they were nearly six weeks old before they were seen to collect live-food for themselves. Their diet on leaving the nest had been enlarged by the male, for he then began to feed them fruit and ground raw beef as well J. J. YEALLAND - THE BREEDING OF THE AFRICAN CATTLE EGRET 21 as live-food. Whenever the female did feed them she kept to the live- food. On 20th August the female laid again, three eggs as before, so the young birds were caught up and removed to the cage room to confirm that they were in fact self-supporting. This became apparent very soon, as they cleared up all their food, fruit, ground raw beef, egg- mixture, and a liberal amount of mealworms. They were then released into an aviary, away from their parent, so that they could attain full maturity under the most ideal conditions. It had been noticed that the blue in the back of one of them seemed to be a little brighter than the other, and it is wondered if this may be an early sex indicator. As they were both banded with different-coloured leg-bands, close observation is being kept on their development so as to obtain con¬ firmation or otherwise on this point. The second round followed the same pattern of events as the first, even to the fact that the third egg was clear, and the two chicks vacated the nest on ist and 2nd September, respectively. Unfortunately one of them selected a roosting perch below a concealed split in the plastic roof covering and became drenched during a heavy rainstorm one night, from which it caught a chill and died later in the day. The survivor, however, progressed as well as the first-round birds had and this also appeared to have a fairly bright blue back and gave vent to short, sharp calls, as did the older bird of the same colouring. It may be that two males and one female Fairy Blue Bird have been reared at the Boehm aviaries, but confirmation of this will have to wait for some time yet. However, as soon as definite sex indications are detected, a further report on those changes will be made for the information of all those interested. * * ❖ THE BREEDING OF THE AFRICAN CATTLE EGRET By J. J. Yealland (London, England) Bubulcus ibis , also known as Ardeola ibis , has in recent years attracted attention by reason of its remarkable extension of range. The nominate race of Africa, southern parts of Europe, south-western Asia, Madagascar, and other islands, appeared in tropical South America some years ago and has since spread northward to southern areas of the United States. The Indian bird (. B . i. coromandus) is said to have been introduced into Australia, but to have spread far northward from the original areas. Both races have often been kept in captivity, but the only previous 22 J. J. YEALLAND - THE BREEDING OF THE AFRICAN CATTLE EGRET record of the breeding of the African Cattle Egret (Buff-backed Heron or Tick Bird) relates to the Giza Zoo, Cairo, in 1911. In Regent’s Park these Egrets spend the summer in the Great Aviary, being brought into the Eastern Aviary for the winter. In the Great Aviary there are high privet bushes and an even higher elder bush, this being the favourite nesting place. In recent years nesting has taken place and young sometimes hatched, but it was not until the summer of 1962 that success was achieved, one chick being fully reared. The nest, a scanty platform of twigs, was built high up in the elder and there were other nests near by, as is natural with these colonial breeders — indeed, it may be that all the squabbling and general activity of the colony provide the necessary stimulus for breeding. The number of eggs laid in the nests is not known ; the incubation period is said to be between twenty-one and twenty-four days. For some time before the chick was able to fly it walked unsteadily about the branches around the nest. The food of the wild birds consists of grasshoppers, ticks, large insects and their larvae, small frogs, and lizards. The birds derive their name from the association with cattle, which disturb grasshoppers in the course of grazing and no doubt also provide the ticks and attract flies. In Africa wherever the grass is cut by machete, the Egrets have learned to gather round people so engaged, but they evidently trust the human being less than the cattle or wild animals, for they keep a respectful distance in their watch for disturbed grasshoppers. The Cattle Egrets here feed on pieces of fish (herring, sprats, or whiting) and raw, lean meat. Other food is put into this aviary of a variety of birds, but I feel sure that the Egrets do not take it, though they do catch flies. When the first chick was hatched we tried fixing a food tin on the outside of the aviary near the nest, the object being to provide mealworms, maggots, and locusts which only the Egrets could reach through the large mesh of the aviary wire-netting, but the birds were so disturbed whenever the food was put there (for it meant some¬ one going up on steps to do it) that we were afraid the chick might fall from the nest, so the well-meant scheme proved impracticable. Early this summer the birds built several nests in the bushes and some eggs were laid, but then the colony was deserted and I suspect some interference from Gallinules in the same aviary, who built a nest of their own close by. Later the Egrets started again and now (October) another chick is walking about the bushes. In the 1 930s some of the Indian Cattle Egrets were released (with clipped wings) each summer at Whipsnade and in autumn, when the birds had moulted, they flew away. There is no record that they ever bred there. W. BOORER - BREEDING THE CELESTIAL PARROTLET 23 SOME NOTES ON THE BEHAVIOUR AND BREEDING OF THE CELESTIAL PARROTLET (Forpus coelestris) By (Mrs.) W. Boorer (London, England) These birds were sold to me in June, 1962, as Blue-winged Parrotlets. j As I was a novice and these were the first pair of birds that I had bought, I did not question the identification, and it is only recently that I found out that what I really have is a pair of Celestial Parrotlets. They were first housed in a wire cage and I spent a lot of time trying to tame them, with no appreciable result. They were then transferred to a 4 ft. box cage in my small kitchen and, in this rather unlikely environ¬ ment, with the radio balanced on top of the cage and three young children milling round the front, they hatched a clutch of six in 1963. The following observations are fairly detailed as the birds were more or less constantly under my eye. Appearance These birds are about inches long and mainly bright green in colour. The cock bird has a light blue streak behind each eye and the bright green of his head becomes dulled with a greyish tinge over his back. His most noticeable and beautiful feature is the brilliant indigo of the primaries, secondaries, under wing-coverts, and rump. The hen has much fainter eye streaks, no blue on the wings, and a turquoise rump. The legs and feet are pink and the beaks horn-coloured. Young birds assume adult coloration straight away, though this first plumage seems softer and looser in texture than that of the adults. Their beaks are pink, gradually fading to horn, throughout their first year of life. General Characteristics The pair I possess are rather silent, shy birds. They are extremely reluctant to come to the floor of the cage and like all their food hung up high. They have never bathed and dislike being sprayed. They roost very early ; even in midsummer they have disappeared into their box by six o’clock. They are also very alert and suspicious and the slightest unusual sound causes them to draw themselves up very erect on the perch, and peer round in all directions until they have located its origin. Perhaps the most noticeable feature is that the birds are always together. If one flies the other immediately follows. They sit pressed together on the perch and spend much time in mutual preening. 24 W. BOORER - BREEDING THE CELESTIAL PARROTLET When I had to remove the hen, who became ill, they called to each other for several hours. When they do disagree they make a high pitched chattering, drawing themselves up very erect with feathers tight. Their heads bob and weave and feint with their beaks open. The leg nearest their opponent is raised and makes vague, grasping move¬ ments in the air. I have never seen them touch each other during this display which usually ends by one bird leaving the perch to fly round to the other side of the one left. Their threat display is rather impressive. With all feathers fluffed out and beaks open they rock very slowly backwards. When it seems they are about to fall off the perch they lunge forward extremely fast. This is done silently and the strike forward is made long before the object they are threatening is within range. I have never seen them do this to each other. It seems to be directly solely to external dangers. Feeding My pair would only eat spray millet when they first arrived. I managed to wean them on to a mixture of mixed canary, mixed millets, groats, and hemp. However, they reared their brood entirely on spray millet. During the moult they became extremely fond of hemp and threw out all their other seed in an effort to find it. They also had cuttlefish, grit, apple (which they eat sporadically), and seeding grass, of which they were very fond. Dried spinach and powdered yeast and C. L. O. were added to the seed mixture. They ignored sunflower seed, never used their feet to pick anything up, and also chewed up a lot of wood, though this whittling can scarcely be called an addition to their diet. Courtship The cock fed the hen on a few occasions before nesting commenced. Mating was seen several times. There seemed to be no special pre¬ liminaries. The hen crouched on the perch with wings slightly spread and the cock stood on one foot and straddled her with the other. All the matings were very brief. Only once was the cock seen to give anything that might be called a display and this consisted of advancing along the perch towards the hen snaking his neck from side to side as he did so. Breeding When a budgerigar nest-box was placed at one end of the cage, the birds remained rooted to the perch at the other end for the next ten days. The cock finally investigated the box and shortly after this the two of them used it for roosting. The hen started incubating on 1 1 th April. The nest-box was not examined but from later evidence, W. BOORER - BREEDING THE CELESTIAL PARROTLET 25 chiefly from a disastrous second clutch, I know that the eggs were white and were laid on every second day. I don’t know whether incubation started with the laying of the first egg but certainly the nestlings were all different sizes and when they finally flew it was at three-day intervals. During incubation, and for the first three weeks or so after hatching, the hen only appeared once a day. This was about noon, when she flew out for a drink, a brief preen, and to relieve her¬ self of an extremely large, wet dropping. She was never out for more than two minutes. The cock also spent much time in the nest-box but, as he could always be seen sitting just inside the entrance hole, I am certain he took no part in incubation. Seventeen days after the hen began incubation she appeared at noon with her breast feathers damp and glued together and a faint squeaking could be heard in the box, so I presumed the first egg had hatched. Four weeks later a chick was first seen at the nest-box entrance. It was completely bald with the disproportionate head of all young parrotlike birds. Seven weeks after the first hatching date two nestlings were thrown out of the nest-box. The larger was a young cock with his blue quills just showing on his wings ; the smaller was completely bald. I replaced these and an hour later the young cock was again ejected this time with both legs bleeding. I made an attempt to hand-rear him but after a month he died, owing to my lack of experience in weaning. Shortly after this the mummified remains of another young cock was found on the cage floor. On 23rd June, eight weeks after hatching, the first young hen flew, to be followed at three-day intervals by three others. The fourth hen had been attacked in the box and had a crippled leg. As the adult hen was chivvying them, the fledglings were removed to a separate cage on the morning that the last one flew. Once they had left the nest the young¬ sters were entirely self-supporting. The parents were never seen to feed them, though they all returned to roost in the box at night. The nest-box was examined and revealed an inch-thick layer of powdered faeces, confirming my impression that there was no attempt at nest sanitation. There was also a large amount of millet and millet husks suggesting that the parents had been carrying whole millet into the box for some time before the fledglings flew. One mystery was a sustained drumming noise that was heard from inside the nest box at infrequent intervals. How this noise was produced I have no idea. 26 S. B. KENDALL - NOTES ON MY COCKATOOS IN 1 963 NOTES ON MY COCKATOOS IN 1963 By S. B. Kendall (Chertsey, England) Breeding results have been better than ever before, but I would attribute this more to the gradual accumulation of suitable stock than to any conditions of the environment or season. Eleven Cockatoos left the nest, although one young Roseate died soon afterwards. Timors laid but did not hatch (the hen is of my own breeding) ; Leadbeater’s did nothing. Of the young birds that survived three were Citron- crests (two from my old pair and one from a pair comprising an im¬ ported hen and a home-bred cock), five were Roseates (two nests from one pair : they have fully reared seventeen during the last three years) and two were hybrids — Leadbeater’s X Citron-crest (hen). As these probably represent a previously unrecorded breeding some more detail may be of interest. The parents are both aviary-bred — the Citron-crest here and the Leadbeater’s elsewhere — and had spent a season together previously with no result. Owing to the position of the barrel I was able to observe progress rather more closely than usual. The first egg was noticed on 5th May, and another on 8th May. One young one was seen on 2nd June, after a period of incubation during which the parents seemed to be out of the nest far more than was advisable ! The second hatched on 4th June. The crests of the young were seen to be growing by 30th June, and I noted that the plumage was mainly white. The young left the nest about 30th July. The hybrids are, in my opinion very lovely, although not really what I expected. The plumage may, of course, change as they become adult. Basically the plumage is white, slightly suffused with yellow on the breast, orange on the cheeks, and with pink and yellow under the tail and under the wings. The crest is orange to salmon with a little white at the tips, midway in fact between those of the parents. The birds are larger than Citron-crests of equivalent age, particularly the cock, which also is noticeably brighter. They are quite obviously a true pair, the eye of the cock being black and that of the hen grey-brown, and there is a definite difference in the pitch of their voices. Personally I am delighted with the result. There may be some who feel that I am misusing valuable breeding stock, but in extenuation I can answer that for a number of years now I have produced at least my quota of pure-bred cockatoos and that such hybrid stock has some scientific interest as well as giving somebody the opportunity of getting pets of great beauty and, one can expect, of exceptional hardiness. It seems very doubtful if they are fertile, although they certainly don’t look like hybrids, and I was at one stage tempted to exhibit them at the “ National ” as Fulu Island Cockatoos, but I have not yet got round to R. A. RICHARDSON - LIBERTY WHITE-EYES IN 1 963 27 finding out whether such a place does in fact exist. Perhaps in one of the tens of thousands of remote Pacific Islands, to which some exceptionally strong-winged Leadbeater’s has found its way, even the birds them¬ selves may already exist. * * * LIBERTY WHITE-EYES IN 1963 By R. A. Richardson (Cley, Norfolk, England). Readers may remember that in 1962 pair “ C ” of my Indian White-eyes (£■ osterops palpebrosd) reared two youngsters at liberty and that all four birds were admitted to the aviary where they successfully survived the icy weather of early 1963. Shortly after the thaw set in, however, the young female was picked up dead from the aviary floor, having apparently struck some obstacle in flight. The adult female was once again duly released on 15th May, her mate being allowed to join her six days later. For the first half of June I was away in the Shetlands and due to a misunderstanding these birds were deprived of nectar and all artificial food for a whole fortnight, yet such is the tenacity of White-eyes that they were still coming to the aviary when I returned home and resumed their food supply. The nest was never found but was probably 100 yards away in the same tree as 1962, for it was there, on 27th June, that I found two tiny newly-fledged chicks “ welded ” snugly together among the topmost twigs of the identical elm tree and being tended by one of the parents. Thenceforward the father was in and out of the garden daily and on 30th July I found him singing in a wood half a mile away. On 1 2th August he was home again and bickering through the wire netting with his 1962 son which had remained confined in the aviary. A few days later I re-admitted him and surprisingly enough they soon settled down together again. The female and two youngsters were never seen again and must have met with an accident. It is known that a notorious liquid insecticide was being used against a plague of greenfly at about the time they disappeared but I cannot say whether or not this was responsible. I still have male “ G ” and his 1962 son plus two newly-imported birds of uncertain sex. 28 ROBERT LOTSHAW - DOWNY WOODPECKERS IN CAPTIVITY IN MEMORY OF DAVID SETH-SMITH It can be said that David Seth-Smith was the doyen of International Aviculture. No one has been concerned so long, so completely and so successfully with the care and study of birds in captivity. Nor has anyone been more closely identified with the Avicultural Society and the London Zoo. He was the last of a remarkable generation of aviculturists, which immediately preceeded mine, and included Hubert Astley, Alfred Ezra, Gerard Gurney, the Duchess of Bedford, the Duchess of Wellington, Meade- Waldo, St. Quintin, Amsler and a | few others. They all were my friends ; they taught me a great deal of what I know, and I miss them sadly. In his capacity of curator of birds at the London Zoo, David Seth-Smith occupied the centre of the avicultural stage. All came to consult with him and to ask for his advice and services, as he was as kind and unselfish as he was well informed, his help was always available and he became extremely popular with all bird lovers. I met him for the first time in 1918, when I came on leave to England just before the end of the war. We have never since ceased to be in close touch, seeing a lot of each other. He came to Cleres on several occasions, and it became a habit for him, Ezra, S. Stokes, and myself to go on tours all over England and France to meet aviculturists and to see their collec¬ tions. These trips were altogether instructive and delightful, and I keep a fond memory of them. I went to see David Seth-Smith at Guildford for the last time on 1 2th June 1963, as I did every summer. He was evidently getting weaker, but his mind was still as good as ever, and we had fun talking of the good old days. His last years had been serene and he remained as happy as one can be at advanced age, thanks to the devotion of his wife, Heather. I feel personally grateful to her for having brought comfort and peace of mind to my old friend. J.D. * ❖ ❖ DOWNY WOODPECKERS IN CAPTIVITY By Robert Lotshaw (Loveland, Ohio, U.S.A.) In the autumn of 1962 the Cincinnati Zoological Gardens came into possession of a pair of adult Downy Woodpeckers, Dryobates pubescens medianus. Realizing the chances were poor of keeping them alive, Edward Maruska, general curator, suggested smearing diced fruit and a soft food mixture on the uppermost tree bark in the woodpeckers’ cage. The idea was to bring the food directly to the Downys rather than to take a chance they might never find it. Also, this was the first step of a dish conditioning process. HEINZ-GEORG KLOS - NEWS FROM BERLIN ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN 2p If at first the Downy Woodpeckers continued to refuse the smeared food, then a further inducing agent would be to sprinkle mealworms on it. Once the Downys were observed to be eating, then each succeeding day the food was smeared on the bark at lower levels until the base of the tree was reached. The final step was simply transferring the diced fruit and soft food to a dish. Their present diet consists of the standard soft-food mixture com¬ prised of Ken-L-Ration dog food, cottage cheese, peanut butter, and dried flies, which have been soaked in warm water ; very finely grated egg ; and diced fruit consisting of apple, grape, and banana. Every morning a milk formula is given to the woodpeckers and consists of two parts water, one part condensed milk, honey, Ledinac, and Vi- Penta vitamin drops. It is removed from the cage a few hours later to prevent the birds from drinking sour milk. Also, an adequate number of mealworms are offered. A third Downy Woodpecker has recently been started on the afore¬ mentioned conditioning process. This one, a female, seems reluctant to i accept the smeared food, but we are confident that she will eventually. * ❖ ❖ NEWS FROM THE BERLIN ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN By Dr. Heinz-Georg Klos The famous waterfowl collection at the Berlin Zoo — with more than a hundred different species one of the largest in Europe — has now received its most valuable addition. As a generous gift of the Fish and Wildlife Service in the U.S. Department of the Interior a young pair of Trumpeter Swans arrived in late September. These huge birds are the largest and one of the rarest representatives of waterfowl. Originally distributed from the Arctic south to the United States, where they nested on the prairies, west to the Rocky Mountains and wintered by the thousands from coast to coast south to Mexico, by 1910 the Trum¬ peters were thought to be extinct. Having discovered some pairs again breeding on wilderness lakes in the Yellowstone National Park, in 1929 a programme was started in order to save this species from final extinction. In the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana the Trumpeter Swans have increased now again to number between 500 and 700, and perpetuation seems assured. We are most obliged to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for placing a pair at our disposal, and to the National Zoological Park in Washington D.G. for kind assistance. The Berlin Zoo had already 30 HEINZ-GEORG KLOS - NEWS FROM BERLIN ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN exhibited Trumpeter Swans until 1916 without being so lucky to breed them in captivity, although the famous Dutch aviculturist F. E. Blaauw had proved that this is by all means possible. In late October the Berlin Zoo had the good luck to acquire a pair of Laysan Teal. These ducks, endemic only on the small island of Laysan, north of Hawaii, belong to the rarest species among water- fowl. Having vanished more and more during the last decades the number of Teal living free on the only lake of the island had decreased to some thirty, until a strict conservation programme was started. Now they again number about one hundred and it has even been possible to breed them in captivity. After having endeavoured for years, we succeeded in acquiring a fine pair of White-naped Cranes, bred in the United States. Furthermore we got four Indian Painted Storks, seldom occurring in Zoological Gardens. From Australia two Tawny Frogmouths and two Little Penguins arrived at the Berlin Zoo in September, in exchange for some animals bred in our Gardens. Tawny Frogmouths ( Podargus strigoides) are seldom to be seen in European Zoos, although distributed throughout the whole of Australia, where forest-lands occur. Sitting with eyes closed in an upright position on a branch in their cage, they simulate the bark of the branch so closely that they are really difficult to locate. Fed with meat, mice, and insects they are thriving well. Little Penguins ( Eudyptula minor), the smallest in the world, are at home from Perth to Newcastle, south around Tasmania, in New Zealand and east to the Chatham Islands, breeding in burrows and coastal rookeries in spring and summer. In spite of being not uncommon they belong to the rarities in European Zoos. From the date of their arrival they have become favourites of the public. Always being hand-fed with small pieces of fish they are doing well. Other new arrivals worth mentioning include two Peruvian Boobies, two Cape Shelducks, one Whistling Swan, two Common Jacanas, four Great Bustards, two Manchurian Cranes, ten Chilean Flamingos, two Black Ibises, two Glossy Ibises, one Black-necked Stork, one Argus Pheasant, two Dwarf Turtle Doves, one South American Condor, one Jendaya Parrakeet, two Blue-throated Barbets, two Indian Rollers, two Pyroderus scutatus , one Green-breasted Pitta, two Hunting Crows, two Racket-tailed Drongos, two Blue-faced Parrot Finches, two Northern Blue Grosbeaks, two Shining Honey Creepers, one Dajal, and others. Two Black- footed Penguins and three Black Swans have been hatched in the Gardens. BRITISH AVICULTURISTS’ CLUB 31 COUNCIL MEETING A Council Meeting was held on nth November, 1963, at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London, W.2. Miss E. Maud Knobel was elected sixth President of the Society. Mr. A. A. Prestwich was elected a Vice-President. Officers for 1964 There were the following retirements and appointments : — Council : Mr. F. T. Jones, Mr. W. R. Partridge, and Mr. P. L. Wayre retired by rotation. Miss R. M. Ezra, Mr. R. G. Kirkham, and Mr. K. A. Norris were elected to fill the vacancies. Executive Committee : Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt., was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. D. Seth-Smith. Editor : Miss P. Barclay-Smith retired according to rule, and being eligible was re-elected — for a sixth term of office. Hon. Secretary-Treasurer : Mr. A. A. Prestwich retired according to rule, and being eligible was re-elected — for a fourth term of office. Arthur A. Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. * * * BRITISH AVICULTURISTS’ CLUB The eighty-second meeting of the Club was held at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London, W.2., on Monday, nth November, 1963, following a dinner at 7 p.m. Chairman : Mr. K. Norris. Members of the Club : P. S. Bates, A. W. Bolton, Miss K. Bonner, A. E. Butler, R. D. Chancellor, R. A. Chester, Captain A. Clarence, R. A. Copley, W. D. Cummings, Mrs. L. Da Costa, J. O. D’eath, C. W. Desmond, Mrs. W. Duggans, Miss R. M. Ezra, J. Hancock, H. J. Harman, L. W. Hill, Dr. J. R. Hodges, F. E. B. Johnson, F. T. Jones, Dr. S. B. Kendall, R. G. Kirkham, Miss E. M. Knobel, C. Marler, R. F. Marshall, P. H. Maxwell, F. Mosford, G. S. Mottershead, S. Murray, Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt., W. R. Partridge, J. W. Peel, F. W. Perowne, A. A. Prestwich, D. H. S. Risdon, R. C. J. Sawyer, H. A. Snazle, E. O. Squire, Newton R. Steel, A. J. Swain, N. Tomlinson, Mrs. N. Tomlinson, Mrs. R. Upton, P. L. Wayre, Mrs. G. Wheatley, J. J. Yealland. Members of the Club, forty-seven ; guests fourteen ; total, sixty-one. The Club’s traditional birthday cakes were presented to Mr. Terry Jones and Mr. Frank Mosford. 32 NEWS AND VIEWS Mr. J. O. D’eath showed his new colour film “ Return Safari to East Africa, 1963 The photographer modestly describes this film as having been taken mainly for the purpose of private showing to friends, but actually it is of the very highest professional standard. Mr. G. S. Mottershead, on behalf of the Club, thanked Mr. D’eath for the showing. The date of the eighty-fourth meeting is Monday, 9th March, 1964. Arthur A. Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. * * NEWS AND VIEWS Dr. Alan Lendon has been elected Patron of the Avicultural Society of South Australia. ❖ * * Mr. A. Lopez has been elected President, Avicultural Society of America. After serving for seven years as Secretary, Mr. Otis Wade has resigned and has been succeeded by Mr. David West. * * * The Simon Harvey Memorial Medal, awarded annually by the Avicultural Society of South Australia for the most outstanding first breeding achievement of the year, has been awarded to Bev. Thomas for breeding the Grey Butcher Bird Cracticus torquatus * * Hs One of the most famous engravings in the world, Diirer’s “ Adam and Eve ” was recently sold at Sotherby’s for £3,400. Engraved in 1504, it is of special interest to aviculturists and ornithologists alike because included in the group, depicted on the edge of a forest, is a fair likeness of a Ring-necked Parrakeet. This prompts one to wonder whether this is the earliest representation of a parrot-like bird. * * * Dr. S. Dillon Ripley, Professor of Zoology and Director of the | Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, has been ; appointed Secretary (Chief Officer) of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. The responsibility and demands of running the world’s greatest museum will prevent Dr. Ripley from devoting as much time as hitherto to his famous waterfowl collection at Litchfield, but he does intend to maintain it at as high a standard as possible. * * * News from U.S.A. We hear that : F. FI. Rudkin is hand-rearing a young Banksian Cockatoo that was hatched under a bantam. It is reported to be almost fully feathered. At the Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake : City, a Hyacinthine Macaw and a Blue and Yellow Macaw have : produced a hybrid. R. G. Naegeli, Director, Busch Gardens, Tampa, NEWS AND VIEWS 33 Florida, reports three Golden-naped Macaws (Ara auricollis) hatched. Professor Carl Naether has reared five young Key West Quail Doves. * * * During the 1962-63 breeding season 166 birds of forty species and varieties were bred in the Adelaide Zoological Gardens. Some of the more interesting were Black Swan, seven ; White Ibis, two ; Tasmanian Water Hen, three ; Nepal Kalij Pheasant, four ; White- browed Wood Swallow, three ; Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, one ; Cloncurry Parrakeet, three ; Rock Parrakeet, three ; Hooded Parrakeet, four ; and Golden-crowned Gonure, two. There are now no less than seventy-three species and varieties of the order Psittaciformes in the collection. * * * Dr. G. Swaenepoel reports some interesting breeding results by F. Meerschaert. Some lutino Ring-necked Parrakeets, bought at the sale of the late M. Bruyneel’s birds, gave the following results during 1963 1st pair , lutino X lutino : four young, two lutino, two green. 2nd pair , lutino X lutino : two young, one lutino, one green. 3rd pair , green (/lutino ?) X green (/lutino ?), five young in two nests. First nest, two lutino, died in the nest. Second nest, three green. In appearance the third pair are normal. These results are perhaps a little puzzling. Mr. E. J. Boosey informs me, however, that they are consistent with the birds being non- sex- linked lutinos. A pair of these will produce both lutino and green young ones (some but not all of the latter being split-lutino) , whereas a pair of sex-linked lutinos’ young ones will all be lutinos. * * * In the National Geographic Magazine , December, 1963, John G. Williams, Curator of the Department of Ornithology at the Coryndon Museum, Nairobi, gives an absorbingly interesting account of the largest and most successful African bird rescue operation in history. The legs of many thousands of baby flamingos at Lake Magadi, Kenya, became encrusted with soda. Thousands died before help could be given but the magnificent efforts of rescue teams resulted in more than 27,000 young flamingos being manually freed from their soda shackles, and at least 200,000 other juvenile birds were prevented by the presence of the rescue teams from entering the shallows where the soda was most concentrated. There is an excellent series of photographs by Alan Root of the flamingos and the rescue operations. Alan Root and his wife Joan are ardent conservationists and it was they who first discovered the appalling plight of the young birds. A. A. P. * * * 3 34 J. J. YEALLAND - LONDON ZOO NOTES LONDON ZOO NOTES By J. J. Yealland A Bateleur Eagle presented in June, 1919, by Sir Geoffrey Archer has died. The bird was in immature plumage when it came and was then about two years of age, having lived its first year in Somaliland and some time in Sussex where it lived at liberty in the garden, returning of its own accord to roost in a stable. On occasion it accompanied Sir Geoffrey’s man, Ibrahim Sayed, into Horsham by bus, travelling, not in the approved falconry style, but tucked under the man’s arm. For some years it has shown signs of senility, usually sitting on a platform near the ground, but just occasionally it would perform the ghost of a display and give a faint cry whenever its companion, a much younger bird, was greeting a known passer-by. This is the bird referred to in volume 1 of “ The Birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden ” by Sir Geoffrey and Miss Godman, published in 1937. Six species and one sub-species not previously in the collection have been received : these are : — Black-throated Barbet ( Tricholaema m. melanocephalum) , Elgon Yellow-billed Barbet ( Trachylaemus purpuratus elgonensis ), Cretzschmar’s Bunting (. Emberiza caesia ), Black-billed Weaver ( Ploceus melanogaster stephanophorus) , Red-headed Blue-bill (1 Spermophaga r. ruficapilla) , Magpie Starling ( Speculipastor bicolor ) and Black- winged Oriole ( Oriolus nigripennis percivali) . Most of these specimens were in a fine collection brought by Mr. David Roberts of Lake Baringo. It is not at present known exactly where the Black-throated Barbets were collected, but the race in that area should be T. m. stigmatothorax which has a brown throat and often some red on the belly. Those brought by Mr. Roberts resemble the nominate race which is supposed to live farther north. There are four races of this species, all inhabiting dry scrub country of eastern and north-eastern Africa. The Black-billed Weaver inhabits the undergrowth in forested areas, not the tree canopy. It appears to be insectivorous and is a solitary nester. There are two races and, so far as is known, they are widely separated, one living in mountainous parts of the former British Cameroon and the other in a fairly small area of East Africa. This is, of course, not to be confused with the Black-billed Sparrow Weaver (. Plocepasser ) . The Magpie Starling is of particular interest. Some of the other species mentioned may be new to aviculture, but this starling almost certainly is. It is said to be a great wanderer over parts of Somaliland, Kenya, and north-eastern Uganda and is reported to have appeared in large numbers on Mombasa Island to feed on the ripe fruit of the wild REVIEWS 35 fig trees that line the main thoroughfares ; also, in 1917, in the out¬ skirts of Nairobi to feed on wild tomatoes growing on the municipal dump — “ and in two days there was not a ripe fruit in the whole ten- acre plot 55 . Nesting is said generally to take place in holes in ant-hills (presumably termite mounds). Cretzschmar’s Bunting breeds in parts of south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia, wintering in north-eastern Africa. It lives on rocky hill-sides and semi-desert areas, but in winter is said to frequent cultivated land, generally near the desert. Other arrivals include a young pair of Fish Eagles (H. vocifer), Lesser Scaup, Pintail, Sharp-winged Teal, a Hyacinthine Macaw, a Crested Lark, a Calandra Lark, and some Bristle-crowned Starlings ( Onycho - gnathus salvadorii) . A second Cattle Egret has been bred in the Gardens ; also two Collared X Turtle Doves ( Streptopelia decaocto X S. turtur). The mother flew on to a ship near the Scilly Isles last Spring and appeared to have injured its wing which is still held in a dropped position, though flight is not affected. In the British birds’ aviary it soon mated with a Collared Turtle Dove (the species that has in recent times spread north¬ westward and is now breeding in parts of Britain) and the single chick of the first nest died. This hybrid has, of course, been previously bred in captivity. * * * REVIEWS AUSTRALISCHE SITTICHE (AUSTRALIAN PARRAKEETS). By Dr. H. D. Groen. J. Niemeijer, Groningen, Holland, 1963. Price 95^. net. This interesting and beautifully produced book deals with all the Australian broadtail parrakeets except the Budgerigar, Ground Parrakeet, and Night Parrakeet. It is written by an experienced keeper and breeder of psittacines primarily for aviculturists or those likely to take up aviculture. The first part of the book deals with purchasing, keeping, and breeding parrakeets. It is profusely illustrated with helpful sketches and photographs. The author strongly advises his readers to 'procure European-bred specimens if possible and to purchase only young birds. He gives as reasons for this advice that (presumably before the export ban) Australian aviculturists usually only parted with second-rate birds when selling them overseas and, similarly, few people in Europe are likely to wish to sell adult parrakeets unless these have some physical or psychological defect that makes them useless for breeding. He gives some amusing, if alarming, examples. When 36 REVIEWS discussing the breeding of parrakeets the author shows how a con¬ sideration of the birds’ nesting habits and nest enemies in the wild can be of the utmost practical use to the aviculturist. This section is followed by a chapter on diseases and how to avoid or cure them, where possible, by J. Doctors Van Leeuwen, and a chapter on the photography of captive birds by S. Duursma. The second part of the book consists of a clear, concise, but reasonably detailed account of each species, with special emphasis on care and feeding in captivity. Except for the Golden-shouldered Parrakeet, each species is illustrated by a coloured photograph showing both sexes. These plates add greatly to the value and beauty of the book. It must, however, be said that the colour reproduction, though good, is not perfect and in many cases does not do full justice to the brilliance of the living birds. When in doubt as to whether to treat a form as a full species or not the author chooses the former course. This seems sensible in such a book as this and he has been careful to state in such cases that others hold a different opinion and to give references. The book can be recommended to everyone, aviculturist or otherwise, who is interested in the platycercine parrakeets. D. G. * ❖ * I NAME THIS PARROT ... By Arthur A. Prestwich, Eden- bridge, Kent, England, 1963. Price 21s. net. The first edition of this interesting and entertaining book, published in 1958, was so well received that the author has been induced to produce a revised and enlarged second edition. In his preface, Mr. Prestwich states that it is quite doubtful whether this second edition would have materialized if he had not had reason to consult Malaysian Plant Collectors and Collections , being volume 1 (1950) of Flora Malesiana, from which he was able to extract all the additional and confirmatory information. j Each entry of Mr. Prestwich’s book has been re-edited, many revisions and additions have been made, and several fresh names have been introduced. There are two further Appendixes, (B) personal names published since 1st January, 1936, and (C) a complete list of scientific names admitted by Peters, together with their derivations and appropriate English names. Mr. Prestwich is to be congratulated on his initiative and enormous ! amount of work in producing such a valuable, informative, and well written publication. P. B-S. REVIEWS 37 ECOLOGY OF SEA COLONY BIRDS OF THE BARENTS SEA. By L. O. Belopol’skii. Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, Israel, December, 1961. Price 6&y. $9.50 net. This is a translation, from Russian, of a monographic study, ex¬ tending over many years, of the ecology of sea colony birds from Murmansk in the west to Novaya Zemlya in the east, and especially those of the Barents Sea. The author, a well-known zoologist, has studied in detail the nutrition of sea-birds, their methods of obtaining food, their diet and changes in their diet, the nutrition of various age groups, and the relationship between the various ingredients of their diet. Also the reproduction of sea-birds, including the dynamics of bird population, fecundity, etc. A large section of the book is devoted to the intra- and inter-specific relations between the bird colony of the Barents Sea, mutual rela¬ tionship between birds and their food, and the effect of predatory activity and relationship between the species as a factor in the estab¬ lishment and development of sea-bird colonies. The work, originally published in 1957, is of special interest in view of the opening of the Great Northern Sea route and the development of the natural resources of the Arctic. The text contains numerous illustrations but their reproduction is of such poor quality that many are difficult to decipher. E. H. ❖ * * WHILE SOME TREES STAND. By Garth Christian. Newnes, London, 1963. Price 2 is. net. The book tells of the disappearing countryside in Britain and the many hazards which now contribute to destroy wildlife, from the encroachment of man himself, toxic chemicals, and detergents which ruin streams, to mention only a few, and he aptly titles his first chapter “ Facing the Challenge ”. Though the greater part of the book is devoted to British mammals, there are five chapters on familiar birds which contain many of the author’s first-hand observations. The book is illustrated with first-rate photographs, many by Eric Hosking, so need no further recommendation. P. B-S. 38 NOTES NOTES News from the Chester Zoo Bird Collection Some time ago we received a Guinea Wood-Hoopoe (Phoeniculus erythrorynchus \ guineensis ) which is housed in the Tropical House. It is extremely partial to maggots, and one of the keepers told me about a most curious way with which it deals with them. So curious, in fact, that I would hardly have believed it had I not seen it myself some days later. The bird behaves exactly as if it were “ anting.” It flies down to the live-food pot, and places six or seven maggots under the feathers of its back. It then flies back to its usual perch and proceeds to eat the maggots at its leisure. I wonder i if there is a connection with “ anting ” procedure ? One of our seven Cocks-of-the-Rock, which also inhabits the Tropical House is a keen mouse-hunter, and deals with its prey exactly like a Kingfisher, banging it against its perch for some time before finally swallowing it. Unfortunately it has also been seen to devour a Humming bird ! A. W. E. Fletcher. Toe Deformity in Pheasant Chicks Some years ago I suggested to a pheasant breeder that it would be interesting to provide bantam foster-mothers of pheasant chicks with perches in the coop so as to encourage early perching by the chicks as occurs in the wild state when they go up to roost on a branch with the mother. This, I believed, would help to prevent the foot deformities in pheasant chicks that occur when they are reared under bantams in the conventional way, and my only reason for thinking this was that I had never seen a case of toe deformity in pheasants that had been reared with the parents in a place where they could roost naturally. It was, therefore, with particular interest that I learned from Monsieur Delacour that a pheasant breeder in the United States had done this and apparently with success. Obviously there are other causes of these deformities, but I believe this to be the main one. J. J- Y. THE AVICULTURAL : SOCIETY : FOR THE STUDY OF BRITISH & FOREIGN BIRDS IN FREEDOM & CAPTIVITY OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1964 President MISS E. MAUD KNOBEL Vice-Presidents J. Delacour, Allen Silver, G. S. Mottershead, Sir Crawford MgCullagh, Bart., A. A. Prestwich Miss P. Barglay-Smith Miss K. Bonner W. D. Cummings J. O. D’eath Miss R. Ezra L. W. Hill F. E. B. Johnson R. G. Kirkham A. Lamb Council F. Mosford K. A. Morris C. M. Payne A. A. Prestwich D. H. S. Risdon T. Spence E. O. Squire N. R. Steel J. J. Yealland Executive Committee Miss P. Barclay-Smith Miss K. Bonner Miss E. M. Knobel G. S. Mottershead Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt. A. A. Prestwich Hon. Secretary-Treasurer A. A. Prestwich Galley’s Wood, Nr. Edenbridge, Kent Assistant Secretary Miss Kay Bonner Editor Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, M.B.E. 51 Warwick Avenue, London, W. 9 Auditor J. W atkin Richards, Certified Accountant OFFICERS OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY PAST AND PRESENT PRESIDENTS 1894-1895 1896-1920 1921-1925 1926-1955 1956-1963 1963- The Countess of Bective The Rev. Canon and Hon. F. G. Dutton (later Lord Sherborne) The Rev. H. D. Astley A. Ezra, O.B.E. D. Seth-Smith Miss E. Maud Knobel SECRETARIES 1894-1896 1896-1899 1899-1901 1901-1903 1903- 1904 1904- 1909 1909-1914 Dr. C. S. Simpson H. R. Fillmer J. Lewis Bonhote R. Phillipps JR. Phillipps \Dr. A. G. Butler {T. H. Newman Dr. A. G. Butler {R. I. Pocock Dr. A. G. Butler 1914-1 »'«{£, “a. Newman G. Butler „ c /Miss R. Alderson 1916-19.9 |Dr a g Botler Dr. L. Lovell-Keays 9 Dr. A. G. Butler 1921-1922 J. Lewis Bonhote 1923-1948 Miss E. Maud Knobel 1949- A. A. Prestwich ASSISTANT SECRETARY [950- Miss Kay Bonner. TREASURERS 1894-1897 1897-1899 1899-1901 1901-1906 1906-1913 I9I3-I9D H. R. Fillmer O. E. Cresswell J. Lewis Bonhote W. H. St. Quintin J. Lewis Bonhote B. C. Thomasett 1917-1919 1920 1921-1922 1923-1948 1949- EDITORS 1894-1896 1896-1899 1899-1901 1901-1907 1 907- 1 908 1908- 1909 1909- 191° 1910- 1912 1912-1917 1920 /Dr. C. S. Simpson \H. R. Fillmer H. R. Fillmer O. E. Cresswell D. Seth-Smith I'D. Seth-Smith \Dr. A. G. Butler JD. Seth-Smith \ Frank Finn {Frank Finn J. Lewis Bonhote J. Lewis Bonhote The Rev. H. D. Astley Dr. Graham Renshaw Dr. Graham Renshaw 1921-1923 1924 1925 1926-1934 1935 1936-1938 1939- A. Ezra Dr. L. Lovell-Keays J. Lewis Bonhote Miss E. Maud Knobel A. A. Prestwich JR. I. Pocock \D. Seth-Smith /R. I. Pocock t.D. Seth-Smith The Marquess of Tavistock The Marquess of Tavistock D. Seth-Smith D. Seth-Smith The Hon. Anthony Chaplin Miss E. F. Chawner Miss E. F. Chawner Miss Phyllis Barclay- Smith, M.B.E. MEDALLISTS OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY THE PRESIDENT’S MEDAL Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, M.B.E. , 14th March, i960. Arthur Alfred Prestwich, 14th March, i960. THE KNOBEL AWARD Sten Bergman, D.Sc., 14th March, i960. Curt af Enehjelm, 14th March, i960. SPECIAL BIRD P FOODS FAMOUS SINCE 1823 Universal Fortifier Perfort Insectivorous Fort-Egg and (Pictorial Packet 3 oz. I0£d. 3 oz. I0£d. (Red Packet) Colorfort £ lb. I/I0£ £ lb. 2/- i lb. 2/- £ lb. 3/- £ lb. 2/3 1 lb. 3/6 1 lb. 4/- 1 lb. 4/- 1 lb. 6/- 1 lb. 4/6 3£ lb. 11/9 3£ lb. 13/6 3£ lb. 13/6 3£ lb. 21/- 3£ lb. 15/- 7 lb. 22/9 7 lb. 26/6 7 lb. 26/6 7 lb. 38/8 7 lb. 29/9 28 lb. 85/- 28 lb. 98/- 28 lb. 98/- 28 lb. 154/- 28 lb. 112/- C.L.O. Rearing and Condition Food HEALTH GRAINS (Condition Seed) £ lb. 1 /- 14 lb. 20/ 3 oz. i/~ 1 lb. 2/- 28 lb. 38/6 1 lb. 4/6 3£ lb. 5/6 56 lb. 75/- 3£ lb. 15/6 7 lb. 10/6 1 cwt. 140/- 7 lb. 30/- GREENSTUFF A dehydrated form of green food consisting of lettuce, spinach, carrot, etc., readily taken by ail birds. Packets I/- & 3/6, also sold in bulk. When sending for above Birdfoods please add for part cost of postage : £ lb. pkts. 6d. I lb. pkts. I/-. 3£ lb. and 7 lb. 2/-. 28 lb. and over Carriage Paid. MEALWORMS “ MARBA” DUTCH BRED “ SANTA GERMANBRED ” (small type) (large type) Whether you prefer the small Dutch mealworm or the larger German type, we can give you the finest service obtainable, with shipments arriving twice weekly. Dispatch guaranteed same day as orders received. 1 oz. 3/- 2 oz. 4/9 4 oz. 8/- 8 oz. 14/- I lb. 23/6 Also in original Boxes as imported Nett weight guaranteed 2 lb. 45/- 3£ lb. 62/6 6£ lb. £6 Os. Od. All Carriage Paid. MAGGOTS We sell only the best liver-fed maggots, specially recleaned and ready for immediate use for bird feeding. Packed in bran. No mess or smell. 2 oz. 4 oz. 8 oz. I lb. 3/4 4/6 7/- 10/6 FEEDING SUNDRIES Dried Flies (Chinese) Silkworm pupae (Whole) „ „ (Ground) Dried Dragonfly larvae .... Dried Shrimp (Fine, Medium, or Coarse) . Ant Eggs . Pure Dried Egg ..... Dried Rowan Berries (Whole) „ „ „ (Crushed) Pure Breadcrumbs (Fine, Medium, or Coarse), far superior to biscuit meal . 2 lb. 3/- ; 4 lb. 5/6 ; 14 lb. 17/6 “ Egg-crumbs,” guaranteed to consist of 90 per cent breadcrumbs and 10 per cent pure egg . . . 2 lb. 5/6 ; 4 lb. 10/6 ; 7 lb. 17/6 i lb. 1 lb. 5/- 9/6 3/9 6/6 4/- 6/9 6/6 12/6 2/3 3/6 13/6 25/- 6/6 12/6 2/9 4/6 3/- 4/9 28 lb. 28/- ALL ABOVE PRICES ARE POST PAID E. W. COOMBS, LTD. CROSS STREET WORKS, CHATHAM, KENT Telephone : Chatham 44969 Telegrams : Avicult , Chatham , Kent ★ ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ★ * * * * “I name * ¥ * * this ¥ ¥ * * Parrot ...” ¥ ¥ * ¥ ¥ Brief biographies of men and women in whose honour ¥ * commemorative names have been given : together with ¥ ¥ a complete list of parrot-like birds — scientific names with ¥ * their derivations, and English names. ¥ ¥ ¥ * Price 21s ., post free. ¥ * -K Arthur A. Prestwich ¥ * * EDENBRXDGE, KENT. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★* ¥ BOOKS on BIRDS Catalogue on request WHELDON & WESLEY LTD LYTTON LODGE, CODICOTE, Nr. HITCHIN, HERTS. Telephone: Codicote 370. We are Specialists in Humming Birds and Sun Birds \Ne have a large number of Humming Birds in stock, both common species and some of the rarer, such as Eugenes fulgens, etc. Please write for our price list. We would be pleased to send you our hints for keeping Humming Birds. Excellent birds for exhibitions. Full guarantee of live arrival at the airport. Please write to us and mention your nearest airport. Dealers : We give a discount on ten or more Humming Birds. ZOOLOGISCHER VERSAND KOLN Victor Franck, 5 Koln-Mulheim 2, Postfach 8 Frankfurterstr. 75-77, West Germany Telephone : Koln 66474 Telegrams : Zoofranck Koeln VOGELFARM (BIRD FARM) “LADY GOULDIAN FINCH” 5657 HAAN BEI DUSSELDORF, ALTE LEY 5, WEST GERMANY Offers Blue-breasted Violet-eared Waxbills ( Granatina ianthinogaster ) DM. ioo pair : Melba Finches ( Pytilia melba ) DM. 50 pair : Blue¬ headed Blue Waxbills ( Granatina cyanocephala ) DM. 30 pair : Black¬ cheeked Waxbills ( Estrilda erythronotos ) DM. 45 pair : Peter’s Twin-spots {Hypargos niveoguttata ) DM. 100 pair : Lady Gouldian Finches, Red¬ headed ( Erythrura gouldiae) bred by myself, DM. 75 pair : Red-headed Parrot-Finches ( Erythrura psittacea) bred by myself, DM. 265 pair : Diamond Sparrows (Steganopleura guttata) German-bred, DM. 80 pair ; Long-tailed Grass Finches ( Poephila acuticauda ) European-bred, DM. 55 pair : Parson Finches ( Poephila cincta ) European-bred, DM. 75 pair : Star Finches ( Neochmia ruficauda) German-bred, DM. 45 pair. I can also offer in small numbers the following birds, all bred by myself or other German aviculturists : Masked Grass Finches, Cherry Finches, Painted Finches, Blood Finches, Sydney Waxbills, Bichenow’s Finches, Barley Finches, Pictorella Finches, Yellow-tailed Finches, Zebra Finches, all colours : also many very rare species of African Finches and Waxbills. Please refer to my advertisements in all the principal bird papers and magazines throughout the world. Please be sure to inform me regarding your special requirements. Visitors are welcome on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. All payments to be made in advance by bank cheque or money order. Pound Sterling 1 == DM. 11. U.S. Dollar 1 = DM. 4. Shipments are made by air-liners within three weeks of receipt of payment. All birds are in large aviaries and are offered without engagement, subject to being unsold. STUDIES ON GREAT CRESTED GREBES By K. E. L. SIMMONS Price 5/6 post free published by THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY galley’s wood EDENBRIDGE, KENT COLOURED PLATES Copies of Coloured Plates that have appeared in the Avicultural Magazine G. M. Henry Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon Hanging Lorikeet, Ceylon Junglefowl, Ceylon Spurfowl. H. Gronvold Siamese Fireback Pheasant, Lewis’s Silver Pheasant, Milne- Edwards’ Pheasant, Royal and Superb Starlings. Roland Green Schalow’s Touraco, Violaceous Plantain-eater, Sclater’s Crowned Pigeon, Purple-throated Cotinga, Green Broadbill, Crowned Wood Partridge (Roulroul), Fire-tufted Barbet, Rothschild’s Grackle, Bullock’s Hangnest, Budgerigar (four colour varieties), Whitley’s Conure. D. M. Reid-Henry Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Green-headed Olive Sunbird, Mountain Blue Robin, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Scarlet Tanagers, Emerald Starling, Wattled Starling, Hart- laub’s Touraco, Red-faced Lovebird, Golden-winged Parra- keet, Yellow-cheeked Conure, Red-bellied Conure, Lineolated Parrakeet, White-bellied and Black-headed Caiques, Brown¬ headed Parrot, Green-winged King Parrakeet, Vieillot’s Crested Fireback Pheasant, Blue Eared Pheasant. Various Artists Malachite Sunbird, North Island Pied Tit, Scarlet Fly¬ catcher, Plaintive Barbet, Black-chinned Yuhina, Gouldian Finch, Yellow-rumped Finch, Motmot, Red Cardinal (two freak specimens), Wallace’s Fruit-pigeon, Grey Parrot, Rock and Elegant Grass Parrakeets, Falcated Teal, Mandarin Duck, Rosy-billed Ducks displaying, One-wattled and D’Alberti’s Cassowary (head and neck studies). Group of seven Humming Birds, group of six Toucans, Trogons, etc., group of six Lories. Price is. each. Orders To THE HON. SECRETARY, GALLEY’S WOOD, EDENBRIDGE, KENT. CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION Major Peter Bromley- Martin, Elanwye, Builth Wells, Breconshire, Proposed by Sir R. Cotterell, Bt. Yngve Ejdfors, Relag 7, Vastra Frolunda, Sweden. Proposed by Miss K. Bonner. Bertram C. Jones, Zoological Gardens, Clifton, Bristol, 8. Proposed by Norman G. Hadden. Arthur M. Latta, McKee Jungle Gardens, Vero Beach, Florida, U.S.A. Proposed by Otis Wade. James Marshall, Boorooma Station, Nr. Walgett, New South Wales, Australia. Proposed by J. Le Gay Brereton. A. Menzies-Simpson, Trelawne Manor, Looe, Cornwall. Proposed by Terry Jones. Major John A. Moore, Bransgore, Hornash Lane, Shadoxhurst, Ashford, Kent. Proposed by F. C. Astles. W. Howard Phillips, Bank Farm, Meadle, Aylesbury, Bucks. Proposed by L. W. Hill. V. Sausman, 25-A Beniapuker Lanej Calcutta 14, India. Proposed by Charles G. Jones. Ralph C. Small, 8544 Rockefeller, Brookfield, Illinois, U.S.A. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Mrs. Christine M. Startup, Grove Lodge, Broadwater Street West, Worthing, Sussex. Proposed by Frank G. Startup. Mrs. John Wainwright, Coconut Grove 33, Florida, U.S.A. Proposed by John W. Livermore. H. Walshaw, Firs Villa, Rampton Hospital, Nr. Retford, Notts. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. W. H. Walters, 017 Santa Cruz Road, Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S.A. Proposed by Otis Wade. Brian M. Williams, Oak Mount, Windmill Lane, Balsall Common, Nr. Coventry, Warwickshire. Proposed by W. R. Partridge. NEW MEMBERS The twelve Candidates for Election in the November-December, 1963, number of the Avicultural Magazine were duly elected members of the Society. CHANGES OF ADDRESS I. A. Aird, to 51 Gloucester Place Mews, George Street, London, W. 1. Thomas H. Alston, to Rosella Roseate, 1 1 1 Queensfield, Queensfield Estate, Swindon, Wilts. Dr. Benjamin D. Blood, to 6315 Utah Avenue, N.W., Washington 15, D.C., U.S.A. Major A. G. Clark, to 7 Thoroughgood Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. E. W. Coombs, to Cross Street Works, Chatham, Kent. Rainer R. Erhart, to 6312 Laubach, Scholsspark 17, Germany. John E. Holzbagh, to Stonycroft, Gelert, Ontario, Canada. Michael Kendall, to 34 South Meadows, Wrington, N. Somerset. J. H. Noon, to 120 Wills Crescent, Hounslow, Middx. Dr. Joseph D. Noshpitz, to 3141 34th Street N.W., Washington 8, D.C., U.S.A. Miss Eunice Overend, to Wayside, Feltham, Frome, Somerset. Mrs. Emily Ryan, to P.O. Box 22, Rock Tavern, New York, U.S.A. K. E. L. Simmons, to Lamorna, Beechwood Avenue, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks. Arthur C. Soanes, to 1 Uplands, High Road, Bushey Heath, Herts.1 W. ten Have, to Molenweg 10, Haren (Gr.), Holland. DONATIONS (Coloured Plate Fund £s. d. G. Banks 2 0 0 A. F. Blaauw 10 0 G. Boswell . 2 2 0 R. D. Chancellor . 10 0 H. Cowley . 2 10 0 Captain J. E. Dunster 10 0 F. Dutton 10 0 Mrs. M. D. Esson . 10 0 J. J. Gandy . 3 0 0 Mrs. O. Gent 10 0 D. Goodwin . 2 0 0 Captain V. Hewitt 5 0 0 F. E. B. Johnson . 1 0 0 J. M. S. Lax 1 0 0 P. A. Lindsay 1 0 0 Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bart. 5 0 0 Dr. H. S. Raether 10 0 E. A. Reed . 5 0 M. M. Spinks 10 0 E. B. Tanner 5 0 J. O. Wahlgren 1 1 0 J. T. Walton 1 0 0 MEMBERS* ADVERTISEMENTS The charge for Members’ advertisements is threepence per word. Payment must accompany the advertisement, which must be sent on or before the 15th of the month to A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood, Edenbridge, Kent. All members of the Society are entitled to use this column, but the Council reserves the right to refuse any advertisements they consider unsuitable. For rare birds contact Baidyanath Acooli. Exporter of rare Indian animals. Post Box 12008, Calcutta 2, India. Wanted. Avicultural Magazine, 1917-1920, inclusive: — A. Birtles, 169 Royds Street, Rochdale, Lancs. Wanted. Avicultural Magazine, 1925-1953, in wrappers or bound: — A. Rutgers, Joppelaan 60, Gorssel, Holland. Wanted Urgently. Male Ringed Teal. Exchange for female : — Miss B. Locker Lampson, Keeper’s Cottage, Copthorne, Sussex. Wanted urgently. Female Indian Golden Oriole (Kundoo) in sound physical condition : — R. A. Richardson, Hill-Top, Cley, Holt, Norfolk Turacos: wanted urgently for medical research: Red wing-feathers from Turacos Bickerton, O.R.C., Poyle, Colnbrook, Bucks. For Sale. Red-headed Parrot Finches, £35 pair, Blue-headed Parrot Finches, £15 pair, direct from Caledonia. Due June-July further shipments, also of rare Green¬ faced, E viridifacies , Green-tailed, E hyperythra. Royals, E cyanovirens and new species just discovered E colorice . Will be pleased to make reservations strictly in rotation. Also other rare birds from Caledonia, Sun Birds, Kingfishers, Flycatchers, Trogons, Lorikeets, Racket-tailed Parrakeets, etc. Also rare birds from Malaya, Colombia, with Cocks-of-the-Rocks. Quetzals, Tanagers, Sugar Birds, Umbrella Birds, Humming Birds of great variety, from Africa, Sun Birds, rare Softbills and Finches, also rare Lovebirds, White, Blue, and Yellow varieties, Lutino and Blue Ringnecks, Queen of Bavaria Conures, etc. We have been the leading dealers in the world for over 40 years and have supplied Zoos and collectors all over with their rarest of birds, many new to aviculture. Enquiries to, P. H. Hastings, Ltd., 182 Sultan Road, Portsmouth, England, phone 21582, Cables “Rarebirds” Portsmouth. STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, HERTFORD. AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE yi,u‘>'9z- Breeding the Red-faced Lovebird in Denmark (with plate }, by Aage V. Nielsen Breeding the Pale-vented Robin, by Charles Everitt .... Sex-linked Colour Inheritance in the Zebra Finch, by Russell Aiuto . Breeding the Maroon Tanager ( Rhamphocelus jacapa), by W. H. Collard Breeding Results at Keston Foreign Bird Farm, 1963, by W. D. 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Orders for the Magazine, extra copies and back numbers (from 1917) should be sent to the publishers, Stephen Austin & Sons, Ltd., Caxton Hill, Ware Road, Hertford, England. Telephone : Hertford 2352/3/4. Avicult. Mag. Copyright ] [A. Nielsen The A. pullaria Family in the Outdoor Aviary (Mousebirds Behind) [ Frontispiece Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 70. — No. 2. — All rights reserved. MARCH- APRIL, 1964 BREEDING THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD IN DENMARK By Aage V. Nielsen (Copenhagen) On 20th September, 1958, I obtained a pair of Red-faced Lovebirds, which I put in a roomy cage (40" X 20" X 24") in our drawing room, in order to make them confident. They were rather shy at first, but with quiet treatment and by gently speaking to them I soon taught them that my hand came in the cage only in order to give them food and not to catch them, and that the hand always came in through the cage door farthest from them, so that they did not need to panic. In the beginning they received the same food as given by their previous owner, about which I was, of course, informed when obtaining the birds. By and by I extended the list of foods and gave them some tit-bits on every occasion. Thus the birds gradually became more confident and greeted me every morning with happy twitters. On 29th October, 1958, when I came in the room to take the birds to a show, I saw the hen suddenly drop down from the perch on the cage floor, dead. This was a great sorrow for me as well as for the pullaria cock. He cried loudly, and most probably would have cried himself to death if I had not taken him to the show, where the altered environments, the many other birds, and all the life around him made him gradually forget the hen, and on the third day he fed and drank normally. After the show I took him home and put him in another cage in the vicinity of other birds. About half a year later, on 26th April, 1959, after much searching, I was lucky to obtain a new, and obviously young hen, whose mate had died as suddenly as my hen. After a period of quarantine, the birds were put together. They did not show much interest in each other, nor any enmity. After some days I let the pair fly in my birdroom. This is a light and roomy cellar room, approximately 14' X 14' X *]' high. The room is furnished with fruit-tree branches and lots of polygonum stems and all kinds of nesting receptacles : basket-nests, nesting-boxes, harzer wicker-cages, coconut husks, flower pots, etc., placed at all levels from the floor right up to the roof. The floor is covered with a thick layer of 4 u\imm wiimiii APR Z Z i%4 40 A. V. NIELSEN - BREEDING THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD IN DENMARK gravel and upon this sand, earth, oyster shells, peat moss, and wood shavings. A small sprinkler fountain is placed on the floor and food receptacles are hung all over the room. Apart from the seed which the birds scatter from the pots, grass seed is sprinkled on the floor, mainly around the fountain. The room is connected with an outside flight, 27' X 5' X 6' high. This flight is planted with stinging-nettles and different kinds of weeds, and furnished with fresh fruit-tree branches and a large bird-bath. The outside aviary is only used as flight for the birds, all feeding taking place in the indoor flight. In this environment are kept about thirty pairs of Waxbills and other small seed-eaters, four Diamond Sparrows, one pair of Striped Mouse- birds, some Painted Quails, one pair of Bourke’s Parrakeets, and the above named pair of Red-faced Lovebirds. The birds all agree perfectly and I have never observed any serious fighting about food, nests, bathing-, resting-, or sleeping-places. Grey Waxbills, Orange¬ cheeked Waxbills, Lavender Finches, Firefinches, Bicheno’s Finches, Cuban Finches, Bengalese, hybrids of Grey and Orange-cheeked Waxbills, Bourke’s Parrakeets, and Painted and Harlequin Quails have all bred and raised their young. Nests have been built free in the wilderness as well as in the different artificial nesting receptacles, some quite secluded, others in open places. Among the nest-boxes there are three of the horizontal type with an entrance hole with side aspect to the light. These boxes are approxi¬ mately 17" x 7" X 7" high and the entrance hole 3 inches in diameter. In one of these boxes the Bourke’s had nested and when the last young had left the nest, this was taken down and cleaned and the bottom covered with 1 in. layer of peat-moss and upon this a layer of sawdust and fine shavings of fir tree in order to be ready if the Bourke’s should start again. It was, however, the pair of lovebirds, which for a long period had been interested in each other, who took this box, and on 3rd August, i960, there were two eggs in the box. From that date the hen went in the box every evening, the cock roosting outside on a perch just over the entrance hole. On 4th August there were still two eggs in the box, on the 5th August three eggs, on the 6th still three eggs, but on the morning of 7th August there were four eggs. From that date the hen sat regularly and only went out from the box for a few minutes twice a day, usually early in the morning and late in the afternoon. From the 8th of August the cock also spent the night in the box and the day mainly in the outside flight, but visiting the box several times in the day for two to five minutes, obviously in order to feed the hen. On 10th August at 5 p.m. there were still four eggs in the box, but in the morning on the 1 ith there were five. The hen was now sitting so tightly that I felt most excited, even if I — after all that I had heard and read — was very doubtful if I should be lucky enough to see pullaria A. V. NIELSEN - BREEDING THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD IN DENMARK 4 1 youngsters. My doubts were confirmed. In the first days of September I understood that something was wrong. The hen was anxious, and frequently came out of the box, in which there were still five eggs. On 6th September I believed that incubation had finished, but the hen still went in the box, and incubation did not stop completely until 10th September. During the incubation period I had not touched the eggs, only observed that they went darker. I now removed them: four were fertile with dead embryos, the fifth was damaged. The size of the eggs was: 20 mm. X 16 mm., 21 mm. X 16 -75 mm., 21 mm. X 16 -75 mm., 21 *3 mm. x 16-85 mm., and 22 mm. X 17 mm. They were all pointed at one end, white at the start, but in the course of the sitting went creamy-grey, and at the end whitish with grey and yellow tints. I tried to give the birds as many different kinds of food as possible, in order to detect what they preferred. For this reason the foods had not only to be given in separate pots, but I had also to detect which birds fed at the different pots. At last I succeeded in placing some pots in such a way that the lovebirds got the food first, and thus, to some degree, could detect the kind and quantity of their needs. Mealworms were one of the food items involved. I had hung up a pot for the lovebirds, and in the beginning they took about 50 worms a day. Later on the consumption increased regularly, and reached approxi¬ mately 200 a day at the beginning of the incubation period. The birds were also very interested in apple-tree branches, which were peeled mainly by the cock, but also by the hen every time she came out of the box. On the other hand I could not find evidence of an increase in the consumption of seed and fruit during the incubation period. I still tried to extend the list of food, in order to keep the birds in as strong condition as possible for further breeding attempts. Of course, I did not expect the birds to start again in i960, but events did not go as I thought. It seemed that the pullaria pair could not settle down. Several times I saw the cock chasing the hen and after a while being kind to her again, picking at her feathers and preening her, all the time being near her. On 23rd September I saw the hen making several short visits in the same box, which had been cleaned out and supplied with new peat moss and wood shavings. In the evening, however, there was nothing to see ; she had raked about a bit in the contents, but nothing was either brought in or thrown out. On the following days nothing happened, but on the 26th there was a new pullaria egg in the box. The hope of a new clutch was not fulfilled, as no further eggs were laid in September. On 1st October, in the morning, there was still only that single egg in the box, and in the following two days I could not examine the box, but on 4th October in the evening there were three eggs in the box and my hopes started to grow. On 5th and 6th October the hen spent all the time in the box, and of course I would not 42 A. V. NIELSEN - BREEDING THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD IN DENMARK disturb her, but on the 7th I could ascertain that there were four eggs. From that date the hen sat regularly and the cock spent all the nights in the box. On 10th October there were five eggs, and in the period following I did not examine the box, but I have noted that the hen sat, and spent all the time in the box. It was not until 4th November I looked in the box and saw three living young and two eggs. Everything indicates that the young were hatched at intervals of some days, the incubation period being twenty- two days. The biggest was most probably hatched on 29th October and the smallest one, which was quite small, on 2nd or 3rd November. The following days were rather exciting, but on 7th November one of the three young, which until then had lain huddled together with the thin necks across each other, now lay alone, separate from the other ones. I put it back in the pile, but on the next morning it had entirely disappeared. Later on it was found dried in the peat moss in the box. This was the smallest one of the young, but on the next morning both the remaining young lay separately. The smaller of these lay on its back and was very weak, both had, however, been fed, and had the crops filled with food. On 9th November, in the evening, I found the body of the smaller young without head near the nest-hole. The biggest and oldest youngster was apparently well, it begged for food as soon as I touched it. Nevertheless it was weak the next morning. The crop was filled with food, but the youngster died on the evening of the same day, thirteen days old. Now I went through all my notes, read all my literature on j bullaria, and spoke with other breeders, whose birds had had young up to ten days old. Everything seemed to point to the fact that the birds were lacking something for feeding the young, which they could not do without. It was now up to me to find this and hope that the birds would make a new attempt in the following year. The pullaria pair now settled down to enjoy life for a time, especially the nice weather we had at the beginning of the summer, 1961. When the long spell of moist weather started I increased the temperature in the bird room somewhat, this constantly being about 76° F. (230 C.) just below the nest-box. For some time I also directed the rays of an infra-red flashlamp into the birdroom. I never saw the lovebirds take advantage of this offer, whereas some young Waxbills and the Mouse- birds often enjoyed the warm rays. The lovebirds’ fondness for meal¬ worms seemed to grow more and more. I now gradually increased the ration and in May we reached a daily quantity of 200-250 worms. The birds now had the following foods at their disposal : Insectivorous (softbill) food, canary seed, white, yellow, Indian and Japanese millet, niger seed, blue maw seed, hemp, sunflower, oats, millet sprays, apples, pears, oranges, grapes, bananas, figs, lettuce, cabbage, dandelion, plantain, stinging-nettles, grass seeds in all states of sprouting, fresh A. V. NIELSEN - BREEDING THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD IN DENMARK 43 grass turfs, fresh branches of fruit trees, sponge cake with glucose, mealworms, oyster shells, and mortar which they gnawed from the bird room. All was present in large quantities so that the birds would be weaned to different foods, if they possibly decided to breed again. I had also tried raisins, plums, and apricots, made in different ways, but none of my birds were interested in these. The lovebirds and other birds got a liking for mixed fruit marmalade, and this is now always at their disposal. Sprouted seed, white, yellow, Indian, Japanese, and spray millet had earlier been offered in different ways, sprouted seed alone, mixed with carrot juice, mixed with the soft food, etc. From 1961 onwards I have not given sprouted seeds as the birds preferred the grass seed down on the floor, which was always eagerly taken, before it went green. It may seem to be a very wide choice of foods, but it was not intended for the lovebirds alone, all the birds in the room took the different things, and by and by the lovebirds got a liking for most of the different foods, so it has hardly been too much effort. I always tried to find further new foods, and one day I thought that the pupae of mealworms would possibly have some likeness to the pupae of the termites which the birds perhaps take in the wild. It turned out that fresh white pupae were preferred to worms and taken first. From June, 1961, onwards the feeding-vessels of the lovebirds were filled with three- quarters part of mealworms and one-quarter part of pupae. About 1 st July, the hen again started to be interested in the same nest-box. She sat on the perch by the entrance hole and peeped in the box. But not until 4th July did she go into the box for a moment. She behaved likewise on the following days ; on 8th July I looked in the box and found two eggs. On nth July there were three eggs and on the 13th, four, and from that date she sat closely and the cock also spent the nights in the box from the same date, and during all the sub¬ sequent incubation period. On 15th July the fifth and last egg arrived. The feeding habits of the cock now changed somewhat. For green food he now preferred lettuce and branches of fruit-trees, and hardly touched any other kinds . He preferred apple to pear, and orange to banana. By and by his consumption of mealworms reached 300-400 a day, one-half to three-quarters slice of sponge cake, almost a whole apple, parts of the leaves and bark of apple tree branches, and seed. All the time he fed the hen diligently in the box, and also for some minutes outside when she came out twice a day. By a regular inspection of the box, when the birds were outside, I was able to observe that in the period from 16th to 31st July the five eggs became darker. One of them had a longish dark spot, and this showed me that the eggs were turned over regularly. On 31st July I had bad luck. I had observed that both the birds were in the outdoor aviary, went quickly down in the birdroom, took the box down, 44 A. V. NIELSEN - BREEDING THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD IN DENMARK opened the lid — and saw the hen sitting on the eggs. Very carefully I closed the lid and placed the box back. Nothing happened, but when I was on my way out from the room and believed that everything was satisfactory, the hen suddenly went out from the box calling loudly. Would she go back in the box ? Yes, after the longest half an hour in my life, I saw her go back in the box and after a while the cock came and fed her as usual. From 4th to 7th August I did not open the box, but on the 8th I observed two young and three eggs in the box. The young were very ugly ; naked, the skin dull, pale yellowish-grey, bills very light and weak-looking, and legs and feet very pale, dull, and transparent. They lay with their necks across one another. Considering the time of incubation they should have been hatched on 3rd and 5th August, which agreed very well with their size and appearance. It would take too much space to give my notes of this period in full, but the following may be of interest : — 1 2th August : two young and three eggs in the box. The young now have a thin, quite short, pale yellow cover of down, which seems to be much lighter than the skin. The upper mandible starts to grow darker at the base on the bigger of the young. 1 6th August : the down of the young now more greyish ; the base of the upper mandible now definitely darker in both young. They have grown somewhat and lay with the necks across one another. 1 8th August : two young with a quite dense layer of grey down and quite small, dark dots on wings and rump. The bigger one tries to stand erect, and climbs upon the smaller one, but drops down im¬ mediately. Both are on the move all the time. 2 1 st August : both the young stand upright in the box. The bigger one is very lively, tries to climb up in a corner, and spreads the wings, which now have short, dark grey flights. Dark grey, almost black tail feathers are growing ; upper mandibles are black at the base, and the legs dark grey. The smaller youngster is also very lively, but is always bottommost and cannot free himself from the bigger one, which climbs upon him in the corner of the box. The parents feed them industriously, the young are very well fed, but begging or feeding sounds are not heard. The consumption of mealworms is about 490-500 a day. 22nd August : Walter Langberg has seen both the young to-day. They now have grey feathers on the body, a very faint reddish suffusion on the head, and some grey in the wing feathers. 28th August : Dr. Holger Poulsen (Curator of Birds in the Copenhagen Zoo) and Albrecht-Moller (President of the Danish Cage-bird Society) saw both the young to-day. The young are now definitely (bluish) green on body and wings and have a faint reddish suffusion on the head and tail. 30th August : the young lively. The parent birds have taken a bath A. V. NIELSEN - BREEDING THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD IN DENMARK 45 in the outside aviary. It is the very first time that the birds have taken a bath in all the time we have had them. They were so wet that we could hardly recognize them. 2nd September : the young lively, but hide their heads when I open the box. They nibble at my fingers when I take them in the hand. They are now all green, foreheads and throats only having a reddish suffusion ; the colour markings in the tails are clearly visible. Upper mandible quite black at the base. I took a colour picture of them in the box. 13th September : the bigger young one left the box to-day. He flew very well, but quickly became tired, so I put him back in the box at noon, where he stayed for the rest of the day. 14th September : the bigger young one in the outside aviary all the day, but cannot find his way back to the birdroom. 15th September : the smaller young one left the nest at 6.44. His flight is heavy, but he manoeuvres very well and lands excellently on branches and the window. The father feeds the smaller young one eagerly, but the bigger one has to beg for food. 20th September : the bigger young one very well developed ; flies with the parents, takes a bath with the father in the outside aviary. The smaller one flies more carefully and cannot find his way in from the outside flight. 30th September : the smaller young one still cannot find his way in from the outside flight. Its flight is heavy and it is obviously well fed. It has some green lesser wing-coverts and is probably a hen. The bigger young one takes food himself from all the different receptacles and flies as well as the parents. Both the young resemble the parent birds with the following exceptions : the young are orange-yellow where the parents are orange-red. The beaks of the young are black at the base, the upper mandible being black at the inner part of the back of the bill and light horn yellow at the point. 7th October : the young have now been out from the nest twenty- five and twenty-three days respectively. The smaller one has, for the first time, found its way back in the birdroom. On 1 5th October, 1961 : both the young have been on the perch for more than a month. I would add that the three eggs not hatched in the last clutch turned out to be clear. The preceding notes are now about two years old and subsequently one of the young — the oldest, a male — was shown at the Danish Cage-bird Society Exhibition, 1962. I did not show more than one of the young in order not to lose both of them if bad luck should happen, but he got the greatest challenge cup and some other prizes in his class and went home in good condition, though he was plainly displeased at sitting alone in an aviary for a few days. The pullaria female laid a new clutch of five eggs in February, 1963. 46 G. EVERITT - BREEDING THE PALE-VENTED ROBIN They were unfortunately all clear and I got an impression that the male was, by then, too old. Unfortunately this was probably true, for without any sign of disease he died in June, 1963. His previous owner got him as a not quite young bird about 1952, and the little bird must anyway have attained an age of about twelve to thirteen years, maybe even more. Now the son and his mother seem to take an interest in each other. Every night they sit close on a fixed perch and the younger sister roosts alone. During the day, however, the brother and sister keep together much of the time, and the “ older ” brother will at any time be ready to put up a brave defence if he considers that some danger might appear or threaten his little sister. This breeding has been admitted as the first in Denmark and been awarded the Danish Cage-bird Society’s ( Foreningen For FuglevenneF s) silver medal (even a gold-wreathed one on account of the rareness of the breed) . * * * BREEDING THE PALE-VENTED ROBIN By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N.J., U.S.A.) Whilst in Ecuador in January, 1961, Mr. Boehm collected two pairs of brown, thrush-like birds, merely identified to him at that time as South American Brown Thrushes. This vague classification did not deter him for their sweet, low, musical song had captivated his ear. On arrival back at the Titusville aviaries they were accommodated in the cage-room, where they soon made their sexes known, not only by their song but by the antagonism of the males towards each other. Several attempts were made to identify them generically but, beyond final¬ izing as to their family, no definite decision as to their genus was made. The sexes are so similar that one description will suffice. Above they are dark russet-brown, slightly darker on the lores and ear-coverts. The wings also are brown, with the wing-coverts and innermost secondaries dark ochraceous-brown, the same colour as the tail. The upper breast is pale ochraceous-brown, fading to ochraceous- white on the centre of the belly. The chin and throat are of a similar colouring to the upper breast, except that they bear faint brown streaks. The under tail-coverts are whitish, with ochraceous edges. The flanks and thighs are pale brown. The under wing-coverts are a rich ochraceous-brown with the inner edges of the wing quills pale chestnut. The legs and feet are dark brown, as is the bill. They are about 9 inches in total length. It was not until early 1963 that their identification finally was shown to be the Pale-vented Robin, Turdus fumigatus ohsoletus, one of the races of the Sabian Thrush, Turdus f. fumigatus , of the interior of tropical C. EVERITT - BREEDING THE PALE- VENTED ROBIN 47 South America. The nominate race is confined to east of the Andes, but several other forms, including the Pale-vented Robin, range to the southern Lesser Antilles, to Costa Rica, and down the western side of the Andes to Ecuador. However, to retrace our steps to 1961 when the birds were originally received. They were released into outdoor aviaries in April that year, one pair to a small aviary of 16 by 20 feet and the other to a larger one of some 60 by 30 feet. The first-mentioned pair settled down immedia¬ tely and, early in May, the female was observed to be constructing a nest in a hemlock tree. It was a typical thrush nest, the outer casing being bound with mud, with an inner lining of soft, fine grasses. Three eggs were laid over the period 1 4th to 1 6th May, of which two hatched on 2nd and 3rd June, the other egg being clear. The eggs closely resembled those of the European Blackbird, having a ground colouring of pale blue, mottled, marked, and streaked with light brown. The markings were evenly distributed with no greater concentration in any one place than another. They measured 29 by 2 1 • 5 mm. The incubation, which began with the laying of the last egg, was shared, as was the feeding of the nestlings. These were pale-skinned with pale yellow-brown fluff on the top of the head and down the middle of the back. Their gapes were pink, margined in bright yellow. The rearing food in the early days consisted entirely of live-food in the form of mealworms, supplied hourly, and any insects the parents foraged for themselves in the aviary. Development was steady, their eyes being open and quills showing in their wings at seven days old. On 20th June, with one seventeen and the other eighteen days old, they vacated the nest. The plumage of the fledgelings was dark brown on the upper parts, including the wings, the throat and upper chest being brownish-white mottled with dark brown. The remainder of the underparts was clear brownish- white. Within two days of their leaving the nest the parents started to feed them fruit and raw ground beef in addition to the live- food, the fledgelings finally attaining independence at thirty-two days old. Full adult plumage was not obtained until they were some six months old. The pair placed in the larger aviary also reared a brood of two, these being hatched in July, and independent by late August. As with the first pair, there were three eggs in this clutch also, but only two were fertile. It may appear to be a little tardy to write-up a report on a breeding that took place over two years ago but, unless one has cause to be fairly sure of the identity of the species, there seems to be little purpose in just describing a sequence of events in respect of the breeding of an un¬ identified bird . Not having come across any reports on the breeding of this species in captivity, it is felt that the above information on the nestlings, fledgelings, and adult birds might be of interest to other aviculturists. 48 R. AIUTO - SEX-LINKED COLOUR INHERITANCE IN THE ZEBRA FINCH SEX-LINKED COLOUR INHERITANCE IN THE ZEBRA FINCH By Russell Aiuto (the University of North Carolina, U.S.A.) To date, most of what is known about inheritance in birds has been confined to the three relatively lower avian orders, Galliformes, Anseriformes, and Columbiformes. The first two groups have been of interest mainly because of their economic significance, the last because of ease with which antigen inheritance in hybrids can be studied. Apart from some studies dealing with mendelian inheritance in American Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers (Morse, 1926 ; Parker, 1951), studies in natural hybridization in Towhees (Sibley, 1954, 1957) and in some tropical species (Williamson, 1957, and others), and two studies of merit on the inheritance of mask colour in Gouldian Finches (Southern, 1945 ; Murray, 1963), systematic breeding experiments in the Passeriformes have been neglected by geneticists. Thus, it is necessary to turn to the avicultural literature in order to compile a satisfactory amount of information. The Zebra Finch, so well studied by many aviculturists, is, genetically speaking, the best known species of foreign bird. Members of the Zebra Finch Society, notably P. A. Pope, C. H. Rogers, and many others, have made this species an admirable subject for intensive genetic research. Therefore, in an effort to link even more closely together the related fields of aviculture and genetics, and to recognize the many contribu- j tions that these noted aviculturists have made directly or indirectly to : the field of avian genetics, discussions of systematized breeding experi- 1 ments with foreign birds are needed. This paper hopes to do this by : (i) formally presenting in conventional genetic terms the mutants known in the Zebra Finch, and, (ii) reporting on present studies now being carried on at this institution on the two sex-linked mutants in this species. A. Mutants in the Zebra Finch The first goal is essentially achieved by the presentation in Table 1. Presumptuously, symbols have been assigned for each mutant (as is : the convention among geneticists) since, to my knowledge, this has not previously been done. Should these meet with the approval of noted Zebra Finch fanciers, the suggestion is made that these symbols become the standard notations used in reporting genetic investigations. The consistent use of standard symbols has been found to make for precise communication, and the great bodies of Drosophila and Neurospora literature attest to this fact. i It is helpful to point out that the symbols in Table 1 refer to mutant ' genes, and not necessarily to how the birds look. With this in mind, the ; Cream Zebra Finch is not the result of a single mutant gene, but the R. AIUTO - SEX-LINKED COLOUR INHERITANCE IN THE ZEBRA FINCH 49 phenotype resulting from the interaction of genes which separately would cause Fawn and Silver Zebra Finches. Therefore, by my notation, a Cream male would be DDff or Ddff in constitution, i.e. genotypically. Table i. — Mutants of the Zebra Finch Mutant phenotypes. Symbol. Action. Male Female genotypes. White w recessive w/w w/w Pied ... P recessive P/P p/p Penguin . Pg recessive Pg/Pg pg pg Blue b recessive b/b b/b Silver D Dominant DID D/D Fawn sex-linked D/d f/f D/d f/o Chestnut-flanked cfw recessive sex-linked cfw /cfw cfw/ 0 White recessive B. Genetic Terminology It may be helpful to define some of the terms glibly used by geneticists so that future discussions of inheritance of birds will be clearly understood. In the case of birds, unlike mammals, females are said to be the heterogametic sex , since females have both an X and a Y chromosome while males have both sex chromosomes of the X type, i.e. are homogametic. This would mean, then, that sex-linked inheritance is actually “ X-linked ” inheritance — mutant genes on the X-chromo- some (the Y in most known cases does not carry any factors, but plays a role in sex determination) cause certain recognizable traits. If this mutant gene is recessive, or “ masked ” in its expression by the presence of a wild-type or “ normal ” partner (usually symbolized with a “ -j- ”), then a male exhibiting this mutant trait would require to have the mutant gene present in both X-chromosomes in order for the mutant to be recognized, or, in other words, be homozygous. If one X-chromosome carries the mutant and the other the wild-type gene, the male is said to be heterozygous , and cannot be distinguished from a wild- type male. Since the female has only a single X-chromosome and does not have a “ partner ”, the presence of a recessive X-linked mutant gene will always be recognized. All females are said to be hemizygous. When speaking of pairs of genes or “ gene partners ”, we are actually referring to what geneticists call alleles. Instances are known in birds (Asmundson, 1947) where different forms of a mutant are known. Thus, if it can be established that more than one mutant gene can be at the same locus of a chromosome, we say that we are dealing with multiple alleles. Obviously, no more than two alleles can be present in any one individual male. In the case of X-linked mutant alleles in females, only one of the alleles can be present in any one individual. 50 R. AIUTO - SEX-LINKED COLOUR INHERITANCE IN THE ZEBRA FINCH One other pertinent distinction should be made. All birds (and most animals) are said to have two kinds of chromosome sets which show two different kinds of inheritance. As mentioned, the X and Y chromosomes are sex chromosomes ; all others are present in the organism in pairs and are known as autosomes. Therefore, if a mutant gene is carried auto- somally, the method of inheritance is the same, whether transmitted through a male parent or a female parent. However, in X-linked inheritance, a daughter always receives its X-chromosome from its j father and its Y-chromosome from its mother ; a son receives one of its X-chromosomes from its father and the other from its mother. An I examination of Figures i and 2 will illustrate this difference. Ease in using these concepts requires careful study over a period of time. But, since this information is available and universally used by 1 scientists, it would be disappointing for intelligent aviculturists who 1 deal with equally subtle concepts to dismiss genetic terminology as I bothersome, and to continue with the less precise avicultural termi¬ nology. Investigation of the X-Linked Mutants. Having been an aviculturist for some time on a modest scale, and having had some brief experience with the successful breeding of ; relatively dundasi and z . woolundra should be incorporated into the nominate race. It is true that the influence of z* semitorquatus may be obvious in both races, but these populations resemble z> zonarius in having yellow on the abdomens. This characteristic is the distinguishing feature, because the red frontal band is completely variable even within the birds of the south¬ western coastal forests and is often displayed as a sexual difference. Neither z . woolundra nor £. dundasi is constant in its properties and hence cannot be considered as a valid race. As each population has the characteristic yellow on the abdomen, variable in size as it may be, each must be placed in the appropriate subspecies, which is z- zonarius . A. J. Campbell collected specimens of the Port Lincoln Parrot at Champion Bay, Western Australia, in 1889 and noticed that, although they resembled the typical birds of South Australia, they were smaller in size and much duller in colour. These specimens were forwarded to Salvadori but he identified them as belonging to the nominate race. In 1893 two specimens taken near Roebourne, north-western Australia J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 63 in 1889 were referred to A. J. North as immature B. z- zonarius. On comparing these skins with those of the typical race in the Australian Museum, North decided that they were, in fact, a distinct subspecies. He therefore tabulated Barnardius zonarius occidentalis with a female from Roebourne as the type. The smaller size and strong dilution of plumage were the distinguishing features. This dullness in colour is particularly noticeable in the blue of the lower ear-coverts and in the lemon-yellow of the abdomen. The vent is also lemon-yellow instead of greenish- yellow. The range of this acceptable race is north-western Australia. From a bird taken at East Murchison, Western Australia, Mathews described Barnardius zonarius connectens as the race inhabiting the Murchison River district of W.A. It was reported to differ from Z. occidentalis in having a darker rump and abdomen. These characters were actually far too absolute in the description, as they are completely variable in this population, which is intermediate between £. zonarius and z- occidentalis. This lack of uniformity in its plumage renders this subspecies unacceptable and it should be dismissed. General Discussion Barnardius zonarius enjoys a very widespread range, being found from Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, north to Tennant Creek, across the southern part of Australia to the south-western coastal areas and north along the immediate west coast to Onslow, W.A. Throughout this range the bird is quite common and in some areas almost reaches plague proportions. As may be expected with such a vast distribution, all types of country ranging from arid Mulga and Myall areas to dense coastal forests are inhabited by this species. All B. zonarius , irrespective of plumage, inhabiting Western Australia are known in that state as Twenty-eight Parrots. This name originated from the phonetic translation of the call of B. z. semitorquatus . This call is more or less restricted to the birds of the forest areas of the south-west. These birds, the true £. semitorquatus , are found south-west of a line from Perth to just west of Albany. In this paper the name Twenty-eight Parrot refers to the “ all-green ” bird from this restricted humid zone. Whenever the Port Lincoln Parrot is met with in the field one seems to obtain the opinion that it is a very strong species and is much superior to the other member of the genus. One of the foremost reasons for this impression is the adaptability of the species regarding habitat. It is plentiful in the rich coastal forests, in the semi-arid Eucalyptus dominant wheat-growing areas, in the arid Heath, Mulga, and Acacia regions, and in the very dry, sparsely vegetated spinfex country in the north of Western Australia. In all these regions the bird is plentiful and is maintaining its numbers. Generally observed in pairs or small flocks, this splendid parrot 64 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA impresses the field observer as one of the most striking of Australia’s birds. The black head bordered by a vivid yellow collar stands out strongly against the natural surroundings making the bird somewhat easy to observe. Unlike B. harnardi it is quite a noisy species and this also tends to further simplify its detection. The birds are usually found feeding on the ground or in the branches of trees and shrubs. When disturbed they call excitedly and proceed to investigate the danger before flying away. When in flight the brilliant green of the body and the deep blue on the primaries are exhibited to perfection. The flight is undulating and comparatively swift. The wings are left extended between beats as the bird flies close to the ground. When alighting the tail is fanned as with the other broadtails. The Twenty- eight Parrot often flies at a considerable height over the topmost branches of the tall forest trees. The usual call of the Port Lincoln Parrot is a high-pitched whistle note repeated several times in quick succession. It is of a slightly higher pitch than that of B. barnardi. B. z • semitorquatus also has a three note call with the last note of a higher pitch than the first two. This call resembles the words “ twenty-eight ” and is responsible for this vernacular appellation being given to the race. A harsh screech-like call is given when alarmed, while a soft chattering will often be emitted when feeding. Undoubtedly one of the major properties permitting the wide range of habitats is the adaptation this species shows in its feeding habits. The birds of the inland drier regions feed on seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants, while the inhabitants of the south-west forest area show a marked preference for fruits of Eucalyptus and other native trees. The stomach and crop contents of the afore-mentioned birds collected by the author at Balladonia and Dowerin, W.A., consisted of eucalyptus seeds, small grass seeds, and some vegetable matter. Three specimens collected in Central Australia in 1935 had small grass seeds, vegetable matter, and grit in their crops. On the other hand the crops of the two specimens of B. z- semitorquatus mentioned above contained vegetable matter, pieces of Eucalyptus fruit, pieces of berries from the White Cedar Tree ( Melia azederach ) and a few small grass seeds. This preference for succulent fruits and berries has been illustrated by all observations carried out on the feeding of the Twenty-eight Parrot. Robinson (i960) gives a detailed account of these birds feeding on the fruit of the Marri (. Eucalyptus calophylla) . They attack the fruit when about half ripe and tear it apart with their powerful bills. They also remove the outer covering of the fruit just prior to its ripening. Unlike the Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) B. z . semitorquatus is not interested in the hardened bowl-like ripe nuts. The Twenty-eight Parrot is also very quick to investigate the food value of all non-indigenous plants. Grapes, melons, apples, almonds, and citrus fruits are all consumed in Avicult. Mag, Copyright ] [/. Warham Female Port Lincoln Parrot Emerging from the Nesting Hollow [To face p. 64 Avicult. Mag, To face p. 65 Copyright ] [/. M. Forshaw Salmon Gum and Scrub Country Near Balladonia, Western Australia : Haunt of Barnardius zonarius J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 65 large quantities, thus necessitating the destruction of many birds by orchardists and farmers. It rivals the lorikeets in the quantity of nectar consumed while the gums are in flower. The flowers are crushed in the bill and the nectar thus obtained consumed. One specimen, collected from a flock feeding on the flowers of a Karri ( Eucalyptus diversicolor ) , gave a flow of nectar from the bill when held up by the feet. These noisy large green birds with their black heads and brilliant yellow collars present an unforgettable sight when observed feeding in numbers in a large flowering tree. Generally to be considered a resident species, the Port Lincoln Parrot is subject to some movement in the inner areas. This movement is governed by the availability of water. As the dry period approaches, the birds of the desert and sandhill country of the inland regions retreat to the large rock-holes which hold water throughout the year. In other areas they will often travel long distances each day to drink. With the possible exception of B. z- semitorquatus, the Port Lincoln Parrot is not an easy bird to sex. Immatures and females are generally duller than the males, particularly in the black of the head. Immatures are usually distinguishable in the difference of the upper mandible. The female has a narrow pointed mandible while that of the male is broad and rounded. However, this difference becomes less noticeable as the birds mature. The Twenty-eight Parrot is somewhat easier to sex, the males being very large birds with a flat head and a massive broad bill, while the female has a small rounded head and narrow pointed bill. The male of this race almost invariably possesses a vivid crimson frontal band while those of the females and immatures are considerably reduced in both extent and intensity. With the other races the red on the forehead is completely variable, but most immatures show at least a few red feathers. The “ wing-stripe 55 is of little importance with this species. All immature females show the stripes but the majority of males do not have it. It is absent in all adult males and most mature females. This species differs markedly from B. barnardi in the loss of the “ wing-stripe ”. As would be expected the mating display resembles very closely that of the Mallee Ringneck Parrot. The male bows slightly before the female and raises the wings in the folded position. The tail is fanned and moved from side to side in a most agitated manner. The head is often bobbed up and down accompanied by a constant chattering call. As the breeding season approaches much fighting and arguing breaks out as pairs seek nesting sites and set up breeding territories. August and September reward the observer with records of feverish activity as the birds inspect prospective nesting hollows. Every hollow limb and hole in the branches of Eucalyptus trees is inspected by the homeseekers. The parrot will poke his head into the entrance to the hollow and if it has possibilities he will enter for a careful examination. 66 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA These actions are accompanied by much noisy chattering and tail- wagging. On selecting a suitable nesting hollow the birds set about preparing it for the laying of the eggs. The bottom is lined with powder-fine decayed wood and a shallow excavation is made for the eggs. The hollow itself may be in a dead or living tree and at varying heights from the ground. In favourable seasons, when a very high nesting population is evident, hollows in stumps and fence posts are used. During his recent travels through the Western Australian wheat-belt areas the author noticed the large numbers of hollows in the Salmon Gums ( Eucalyptus salmonophloia) . It was readily perceived that this ample supply of nesting sites was available almost entirely to the Port Lincoln and Regent ( Polytelis anthopeplus) Parrots. With the absence of the introduced Starling ( Sturnus vulgaris) and House Sparrow ( Passer domesticus) these parrots are at a distinct advantage and this lack of formidable opposition in finding nesting sites undoubtedly contributes largely to the abundance of these psittacines. Four to seven, usually five, pure white eggs are laid. These are rounded oval in shape with a fine texture and a glossy surface. However, this glossy surface is quickly lost through nest staining. An egg with the measurements i • 21 in. x 0*93 in. would be average. The eggs of B. z • semitorquatus are slightly larger, the average measurements being 1 • 24 in. X i*o in. The female commences incubation after the laying of the second egg. She sits for approximately three weeks before the eggs hatch. During this time the male usually roosts in a nearby tree ready to give warning of any danger. He is joined by his mate for short periods in the early morning and late afternoon when food and water are taken. White down covers the newly-hatched nestlings. During the first few days the young are very closely brooded by the female, but as they progress the cock assumes his share of domestic duties. The young leave the nest approximately five weeks after hatching and remain with their parents. After leaving the nest and while learning to fend for themselves the new arrivals are fed regurgitated food by their parents. As to be expected young birds and family parties may be observed at varying times of the year throughout the different regions. The usual breeding season for the southern and central populations extends from August to February, and if conditions are favourable two broods will be reared. Birds from the northern extremities of the range generally commence breeding as early as June or July. Because of its abundance in the natural state, the Port Lincoln Parrot is not often bred in captivity in this country. However, it is kept successfully in many overseas countries and appears to be a more satisfactory species than the Mallee Ringneck Parrot. New arrivals should, of course, be carefully guarded against chills, but once settled J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 67 down they are very hardy and should thrive given suitable conditions. As with B. barnardi this species is very pugnacious towards other birds and spends much time tearing apart perches and any timber framework in the aviary. B. z- semitorquatus is by far the worst offender in both spheres. In Western Australia this bird is commonly kept in cages because of its whistling capabilities. Nestlings are then hand-reared, but as they mature they become fearless in their disposition and quite hostile. Hand-reared birds seldom make satisfactory breeding stock for an aviary. The diet of captive birds should be a well balanced composition of seeds, fruit, and green food. The seed mixture recommended is sunflower seeds, oats, wheat, plain canary seed, and millet in the proportions of 2 : 1 : 1 : 2 : 1, while maize (corn) will be eaten by most birds. Fruit in the form of apples, grapes, oranges, and cherries should be offered regularly. Berries from shrubs such as Pyracantha and Hawthorn will be appreciated, while a daily supply of twigs and leaf-bearing branches will satisfy the bird’s whittling desires. This species will often accept mealworms and aviculturists should experi¬ ment with this. A plentiful supply of green food and grit should be maintained. For breeding purposes a pair of B. zonarius should be placed in a separate flight, which is far removed from any aviary containing other members of the Platycercinae. A choice of nesting logs and boxes should be encouraged and once nesting has commenced the birds should be disturbed only when necessary. If the female commences to sit on a second clutch of eggs the young of the first nest should be removed from the aviary as soon as possible. Hybridization involving this species is comparatively rare both in the natural state and in aviculture. Hybrids with Barnardius barnardi and the Platycercus sp. are most frequently bred in captivity. There are records of inter-subspecific breeding but these are of little importance. Whether observed rising from the borders of an outback country road, flying through the giant Jarrah ( Eucalyptus marginata ) trees, feeding on a spinifex covered sand dune, roosting in a Mallee Gum, or strutting through the stubble of a recently harvested wheat crop, the Port Lincoln Parrot presents a striking contrast against the surroundings. A vivacious manner further enhances this bird’s appeal and makes Barnardius zonarius one of the most impressive of “ the parrots of Australia BIBLIOGRAPHY Alexander, W. B. “ The Birds of the Swan River District, Western Australia,” The Emu, Vol. 20, No. 3, 1921. Gain, A. J. “ A Revision of Some Parrots ”, The Ibis, Vol. 97, No. 3, 1955. Campbell, A. J. Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, Part II, 1901. 68 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA Carter, T. “ Remarks and Notes on Some Western Australian Birds ”, The Emu , Vol. 21, No. i , 1921. Cayley, N. W. Australian Parrots, 1938. Condon, H. T. “ A Handlist of the Birds of South Australia ”, The South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 23, Parts 6-8, 1962. - “ The Australian Broad-tailed Parrots ”, Records of South Aust. Museum, Vol. 7, pp. 117-14U I94i- Jenkins, C. F. “ The Genus Barnardius ”, The Emu, Vol. 30, No. 4, 1931. Kinghorn, J. R. “ Barnardius occidentalis North and its Allies ”, The Emu, Vol. 29, No. 1, 1929. Lea, A. M., and Gray, J. T. “ The Food of Australian Birds, Part II ”, The Emu, Vol. 35, No. 1, 1935. Lendon, A. H. “ The ‘ Wing-Stripe ’ as an Indication of Sex and Maturity in the Australian Broad-tailed Parrots ”, Avicult. Mag., 5th Series, Vol. 6, No. 5, I94I* • - Australian Parrots in Captivity , 1951. Mathews, G. M. “ A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia ”, Novitates fjoologicae, Vol. 18, No. 3, 1912. - “ Barnardius zonarius woolundra, subsp. nov.”, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club, Vol. 40, No. 245, 1919-20. - Systema Avium Australasianarum, 1927. McGilp, J. N. “ Birds of the Musgrave Ranges ”, The Emu, Vol. 34, No. 3, 1935. - “ Bird Life West of Oodnadatta, South Australia ”, The South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 17, Part 1, 1944. Mees, G. F. “ An Annotated Catalogue of a Collection of Bird-Skins from West Pilbara, Western Australia ”, Journal of The Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 44, Part 4, 1961. Nicholls, E. G. “ A Trip to the West ”, The Emu, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1905. North, A. J. “ Description of a New Species of Parrakeet, of the Genus Platycercus, from North-West Australia ”, Records of the Australian Museum, Vol. 2, No. 5, 1893. Peters, J. L. A Check-List of the Birds of the World, Vol. Ill, 1937. Prestwich, A. A. Records of Parrots Bred in Captivity, 1 950-52. Quoy et Gaimard. Voyage de V Astrolabe, foologie, Vol. 1 , p. 237, 1830. R.A.O.U. “ Eighth Supplement to the Official Checklist of the Birds of Australia ”, The Emu, Vol. 60, No. 2, i960. Robinson, A. “ The Importance of the Marri as a Food Source to South-Western Australian Birds ”, The Western Australian Naturalist, Vol. 7, No. 5, i960. Sedgwick, E. H. “ Bird Movements in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia ”, The Western Australian Naturalist, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1949. Serventy, D. L., and Whittell, H. M. Birds of Western Australia, 3rd Edition, 1962. Shaw, G., and Nodder, E. “ The Zoned Parrot ”, Naturalist's Miscellany, Vol. 16, 1804-05. White, S. A. “ Scientific Notes on an Expedition Into the North-Western Regions of South Australia, (d) Aves ”, Transactions and Proceedings of Royal Society of South Australia, Vol. 39, p. 745, 1915. - — — Field Ornithology in South Australia ”, The Emu, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1912. - - “ Four Ornithological Trips to the Nullabor Plains ”, The Emu, Vol. 18, No. 3, I9I9* Whittell, H. M., and Serventy, D. L. A Systematic List of the Birds of Western Australia, 1948. * ❖ ❖ Avicult. Mag, To face p. 69 Chaffinch ( Fringilla coelebs) with Scaly Legs. H. POULSEN - SCALY-LEGS IN CAPTIVE BIRDS 69 SCALY-LEGS IN CAPTIVE BIRDS By Holger Poulsen, (Curator of Birds at Copenhagen Zoological Gardens, Denmark) “ Scaly-legs ” is a well-known disease in domestic fowls and it also occurs among cage birds. Recently attention has been called to this foot-abnormality among wild birds (cf. Herman et al., 1962; MacDonald, 1962). This foot-disease is caused by mites of the genus Cnemidocoptes which live in the skin of the bird’s leg. There is excessive proliferation of the epithelium with formation of white crusts \ which raises the scales. We have had much trouble with this disease in a big outdoor aviary in which we keep a collection of native Danish seed-eating passerines. Now and then a bird is observed with thickened white crusts on one or both legs, sometimes found both on tarsus and toes. The extent and position of the lesions associated with cnemidocoptic mange vary. They usually start immediately below the feathers and progress to cover the entire tarsus and foot. Sometimes as a result of this condition the bird might lose one or more toes or the whole foot. In most cases the disease is observed in the beginning of its appearance, but it is not easy always to discover the first stage of the disease. A more advanced condition of the disease is discovered by the peculiar way the birds are sitting on the branches. They are sitting as if they feel cold on their feet, in a very low position, covering their feet with their belly feathers. Two infected Bramblings ( Fringilla montifringilla) were killed and submitted to professor M. Christiansen at the Royal Veterinary College, Copenhagen, who made a microscopic examination and found mites which he identified as Cnemidocoptes mutans. This mite is the cause of scaly-legs in poultry. Not all species which we keep in this aviary seem to be prone to this disease. It is mostly found in the Chaffinch (. Fringilla coelebs), Brambling (. Fringilla montifringilla ), Bullfinch ( Pyrrhula pyrrhula) , European Siskin ( Carduelis spinus) , Redpoll ( Carduelis flammea) , Twite ( Carduelis flavirostris) , Linnet ( Carduelis cannabina) and Skylark ( Alauda arvensis). Curiously enough it has not been found in the Yellowhammer ( Emberiza citrinella ), Snow Bunting (. Plectrophenax nivalis ), Greenfinch ( Chloris chloris) and Goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis) which are in the same aviary. As it is a very contagious disease, we watch the birds frequently to discover new cases, and the aviaries are cleaned very often and new branches put in. If the bird has been found in a not too advanced stage of the disease we have treated the sick birds by rubbing or painting the infected parts with salicyl-oil about every second day for some time. After some weeks the bird recovers again and has normal feet. BIBLIOGRAPHY Herman, C. M.s Locke, L. N., and Clark, G. M., 1962. Foot Abnormalities of Wild Birds. Bird Banding , 33, p. 191-8. Macdonald, J. W., 1962. Chaffinch with Cnemidocoptic mange. British Birds, 55, P-42I- 7° C. EVERITT — BREEDING THE NATAL ROBIN BREEDING THE NATAL ROBIN By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N. J., U.S.A.) A most colourful bird, with its rich cinnamon-rufous and slate-grey, the Natal Robin, Cossypha natalensis natalensis, also known as the Red- capped Robin Chat, is to be found over a wide area in Africa, ranging from the Sudan and Abyssinia, in the Congo and Angola, down into Southern Rhodesia, Transvaal, and Natal. Normally with a species with such a wide distribution, sub-species are designated from the various regions, but the only one of which I am aware is the race in the Kenya Colony, the Cossypha n. intensa. However, it is with the nominate race that I am here concerned. It is about 7 to 8 inches in total length and the sexes are very similar. The adult male has a cap of cinnamon-brown, the mantle being of the same colour except that it is finely marked with slate. The wings are slate-blue and the sides of the face, the rump, and the entire underparts are rich cinnamon-rufous. The tail also, except for the central feathers, is cinnamon-rufous, those feathers and the edges of the outer tail feathers being black. The female is slightly paler on the underparts and often is smaller also, but the variations are so slight that to sex accurately an individual bird by coloration and size alone would be very debatable. They both have a pleasing song, the male’s being stronger and more varied, and their powers of mimicry are amazing. They can pick up the tune of a human whistle and seem happy in partaking in a call and reponse session. Further, they have a certain limited ventriloquial gift which can be very confusing when trying to locate them by sound alone. A true pair of these birds was received by Mr. Boehm from East Africa in September, i960. After a period in the acclimatisation room they were placed in a planted aviary that, at that time, housed pairs each of Fairy Blue Birds, Bronzy Sunbirds, Blacksmith Plovers, and Golden-backed Woodpeckers. This was early in 1961 and, later in the year, the two last-named species were removed to other quarters. The remaining six birds were very harmonious one to the other, but no movements in the way of going to nest were made by any of them during that year, nor the following. However, in May, 1963, the Fairy Blue Bird female started to build a nest in a hemlock on one side of the aviary. At the same time the Bronzy Sunbirds began to construct a hanging nest in a crab-apple tree on the other side. To avoid any clashing between the two nest-building species, it was decided to divide the aviary in two, thus restricting their area to 16 by 20 feet, the Natal Robins being left in with the Sunbirds . The fact that the Fairy Blue Birds went on with their good work is recorded in the article on their breeding in Avicult. Mag., Vol. 70, No. 1, p. 18. The Bronzy C. EVERITT - BREEDING THE NATAL ROBIN 71 Sunbirds also finished their nest and laid, but the chick that hatched was not reared to maturity. It was in July that the female Natal Robin was seen carrying nesting material but, being very shy and retiring birds, immediately anyone approached they used to disappear into the trees and shrubs. Although all these were examined carefully, no signs of a nest under construction could be found. It was not until i ith July, when the first egg was laid, that the nest was discovered, for the female was seen to leave a hole, about 8 feet above ground level, in a hollow tree-stump originally placed in the aviary for the benefit of the Woodpeckers mentioned earlier. It was only with the aid of a flashlight that the egg and nest could be seen, for the hole was 9 to 10 inches in depth. The nest appeared to be of the open-cup type, resting at the bottom of the hole and made up of dried grasses. Three eggs were laid in all, on successive days, and incubation began with the laying of the last. In the light of the electric hand- torch the eggs appeared to be coffee-coloured but, when an empty shell was picked up later, it could be seen that they were blue, washed with olive-green, and heavily mottled in brown, the basic colour being almost completely obscured. Allowing for the missing cap, it was assessed that they must have measured about 21 by 16 mm. Although it cannot be stated conclusively, it did appear that the incubation was by the female alone, since this was the only bird ever seen to enter or vacate the nest during that period. As she left the nest immediately anyone entered the aviary, it was looked into each morning and, on 27th July, three tiny chicks were to be seen. They appeared to be covered with brown fluff and had bright yellow gapes, margined in orange. Both parents fed the young in the nest, entirely on live-food consisting of moths, insects, and mealworms, the male, if anything, doing the major portion although he never stayed to brood the nestlings, this being done by the female. Their eyes were open at six days old and brown feathering, mottled with black, began to form on their backs but, owing to the fact that they huddled close together in the bottom of the nest as soon as the light was turned on to them, it was not possible to get really definite details of this feathering- up in the nest. At twelve days old, on 8th August, all three vacated the nest and it then could be seen that they closely resembled fledgeling European Robins, being yellowish-brown, heavily mottled with black. Their tails, however, small as they were, were bright rufous, the central pair of feathers being black. Although the young birds were kept to the lower branches of the trees by the male Bronzy Sunbird, they progressed rapidly and the parents soon began to feed them ground raw beef in addition to the live-food. By the time they were three weeks old the mottling had started to clear from the underparts and their flight 6 72 J. MALLET — BREEDING OF THE RED-BILLED FRAN COLJN feathers had changed to slate-grey. They were independent at four weeks old and, as the male Sunbird was still as persistent as ever in chasing them around, they were caught up and removed to the cage room. It was interesting to note that, despite the belligerent harassing by the Sunbird, neither parent Natal Robin ever attempted to go to the aid of the young birds, and neither were they themselves ever bothered by the Sunbird. On removal, the young birds were caged separate from each other and full adult plumage was obtained at three months old. At this stage it looks as though they may well be two males and one female. If this proves itself, it will fit in very well with Mr. Boehm’s future breeding plans, for he has one spare adult female and it may be possible, there¬ fore, to breed the third generation without having to recourse to inbreeding. * * * BREEDING OF THE RED-BILLED FRANCOLIN By John Mallet (Curator of Birds, Jersey Zoological Park) In 1962 Mr. Jeremy Mallinson, Deputy Director, returned from a collecting trip to a place 80 miles north of Maun, N’Gamiland, Bee. Prot. Among the many specimens he brought back were three pairs and two female Red-billed Francolins (Chaetopus adspersus), a species not common in zoological collections. A pair of these were presented to the Zoological Society of London, where they proved to be a species new to their collection. They are the size of a partridge, short-tailed, speckled grey all over, with red bills and red legs, and a yellow fleshy circle round the eye. Those at the Jersey Zoological Park (which is now the headquarters of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust) were housed in an aviary, 25 by 8 feet wide, the floor of which is covered with a thick layer of peat. They shared the aviary with a mixed collection of smaller birds and soon settled down well. Their diet consisted of : wheat, Layers pellets, cut maize, bread and milk, hard-boiled egg, diced fruit. They arrived in May, 1962, and courtship between the cocks and the hens was noticed early the following year. The cock bird would puff his feathers out and make short runs around the hen ; actual copulation was not witnessed. The first egg was laid on the 26th February, 1963 : about the size of a bantam’s egg, it was more sharply pointed and was a dull biscuit-brown in colour. It was obvious that the hen bird was not going to sit, so the eggs — six in all — were removed and placed under a Silky. One proved infertile, but the other five hatched successfully after a twenty- two days’ incubation period. The young closely sembled Golden pheasant chicks in colouring and shape. They were re J. J. YEALLAND - LONDON ZOO NOTES 73 fed, to begin with, on chick crumbs with plenty of mealworms, and within a few days hard-boiled egg and chick mash was added to their diet. They also had bread and milk mixed with maw seed and chopped lettuce. At nine days old they started to eat millet and canary seed and at eight to nine weeks seed and Growers pellets. They were kept in a movable wire run on a lawn. As chicks their beaks and feet were brown, but in May they started moulting into their adult plumage and their beaks and legs changed to the adult red. On the 1 8th August it was noticed that the spurs were starting to grow on the young cock birds and by the 28th September the young cocks were displaying and endeavouring to tread the hens. Since then several clutches of eggs have been laid and successfully reared and so we now have a thriving colony of fourteen Red-billed Francolins. In October, 1963, a pair of these were sent in exchange to Rotterdam Zoo. * * * LONDON ZOO NOTES By J. J. Yealland Two species new to the collection have recently been received. These are a pair of Australian White-eyed Duck (. Aythya a. australis) that were bred in the Wildfowl Trust’s collection and a pair of Shelley’s Francolin ( Francolinus s. shelleyi) presented by Mr. J. O. D’eath. There are two races of Aythya australis , one inhabiting Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Guinea and as far westward as eastern Java and the other, which differs in being smaller, lives on Banks Island and “ probably New Caledonia and the New Hebrides ” according to Delacour. There are four races of Francolinus shelleyi in eastern and south-eastern Africa. Other arrivals of particular interest include two Gentoo and three Ringed (Bearded or Chinstrap) Penguins presented by the Captain and ship’s company of H.M.S. Protector and sent by air from Monte¬ video. Mr. Tom Spence presented a pair of Capercaillie, a pair of Picazuro Pigeons, a Naked-eyed Pigeon, an Eastern Turtle Dove and a Lemon Dove. An Osprey, sent from Aden, was rescued from some local people by Chief Technician Haigh of the R.A.F. who kept the bird in the hope of being able to release it later, but its flight feathers had been so badly damaged that this could not safely be done. A Javan Brahminy Kite which attracted some publicity last autumn by its exploits around the Bromley area of Kent has been presented. The owner bought the bird in Singapore and evidently kept it at 74 NEWS AND VIEWS liberty, but from time to time it strayed and visited various farms, including the Keston Foreign Bird Farm. It was blamed for the disappearance of goldfish from garden ponds and as it was, presumably, in some danger of being shot, it was brought here where it lives in the Southern Aviary with another of the same subspecies that was pre¬ sented in 1957. Spotted Eagle-Owls which have bred each Spring since 1959 nested in mid-December and now three chicks are flying. Kenya Eagle-Owls, Black Swans and Cereopsis Geese are nesting and there is one young Black-footed Penguin. * * ❖ BRITISH AVICULTURISTS’ CLUB The eighty-third meeting of the Club was held at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London, W. 2, on Monday, 13th January, 1964, following a dinner at 7 p.m. Chairman : Mr. K. Norris. Members of the Club : Mrs. D. Ashken, A. W. Bolton, Miss K. Bonner, M. K. Boorer, R. D. Chancellor, R. A. Chester, Mrs. W. Duggans, M. D. England, Miss R. Ezra, Mrs. R. Goodman, H. J. Harman, L. W. Hill, F. T. Jones, Dr. S. B. Kendall, Miss E. M. Knobel, J. Kuttner, G. B. Lane, R. F. Marshall, A. A. Prestwich, R. C. J. Sawyer, H. A. Snazle, E. O. Squire. Members of the Club, twenty-three ; guests, seven ; total, thirty. M. D. England showed colour slides to illustrate “ Somewhere in Portugal Due to the very bad weather conditions the attendance was much smaller than anticipated, but those members who made the effort were well-rewarded. * * Arthur Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. * NEWS AND VIEWS The Bronze Medal of the Avicultural Society of South Australia has been awarded to : R. W. McKechnie, for breeding the Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus. E. R. McKechnie, for breeding the White-fronted Honeyeater Gliciphila albifrons. I. Boaden, for breeding the Yellow-fronted Honeyeater Meliphaga plumula. * * * Kenneth Russell writes : “I am pleased to say that I was eventually successful with Sierra (Andean) Parrakeets in 1963. A pair laid eight eggs in a clutch, and hatched and reared six youngsters, all of which NEWS AND VIEWS 75 are good birds. They are quite hardy, and the adults have wintered out, using the nest-box as a dormitory.” * * * Mme. G. Swaenepoel informs me that there is at present a collection of twelve blue Quaker Parrakeets Myiopsitta monachus being offered for sale in Belgium. The price asked is approximately £175 a pair, but the owner wishes to sell the whole collection to one person as he cannot guarantee the sexes. These birds are the descendants of the blues that were in the collec¬ tion of the late M. J. Bruyneel when it was dispersed in 1959. * * * In the last number of the Magazine there was a “ wanted ” advertisement for the red wing-feathers from Touracos. Why are these required ? A crimson animal pigment is found in the wing-feathers of several species of birds of the genera Turacus , Gallirex, and Musophaga. It is closely allied to haemoglobin, but free from iron, and containing over 7 per cent of copper. The turacin is extracted from the feathers and then converted to a porphyrin compound which is of use in medical research. * * * Members may be interested to learn that the Johnson Reprint Corporation, New York, is shortly publishing reprints of the early numbers of the Magazine. The volumes available will be : — Series One, Vols 1-8, 1894-1902. Cloth bound set 120.00 Paper bound set 100.00 Single volumes, paper bound . 12.50 Vols 1-7, 1902-1909. Cloth bound set . 155.00 Paper bound set 140.00 Single volumes, paper bound . 20.00 The address of the British Branch Office is : — Johnson Reprint Co., Ltd., Berkeley Square House, London, W. 1. * * * Attempts to build two five-storey blocks of flats in the garden of Ivy House, North End Road, Golders Green, the London home (19 12-31) of the great ballerina Anna Pavlova have been defeated . The new owners 76 NOTES are the New College of Speech and Drama who intend to preserve the property. I vividly remember Mme. Pavlova because, in anticipation of her return from an Australian tour with a collection of birds, George Hedges (formerly curator to Mme. Lecallier) and I constructed a very elaborate glass aviary within a conservatory. Great was the excitement when, to the accompaniment of popping corks, the birds were even¬ tually liberated from their travelling cages. In the garden there is a miniature lake which used to have a swan. It has often been said that Mme. Pavlova perfected her “ Dying Swan ” dance by studying the movements of the swan. This I have always thought to be fantasy. It is just as likely that the swan, watching Pavlova rehearsing on the terrace, would have gained something from her ! * * * Charles Lucas, President, Avicultural Society of Australia, writes (17th December, 1963) : “ The breeding season is now almost ended here and I have had good results. “ In May I got a nest of three young Hoodeds but unfortunately later lost the hen and one of the young ; the father and the other two young are thriving. The Smokers (Regent) produced a nest of three beautiful young which have been flying for about a month and they are all delightful birds. The Princess have a total of nine young all just out of the logs ; for some reason I lost no less than five in the logs. The Crimson-wings and the Barrabands have not nested to date although being driven by their respective husbands. There is, however, still time for them to go. I have also reared six Splendids and a small tally of Bourkes and Turquoisines. Another pleasing result is nine young Red-faced Parrot Finches. The Spinifex Doves again let me down, after giving me three nests of two each in 1 96 1 . I have also got seven well-grown Silver Pheasants, and the Swinhoe has just started to brood a clutch of seven eggs, after getting nothing from her first round a few weeks ago. The Peach-faced and Nyasa Lovebirds have been breeding all the year round and I have been able to keep several fanciers supplied with these birds for some time now, thereby making a substantial contribution to the seed bill.” A. A. P. * * * NOTES Left- and Right-footedness Equally Prevalent in Halfmoon Parrakeets I have kept between twelve and twenty-four Halfmoon or Orange-fronted Parrakeets (Aratinga c. camcularis and A. c. eburnirostrum ) in captivity for nearly five years and in the course of behavioural studies noted prevalence of footedness. In these birds, either foot may be raised to the head or to the body to be chewed or to scratch, but in a given individual either the right foot or the left is used exclusively for purposes of holding food or any other object to be taken in the mouth. About half the birds are left-footed CORRESPONDENCE 77 and half right. Under no circumstances has an individual been recorded using the 44 wrong ” foot. It is hoped that in the future, when we have successfully bred captives, that studies of the ontogeny of footedness and its neurological bases can be carried out. I should appreciate communications from readers of the Avicultural Magazine concerning their observations of footedness in these and related species of parrots. — Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, Los Angeles 41, California, U.S.A. John William Hardy. * * * CORRESPONDENCE TREATING ’EM ROUGH I feel I must write in answer to Norman McCance’s article 44 Treating ’em Rough.” I have visited many bird fanciers and dealers who keep, and some even breed, birds of all kinds in most unsuitable conditions; some were in filthy surroundings, but looked well I must admit. For one year before coming over here to Jersey Zoo I worked under 44 The Milligans ” learning a lot in the care of pheasants. I feel that if more people were as meticulous in the care of their birds, many would live to a greater age and better success in breeding would be obtained. As for dis¬ couraging novices, if a person is not prepared to give a lot of time and trouble to his birds, he should not keep them. As far as unnecessary hard labour is concerned it was not so, to my mind. Only one bird was ill and whilst I was there it died, but it was not in very good condition when it arrived a few weeks earlier. I for one had to scrub the various dishes. I agree that gallinaceous birds do prefer food off the ground, but I have never known one refuse it out of a dish. The time taken to feed was approximately 40 minutes twice a day. Also I cannot remember seeing any stale or mouldy food lying on the ground, which if eaten could cause complications. The aviaries were 72 feet long by 18 feet wide. Each one contained a large shed and several bushes, including a large larch tree. The sheds were very seldom used by the birds, only the more delicate ones were shut in at night in winter. Up to four birds were kept in each aviary, except when the young stock from the rearing field were brought in. The droppings under the roosts were cleared away only when gaining height. During the breeding season, the Milligans worked until dusk caring for the young stock, losing the odd one, but rearing 99 per cent to maturity. I also used the rotorcycle to cut the tall grass, which saved me getting wet searching for eggs. The birds were disturbed as little as possible, usually running to the far end of the aviary away from the machine seeking cover, and then when one-half of the aviary had been cut they were carefully driven to the other end. If the grass was left to grow a bird could die, and perhaps not be noticed for days. Surely this is unhygienic to say the least. May I say the Milligans were very conscientious workers and only asked one to do what they themselves did. J. J. Mallet. Jersey Zoo Park, Trinity, Jersey, Channel Isles. The Editor does not accept responsibility for opinions expressed in articles, notes , or correspondence. THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT & -Cl £ £ 5 K ’to V. <3 O'^ocomoocMOOOO'-'Or^ ^co . . r^oo cowmoooimci oko r- oico co m 51(0 N OICO O 1050 1 a >.-Z jjj'S « 1 1 g,-Ss f.8 .2 o? ti £ .2 n o S® S"1 ft'u b to .S3 9H’-o PHO -r; ^ a I ^ NcS a £3 3 a S $>2 O O .2 co| g o a ■% 0 ^ !> <-> 0-1 O C+H Ct_, C+H .23 G \3 O O O £ J g 8 8 §3 £ C/3 Q (73 C/3 C/3 < H — 5 " = x) s aS 32 u .Eg 5o O) £ ?C n 5-* n « 9 a £ K o ,« h3**> Stansted Wildlife Reserve NORMAN HOUSE . STANSTED 11 AM TO 6-30 PM Exotic birds, wildfowl and animals in beautiful landscape Adults 5/-? Children 2/6, 12 months’ membership £1 The Honorary Secretary, Stansted Wildlife Reserve ( Tel . Stansted 3360) ( 5 miles north of Bishops Stortford ) Open every Sunday & Bank Holidays ★ ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ★ * ¥ ¥ * “ I name ¥ ¥ * * this ¥ ¥ * ¥ Parrot . . .” ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Brief biographies of men and women in whose honour ¥ ¥ commemorative names have been given : together with ¥ ¥ a complete list of parrot-like birds — scientific names with ¥ ¥ their derivations, and English names. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Price 2 is., post free. ¥ ¥ ¥ Arthur A. Prestwich ¥ ¥ ¥ EDENBRIDGE, KENT. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ BOOKS on BIRDS Catalogue on request WHELDON & WESLEY LTD LYTTON LODGE, CODICOTE, Nr. HITCHIN, HERTS. Telephone : Codicote 370. SPECIAL BIRD P FOODS Jt, famous SINCE 1823 Universal Fortifier Perfort BEKFIN fort-Egg and 'ictorial Packet 3 oz. 1/2 4 oz. 1/6 (Insectivorous Colorfort 4 lb. 2/9 4 lb. 2/9 4 lb. 2/9 Red Packet) i lb. 3/- 1 lb. 5/- 1 lb. 5/3 1 lb. 5/3 4 lb. 3/9 1 lb. 5/3 2 lb. 9/3 3| lb. 15/6 3i lb. 15/6 1 lb. 7/3 34 lb. 17/- 3$ lb. 14/9 7 lb. 30/6 7 lb. 30/6 34 lb. 23/- 7 lb. 32/9 7 lb. 14 lb. 28 lb. 27/6 50/- 92/- 28 lb. 98/- 14 lb. 28 lb. 52/6 98/- 7 lb. 28 lb. 39/9 154/- 14 lb. 28 lb. 57/6 112/- C.L.O. Rearing and Condition Food HEALTH GRAINS (Condition Seed) 1 lb. 3/3 14 lb. 24/- 3 oz. 1/3 2 lb. 5/9 28 lb. 43/6 1 lb. 5/6 34 lb. 7/9 56 lb. 80/- 34 lb. 16/3 7 lb. 13/9 1 cwt. 150/- 7 lb. 31/- GREENSTUFF A dehydrated form of green food consisting of lettuce, spinach, carrot, etc., readily taken by all birds. Packets 1/3 & 3/10, also sold in bulk. All the above prices are carriage paid MEALWORMS “ MARBA ” DUTCH BRED “ SANTA ” GERMAN BRED (small type) (large type) Whether you prefer the small Dutch mealworm or the larger German type, we can give you the finest service obtainable, with shipments arriving twice weekly. Dispatch guaranteed same day as orders received. 1 OZ. 3/- 2 oz. 5/0 4 oz. 8/6 8 oz. IS/- I lb. 25/- Also in original Boxes as imported Nett weight guaranteed 2 lb. 47/6 3J lb. 66/6 64 lb. £6 5s. Od. AN Carriage Paid. MAGGOTS We sell only the best liver-fed maggots, specially recleaned and ready for immediate use for bird feeding. Packed in bran. No mess or smell. 2 oz. 4 oz. 8 oz. I lb. 3/4 4/6 7/- 10/6 FEEDING SUNDRIES Dried Flies (Chinese) Silkworm pupae (Whole) ,, ,, (Ground) Dried Dragonfly larvae . Dried Shrimp (Fine, Medium, or Coarse) Ant Eggs ..... Pure Dried Egg .... Dried Rowan Berries (Whole) ,, ,, ,, (Crushed) Pure Breadcrumbs (Fine, Medium, or Coarse), far superior to biscuit meal . 2 lb. 3/- ; 4 lb. 5/6 ; 14 lb. 17/6 “ Egg-crumbs,” guaranteed to consist of 90 per cent breadcrumbs and 10 per cent pure egg . . . 2 lb. 5/6 ; 4 lb. 10/6 ; 7 lb. 17/6 ALL ABOVE PRICES ARE POST PAID 4lb. 1 lb. Si- 9/6 3/9 6/6 4/- 6/9 6/6 12/6 2/3 3/6 11/6 21/- 6/6 12/6 2/9 4/6 3/- 4/9 28 lb. 28/- E. W. COOMBS, LTD. CROSS STREET WORKS, CHATHAM, KENT Telephone : Chatham 44969 Telegrams : Avicult, Chatham , Kent When Visiting the COTSWOLDS A VICULTURISTS ARE WELCOME TO Set in the charm oj an old English Garden at the lovely Village oj BOURTON-ON - THE - WATER CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION George A. Bouzigard, i io Delgrandile Lane, Golden Meadow, Louisiana, U.S.A. Proposed by Otis Wade. Peter A. L. Greenhalgh, 127 Manchester Street, Heywood, Lancashire. Proposed by Albert Birtles. Mrs. Meta Heller, P.O. Box 403, Suquamish, Washington, U.S.A. Proposed by Miss K. Bonner. T. J. H. Higgins, 49 Standale Road, Hereford. Proposed by D. W. Beecroft Mrs. N. Howard, Chastleton Kennels & Aviaries, Godsall Wood, Nr. Wolverhamp¬ ton. Proposed by Mrs. Wendy Duggans. Gian Chand Jain, c/o Chemicals, Drhangadhra, Gujerat State, India, Proposed by Sir Godfrey Davis. C. Eugene Knoder, 105 Lyell Street, Monte Vista, Colorado, U.S.A. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. John D. Lindsay, Arlington House, 220 Arlington Road, Camden Town, London, N.W. 1. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. H. Martin, Beacon View, The Avenue, Dunstable, Beds. Proposed by Mrs. Wendy Duggans. John Mayes, The Smallholding, Cash Lane, Eccleshall, Stafford. Proposed by P. L. Wayre. B. V. Ramanjulu, c/o Chemicals, Drhangadhra, Gujerat State, India. Proposed by Sir Godfrey Davis. V. Sausman, 25 a Beniapuker Lane, Calcutta 14, India. Proposed by Charles G. Jones. C. J. Sheath, Winford Waste, Forest Road, Winford, Sandown, I.O.W. Proposed by Miss K. Bonner. Donald C. Stewart, Arnage Castle, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Proposed by Miss K. Bonner. Rafael Ma. Suarez, Playa de Las Canteras 28, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Islas Canarias. Proposed by Allen Lambert. Trevor A. Voss, Matapu, Hawera, South Taranaki, New Zealand. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Albert I. Whiteside, 2 Park View, Chorley Road, Worthington, Wigan. Proposed by H. W. Humphrey. NEW MEMBERS The fifteen Candidates for Election in the January-February, 1964, number of the Avicultural Magazine were duly elected members of the Society. RE-ADMITTED John T. Higginbotham, Jr., 4544 Edmondson, Dallas 5, Texas, U.S.A. CHANGE OF NAME Mrs. Rose E. Ishkan, to Mrs. Rose E. Hughes. CHANGES OF ADDRESS James Battersby, to 67 Sawley Drive, Great Harwood, Nr. Blackburn, Lancs. W. G. Brown, to Balcarres Mains Farm, Colinsburgh, Fife, Scotland. Mrs. J. W. Flintoft, to P.O. Box 170, Issaquah, Washington, U.S.A. Andrew R. Hynd, to 6 Belsize Place, Dundee, Angus, Scotland. Dr. Gordon F. Jolly, to Swindon Maternity Hospital, Swindon, Wilts. G. R. McLachlan, to Museum, Snake Park and Oceanarium, Humewood, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Donald C. Nickon, to 2224 West Minster, Alhambra, California, U.S.A. Dr. Henry Quinque, to Clinique Ambroise Pare, 2 Avenue Jean Moulin, Bondy, (Seine), France. J. H. Swift, to Orchard House, 1324A Warwick Road, Copt Heath, Solihull, Birmingham. DONATIONS (Coloured Plate Fund) A. Aird . £ . 1 s. 0 Mrs. D. Ashken . 1 0 Dr. P. Beraut . . 2 / D. Collins • 3 0 J. E. Collins . 10 A. W. Fletcher 10 J. R. Hall 10 J. Z. Howell . . 1 I G.J. Irving . 1 I Dr. S. B. Kendall 10 J. Kingston 10 L. W. Lenz . 1 3 Dr. P. Mantegazza 18 D. W. Muirhead 5 S. Murray . 2 0 N. R. Steel . 1 0 M. G. Stern 10 J. G. Weeks 10 o 3 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o MEMBERS5 ADVERTISEMENTS The charge for Members * advertisements is threepence per word. Payment must accompany the advertisement , which must be sent on or before the 1 5 th of the month to A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood,, Edenbridge, Kent. All members of the Society are entitled to use this column , but the Council reserves the right to refuse any advertisements they consider unsuitable. For rare birds contact Baidyanath Acooli. Exporter of rare Indian animals. Post Box 12008, Calcutta 2, India. Turacos : wanted urgently for medical research : Red wing-feathers from Turacos : — Bickerton, O.R.C., Poyle, Colnbrook, Bucks. STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, HERTFORD. AVICULTURAL Firefinch, by Derek Goodwin . Breeding the Vinaceous Firefinch ( Lagonosticta vinacea), by Sir Richard COTTERELL, Bt. ......... Breeding the Greater Patagonian Comire (Cyanoliseus byroni), by W. R Partridge ........... Breeding the Cayenne Seedeater ( Sporophila frontalis ), by W. R. Partridge London Zoo Notes, by J. J. Yealland . Council Meeting .......... British Aviculturists’ Club ........ News and Views . . . Reviews ........... Correspondence .......... PAGE 79 80 106 109 hi ”3 114 114 ”5 116 118 VOL. 70 No. 3 PRICE 7/6 MAY-dUNE 1964 THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Founded 1894 President : Miss E. Maud Knobel. Hone Secretary and Treasurer : A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood, Nr. Edenbridge, Kent. Assistant Secretary : Miss Kay Bonner. Membership Subscription is £ 2 per annum, due on 1st January each year, and payable in advance. Life Membership £25. Subscriptions, Change of Address, Names of Candidates for Membership, etc., should be sent to the Hon. Secretary. THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Hon. President s Mr. Jean Delacour. President ; Mr. A. N. Lopez. Secretary : Mr. David West, 209 N. 18th Street, Montebello, California, U.S.A. The annual dues of the Society are $4.00 per year, payable in advance. The Society year begins 1st January, but new members may be admitted at any time. Members receive a monthly bulletin. Correspondence regarding membership, etc., should be directed to the Secretary. THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE The Magazine is published bi-monthly, and sent free to all members of the Avicultural Society. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year on the payment of subscription. All matter for publication in the Magazine should be addressed to : — The Editor s Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, M.B.E., 51 Warwick Avenue, London, W. 9. Telephone : Cunningham 3006. The price of the Magazine to non-members is 7 s. 6d., post free, per copy, or £2 5 s. for the year. Orders for the Magazine, extra copies and back numbers (from 1917) should be sent to the publishers, Stephen Austin & Sons, Ltd., Caxton Hill, Ware Road, Hertford, England. Telephone : Hertford 2352/3/4. A vic. Mag, Blue Snow Chat, Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 70. — No. 3. — All rights reserved. MAY-JUNE, 1964 THE BLUE SNOW CHAT (Grandala coelicolor ) ByJ. J. Yealland (London, England) The Blue Snow Chat, or Grandala, inhabits the Himalayas and mountains of Tibet, western China, and northern Burma, living at altitudes of from 10,000 to 17,000 feet. Salim Ali ( The Birds of Sikkim , pp. 254-6), says that in Sikkim it lives between 15,000 and 17,000 feet, “ hardly descending in winter unless forced down temporarily by heavy snowfalls and severe weather, and then not below c. 9,000 feet.” He goes on to say that it is gregarious, keeping in closely packed flocks sometimes (in winter) of several hundred birds. At Lachen in February, 1952, a flock of more than a thousand was seen “ circling high over the valley ” and from time to time dropping “ like rain more or less in unison to settle on the tall leafless trees, covering the top branches in dense clusters like starlings at the roost. Every little while, for no apparent reason, the swarm would suddenly take wing, circle aloft, and tumble again into another tree . . The birds were at that time feeding £C exclusively on the abundant, sour, juicy berries of Hippophae salicifolia . . The birds were observed to favour certain areas, while equally laden thickets in neighbouring ravines were ignored. Other berries and insects are eaten. The female is brown, streaked with pale brown above and below, except on the throat and tinged with blue on the rump and upper tail coverts. There are white spots and tips on the brown wing feathers. In some flocks a large proportion of males have been seen and in others mainly brown-plumaged birds. Little appears to be known of the nesting habits and Salim Ali says that there is no record for Sikkim : he also says that “ Apparently flocks do not break up into pairs for breeding, neither do they nest in colonies ”. The more easterly birds are smaller and the males of a brighter blue. These populations are named Grandala coelicolor florentes. 7 JUN SOW 8o D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH, WITH SOME COMPARISONS WITH JAMESON’S FIREFINCH By Derek Goodwin (London, England) Introduction This paper is based on some captive specimens of the south-eastern form of the Dark Firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata haematocephala. An adult wild-caught pair was purchased in August, 1962, and these reared two broods of young which were kept till mature. The adult female died from an injury in January, 1963. A male and female of the young of the first brood were kept and they and the original male are still alive and well (February, 1964). These observations thus have the drawback of being made on only a few individuals. On the other hand they are based on daily observation extending over a considerable period on birds that are known individually. Lagonosticta rubricata haematocephala is very similar to the other eastern forms of this species and is the most beautiful race of its species. Larger than a Common Firefinch (. Lagonosticta senegala ), cobby, rather than otherwise, in shape with a rather longish bill (for a waxbill) , shortish, broad tail, and dense, lustrous feathering. The male has the head and hind neck a beautiful dark mauvish-pink which shades into a dark ruby-red on the breast and under-parts (except for the black belly and under tail-coverts) and dark brown, washed with mauve-red, on the back. The wings and tail are dark brown, the tail feathers washed with red. The rump and upper tail-coverts are crimson. There are short rows of shining, but small white spots on each side of the lower breast which, at a close view, add a perfect finishing touch to the male’s dark but glowing beauty. The eyes are encircled by narrow, rose-pink orbital skin. The bill is bluish-grey with blackish tip and blackish along the cutting edge of the mandibles. The female is paler and less richly red. Her breast and under-parts are mainly an attractive rosy buff. Her orbital skin is usually dull pink and brownish-buff in colour. In both sexes the orbital skin grows pale if the birds are not in good condition. The newly-fledged juveniles are brown except for their wine-red rumps and upper tail-coverts. They have short, dark bills and the ring of pale skin round the eye is more conspicuous than in the adult. The young males have a rosy flush on the breast that is only noticeable in a good light. History of Individuals My bird room being, as usual, rather over-full ; I put the Dark Firefinches in a cage in the spare bedroom. This cage stands in a recess D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 8l by the window and is about o.\ feet square by 3§ feet high. The birds were allowed to fly freely about the upper part of the house, at least every other day, but were shut in their cage at night. They were rather wild but seemed (no doubt due to their cover-haunting habits) to be “ pre-adapted ” to the chaos of a bachelor’s rooms and provided I was not in their immediate vicinity, appeared thoroughly at home, hopping about under beds, into cupboards, and over piles of discarded garments or darting in twisting flight from one room to another. Almost as soon as I got them, both birds began to moult. This was a “ heavy ” and obvious moult such as one finds in most British passerines and in the Golden-breasted Waxbill, not the sort of slow, almost invisible moult that adult Blue Waxbills ( Uraeginthus sp.) usually have, at least in captivity. By the beginning of September both were in full moult and the male had begun to attack the female when she was shut in the cage with him. Hitherto they had appeared to be paired. They had roosted together and indulged in mutual preening. Now the female was very frightened of the male and distressed when shut in the cage with him, although whenever she was out of his sight, as when they were in different rooms, she would soon begin to give her Whistling Calls (see section on voice) in an apparent attempt to keep in vocal contact with him. The male did not usually deign to reply and appeared to feel no “ loneliness ” when he was the sole occupant of a room. On the evening of the 2 1 st he went into a cage in my bedroom and roosted there instead of in his usual place (previously both Firefinches had roosted at first in the same, and later in separate, wicker nest-baskets in their own cage) so I left him there for a time, liberating him and the female on different days. I thought that a little enforced separation might make them appreciate one another’s company more, as it often does in other bipeds. By mid-September the male was frequently “ singing ” (see section on voice) in a sotto voce manner. However, on the morning of 23rd September, just as my room was beginning to turn from black to grey in the first light of dawn, he began loud Contact Calling. As the clear, rich, nightingale-like notes rang through the room I was amazed and lay listening, entranced to this “ music from the African jungle ” until the interrogative (and to my ears reproachful) calls of my other waxbills impelled me to get up and put on the light in their room. The hen Dark Firefinch was greatly excited by this calling of the male and, from the other room, repeatedly answered him. At this time both birds were in the later stages of the moult with the wing quills not entirely renewed and lots of new feathers still coming in about the head and neck. By the 29th both appeared very interested in each other. For some days they had been calling and answering each other with the Trilling Call. When let out on the 29th the male flew immediately to the female’s cage and both birds approached each other with the tail twist 82 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH and gave the Greeting Display. On the ist October I let them free together for the first time since they had been separated. Both showed intense excitement, they approached each other in the tail-twist posture and performed intense Greeting Displays (see under “ Display ”), also intermittently indulging in mutual inhibited bill pecking and mandibu- lation. They uttered faint trilling calls but not during the periods of most intense display, After about a minute of all this the female suddenly “ broke off” and taking flight with a loud trill, darted through into the other room, closely followed by the male. In the next ten minutes (approx.) she behaved in this way on four occasions and the male twice. Each time the bird that flew off gave the loud trill as it did so, was immediately followed by the other and the mutual display was excitedly resumed as soon as they alighted. This behaviour, indicative of a high degree of sexual arousal, in conflict with hostile tendencies is as I later found, very characteristic of pair formation in this aggressive species. Shortly after this the male went into the smaller of the two nest baskets in their cage (i.e. in the cage the female had been living in for the previous three weeks or so but in which both had originally been kept) and was followed by the female, both nest calling when inside. They soon came out, but the process was repeated at least several times in the next hour or so. The male usually entered the basket first but on one occasion, at least, the female did so. On that evening both roosted together in the same basket (the larger one, not the one they were considering as a nest-site) . Next morning I noticed that the male seemed to be avoiding the female but I had not time to make any detailed observations. On 3rd October I spent some time watching the Firefinches. In surprising contrast to her former cowed demeanour and even to the apparent symbolic inferiority she had shown in their displays when first reunited, the female was now completely and aggressively dominant over her mate. She attacked him whenever he came within about a foot of her, which he endeavoured not to do. Both were quite silent in the cage ; Once the cage was opened, however, the picture was rather different. The male still avoided the female’s immediate presence, being careful, even when they flew together (as they did only on a few occasions) from one room to the other, not to alight within 2 feet of the female and usually alighting at least 4 or 5 feet from her. Both frequently gave the Trilling Call. Whenever out of sight of the female the male would “ sing ”, or give Contact Galls but he obviously chose to spend most of the time out of sight of his mate and in whichever room she was not in. The female sometimes gave her Contact Calls but not often and appeared quite at ease and happy when her mate was not with her. Indeed, the pair gave the impression of having reached in two days a state that some human couples achieve only after several years of matrimony. D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 83 The next day on which I was able to watch the Firefinches for any time was 7th October. The pair then seemed more at ease with each other and the female did not attack the male when he perched near her. On 13th October I saw the male dismounting from the female after what I think had been an unsuccessful attempt at copulation. At this date the female gave the impression that she was soon going to lay. She had the “ raised rump ” appearance so characteristic of most female birds in this condition and her droppings were large and moist like those of female waxbills usually are at such times. I had placed dried and green grasses of various types in the cage for them but, so far as I could see, only a very little, mostly fine, dry stems, had been taken into the nest-basket. On the 15th I gave them a large number of Wood Pigeon feathers (it is surprising how many of these, ideal for nesting waxbills, one can accumulate in a day if one picks up and pockets each that is seen lying in one’s way) and the male at once began to carry them eagerly to the female, who was inside the basket. That night both male and female roosted together as usual in the larger basket, but soon after I put the light on (at about 5 a.m.) on the morning of the 17th, the hen went into the nest and was still there when I left at 8.10 a.m. After this date the pair were never seen off the nest at the same time for more than a few moments. Oddly enough at the first morning change over this often happened. The male would go down to feed as soon as the light was put on, then, after feeding for a few minutes he would fly up to the nest. He would give low- intensity versions of the Alarm Call (or what sounded like this) and disappear into the nest basket. After a little mutual twittering out would come the hen. Sometimes she gave her whistling calls before, during, or immediately after the change-over (or repeatedly at all stages) and if she gave it after coming out of the nest the male would come back out and join her for a moment or two before returning to the eggs. The whistling calls evidently were (at this stage) a strong stimulus for the male to join his mate as, if she gave the whistling calls as soon as I put the light on in the morning, the male would sometimes go at once and take over without having first had his breakfast. I am uncertain just when the female laid but from her behaviour and appearance I think the first egg was most probably laid on the 15th or 1 6th. On 26th October I put the cock off the nest, drove both birds into the other room and shut them there so they could not see what I was up to. Then I cleaned out the cage and, with the aid of a torch, looked into the nest. Four white eggs were lying in a very dense but shallow depres¬ sion of feathers. On the 30th both birds showed far more than usual eagerness when I put some whiteworm “ culture ” into their cage. I gave them some mealworms (which they had often been given and never touched before) and at once both birds came down and took them. So I knew that young must have hatched or be near enough to hatching 84 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH to have stimulated the parents by their sound or movements. Next day (the 31st) I drove off the male and shut them both out of sight while I looked again. The torch beam showed three naked, blackish nestlings, and one egg which had not hatched (and never did). They seemed all right and two of them turned up their heads and begged but like all very young waxbills, they aroused “ alarm and despondency ” by reason of their minuteness. I felt that such tiny, frail things just could not live. But they did survive. Diagrammatic sketches of mouth markings of (1) Day old nestling that had been thrown out of nest, freshly dead when found. (2) Nine day old nestling. Taken from live individual food begging. Marking in lower part of mouth not seen but may have been concealed by tongue. (3) Mouth markings of an eighteen day old but rather backward fledgeling. Taken a few hours after death. On 2nd November I looked at the young again. They had grown appreciably and made a very faint chippering sound as the light shone on them, but did not beg. At this date I found that the male had changed his roosting place and instead of roosting in the other basket in their cage he was roosting in an old broken basket lying on a canary cage (empty) about 3 feet above floor level in a corner of the room. I removed this basket, but instead of going back to his original roost he then chose to roost snuggled behind some old rags in a large glass jar in which I was trying, without much success, to culture lesser meal¬ worms. On 7th November, I looked at the young again. They had grown considerably and their “ pin feathers ” were showing although no feathering had yet broken from the sheath. Their crops were packed very full with millet. I was a bit worried about the length of time they went nightly without food, when I discovered, through coming home early on the 10th, that the parents had gone to roost by 3.30 p.m. The light was seldom put on in the mornings before 4.30 a.m., often not till 5 a.m. and sometimes even later. The young got their first feed about ten minutes after the room was lighted. Nevertheless they seemed to thrive. On 1 1 th November the feathers of the young had broken out of the sheaths, at all events on their upper parts which were all I could see as I peered into the nest. On the 14th I arrived home early at 2.30 p.m. to D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 85 find one young one out of the nest and on the floor of the cage. The parents were very upset and continually tried, without avail, to lead it back to the nest. Since it appeared unable or unwilling to make a nearly vertical flight upwards and I feared it would get cold if allowed to remain where it was I opened the door of the cage (almost the entire fronts of all my cages are made to open for ease of getting birds in and out and with a smaller door for feeding) , drove the adults into the next room, caught the fledgeling and put it back into the nest after colour¬ ringing it. The result, as is usually the case in such circumstances, was that all three nestlings took fright and at once “ exploded ”, fluttering all over the room. Rightly fearing that anything I did now would “ make confusion worst confounded ” I opened my bedroom door to free the parents and retired hastily. They returned at once and were very concerned so I kept out of the way for about half-an-hour, until the alarm calls had largely given place to trilling and singing, when I crept cautiously upstairs to a point where I could spy through the bannisters without being noticed by the birds. This vantage point is not ideal, since it does not give anything like a full view of their room. It sufficed to show, however, that the parents were now chiefly concerned about one nestling which was on the window ledge. They kept flying to and fro between it and the nest basket in the cage but it did not follow them. As it was getting dark and the fledgeling in the window looked cold and miserable 1 thought I had better try to get it back into the nest, where I imagined the other two young already were. I drove the parents into the other room, not without some difficulty as they were so much concerned for their young that they kept dodging back past my com¬ manding arms. Having finally got them out of the way I picked up the young one on the window ledge. It was already showing signs of chilling. I put it back into the nest. I then found that the other two young ones were not in the nest but on the floor under an old rucsac. Evidently the parents had been unconcerned about them as they were “ in cover ”. They also were not looking too happy and as a result of their chilling did not panic and explode again when put back in the nest. When I let the parents back the female joined the young in the nest and roosted there with them, so all was well. Next morning one fledgeling followed her immediately she came out of the nest and within a few minutes all were out. That evening (15th) two young were roosting on top of the larger wicker basket (into which the female had returned and was roosting with her mate) and the third young one was roosting on a low branch, a few inches above the floor of the cage. As it was a cold night, and the room is normally only slightly warmed by a single bar heater in the linen cupboard, I put on an electric “ radiant heater ” also. Fortunately the unaccustomed light from this did not upset the roosting birds. Next morning all were well 86 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH even although, by an oversight, the light was not put on in the room until after 6 p.m. That evening all three young were roosting together on top of the male’s roosting basket. I noticed that although the two outside fledgelings had their heads “ behind their wings ” in the usual passerine manner the middle one was sleeping with its head in much the same position as that of a roosting pigeon. Fledgeling asleep with head in “ pigeon ” position. The young could fly well by the 22nd. By the 27th they were beginning to warble in the usual manner of young passerines and were also eating seed although still being fed frequently by their father. At their first appearance into the world and to a lesser extent subse¬ quently, their parents had given alarm notes whenever I appeared. At first this frightened the young ones but through being so often “ bombarded ” with alarm notes they very soon ceased to worry when their parents were “ calling Wolf”. Their own relative lack of fear in my presence in turn had a somewhat quietening effect on the parents. These latter had not, as is so often the case with wild birds that breed in captivity, become tamer when they started to incubate. They did, however, “ steady down ” a little after the young were flying, pre¬ sumably as a result of the latters’ relative tameness. On 27th November, I saw all three young feeding themselves quite competently on millet although on that day they were all also fed frequently by their father. After the 28th I did not again hear them begging or see them fed. The adults were not, however, quite unconcerned since if they heard or saw a young one in any distress (e.g. if one, in another room, gave alarm calls or if one in the same room fluttered against a window pane) they at once reacted with Contact Calls. When I cleaned the nest basket out two days after the young had fledged I discovered that the hen had already laid two eggs of a new clutch therein. In spite of being given no nesting material she laid five more eggs (I think this total of seven really represented two clutches) in the roosting basket. I removed these on 3rd December on which date I put the original nest basket back in position, gave the birds nesting material and let them all free in the house. That morning the male frequently gave the Stem Display, the first time I had seen him do so. The female was obviously responsive, but all the displays I saw came to nothing owing to the interference of the young birds. These all, but D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 87 especially the young male, had a kind of paternal Oedipus complex (of which more later) and as soon as their father started to display they would fly to him and force themselves between him and their mother. At this the male broke off the display. That morning the pair also went 11 c house-hunting ” and nest-called in five different places, but did not attempt any nest building. When I got home that evening I found that they had made a nest in a corner on top of an old canary cage about 3 feet from the floor and were roosting together in it. Two of the young were roosting on the same cage a foot away from the nest. I could not see the third young one but dare not make a search for fear of disturbing the others. Fortunately it turned up safe and sound next morning. Next evening (14th December) there was a feather in the new nest and the pair were roosting again in the basket in their cage. The young ones roosted above them on top of the same basket. The position of the new nest had the advantage that I could easily see into it. Its disadvantage was that if the birds were to use it success¬ fully they must be left permanently free. Thinking that to have the whole family free all the time would be too much of a good thing and that, in any case, the young ones would be likely to interfere with their parents, I caught the young ones and shut them in a cage in my bed¬ room. They were liberated about every third day, the bedroom door then being shut so they could not get out. Most of the time, however, they were kept captive and their parents given the run of the upstairs rooms. All went well with the second nest in spite of the fact that the birds were subject to a good deal of interference on my part. I felt I would be unlikely ever again to get a nest in such an ideal place for observation and experimentation and so I took a good many “ calculated risks ” in the way of putting the parents off to look at the nest contents, trying to provoke defence or distraction display and so on. We are always being told that we should never interfere with birds when nesting, be careful when we look at the young and so on. Certainly if one never goes into an aviary and then, when a pair of timid birds have eggs or young, charges up to the nest and looks into it the parents are likely to desert. On the other hand if we “ let well alone 55 we shall learn very little. Most birds will stand a good deal of interference provided they are accustomed to it early on, by judicious degrees of course, and provided they have room to fly away a little distance from one when one has frightened them. Where birds are concerned I have always been as full of “ satiable curiosity ” as the Elephant’s Child and, like him, have been none the worse for it in the end. At any rate I seem to have been just as successful with waxbills (which all the “ experts ” tell us are very sensi¬ tive to disturbance) as most others have in spite of regularly shining torches or poking my fingers into their nests in order to find out what is inside. 88 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH When the young hatched I soon noticed that the number of mutilated mealworms lying about the house seemed far in excess of the number of live ones given to the Firefinches. Investigation showed they had found the mealworm box in the linen cupboard and were helping themselves with a similar reckless prodigality to that with which our own species exploits the limited resources of its environment. Although, like most people, I feel little emotional involvement with insects, I was slightly uneasy about the number of mealworms being butchered in order that the Firefinches could consume a minute amount of each. Fortunately, however, this coincided with a cold spell (as the hatching, in this country, of a brood of tropical birds usually does) and so I was able to salve my easily-placated conscience by feeding the remains to a hungry Song Thrush that came daily to my garden for hand-outs. The above remarks about all going well with the second nest need to be qualified as one of the young was backward in development and when the others fledged, and it was left alone in the nest, it died in spite of the room being heated and the parents feeding it well. The other two proved a cock and a hen and were later put in the cage with the former brood, which were two hens and one cock. Subsequently when both broods had moulted into adult plumage, I gave away all except one young pair and the two parents. Unfortunately the adult hen acciden¬ tally injured herself and died. The old male paired with his daughter and, after being an unwilling bachelor for a long time, the other male is now paired to a female of the dark western form ofjamesons’s Firefinch. Behaviour Feeding Behaviour. From its behaviour in captivity there can be little doubt that the Dark Firefinch is exclusively a ground feeder. Besides the sideways flicking movement of the bill, common to many ground-feeding passerines (and pigeons) when searching for food in fairly loose soil it will break up quite sizeable clumps of earth or debris. When so doing the bird draws itself up to its full height and strikes down with a pickaxe¬ like motion of the closed bill. I have the impression that at the moment of impact the bird makes, or tries to make, the sideways flick, but as I have only watched it with the naked eye and not taken high speed photographs I cannot be certain on this point. AUo-preening and “ Clumping This behaviour, which I have previously discussed (Goodwin, i960) for some other waxbill species, is very little indulged in by the Dark Firefinch. I have seen adults briefly preen the heads of their dependent young when these have been huddling against them. I have twice seen a female apparently making attempts to preen her mate’s head when he D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 89 was drying himself after a bath. At these times he had his head feathers very fully erected, so his profile resembled that with which other species solicit Allo-preening. However, the male repulsed the female as often as she made the attempt. Connected with the lack, or virtual lack of this behaviour pattern is the fact that adult Dark Firefinches do not usually sit clumped close together as other waxbills do. The members of a pair do, however, roost together (except when they have eggs or young) and when roosting are certainly sometimes, and I think always in close physical contact. However, when not breeding the pair often perch in contact side by side. Mandibulation. A rapid opening and shutting of the mandibles as the birds face each other is shown, as in the Blue Waxbills (Goodwin, 1959) in situations of inhibited or lessening aggression. It is regularly performed by members of a pair after bill-pecking or other more overtly aggressive behaviour. It is also shown by the nest-calling male when the female approaches. Bill-fencing or Bill-pecking. Like many other estrildines Dark Firefinches often peck at each other’s bills; usually they seem to jab with the closed bill and in a rather formal- looking way as if they were “ pulling their punches ”. This behaviour indicates aggression that is, to some extent, inhibited but not inhibited so much as in Mandibulation, which usually follows the mutual Bill- pecking. It is shown often between members of a pair or, more especially, between male and female during pair-formation, but does not seem to occur in serious fights between rival males. I have, however, seen only two of the latter and on both occasions the birds were free in the house and the “ loser ” fled to another room. Threat. As in most estrildines threat display is poorly developed. It consists merely of intention movements of attack ; the threatening bird crouches facing its adversary with lowered head, somewhat opened bill and spread or partly-spread tail. If a male in a cage is threatening or defying one on a perch sticking out from its cage (with the wire between them) one or both may crouch sideways on and turn the tail diagonally so that the black under tail-coverts are exhibited to the rival. The tail is held straight during this manoeuvre, not “ twisted ” towards the other bird as in sexual displays. The Greeting Display. This is homologous with and rather similar to the Greeting Displays of the Java Sparrow (Goodwin, 1963) and Lavender Finch (Kunkel, 90 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH Greeting Display ; pair approaching each other and bowing. Greeting Display at full intensity, with wing slapping, as seen from above. 1959). When performed at high intensity it is very striking. The two birds approach and bow towards each other. As they bow their tails come well above the horizontal. There is often some quick movement of the tail but most of the time the tail is “ twisted ” towards the partner so that when the two come really close their tails overlap (see sketch). The bows are sometimes synchronous but rather more often not and alternate with a rather upright stance in which the heads are still turned towards one another in the same way. As the bird bows it slightly lifts the still folded far wing and slaps it down again on its rump making a soft, short, but clearly audible “ thuk ” or “ fwut ” sound. Often when bowing the hen seems to try to bring her head across the male’s breast in front of and below his head and, but less often, the male will appear to deliberately try to do this. Particularly during pair forma¬ tion the male’s head is usually held a little higher than the female’s during the head-up phase of this display and if one head is lower than the other at the climax of the bow it is the female’s. The Greeting Display is given when members of a pair come together D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 91 after some little absence. It is shown particularly intensely during pair formation and at such times especially is often prefaced by or inter¬ spersed with bill pecking or mandibulation and often one bird will suddenly break off and fly away (into another room if they are free in the house) uttering the Trilling Call as it goes. I have also seen this display given by a recently independent male juvenile to its father when he displayed. The Greeting Display seems an expression of a high degree of excitement involving some conflict between sexual attraction (probably the dominant motivation) and fear or aggression. (a) When in upright phase of Greeting Display or about to give Stem Display. (b) When perched or hopping about alone and (sometimes) “ singing ”. The Stem Display. This is very similar to the homologous displays of other waxbills. The male takes a piece of potential nesting material, often a feather, but almost equally often a piece of grass, sometimes a piece of white paper if nothing better is to hand, and holds it by the shaft (if a feather) or by its firmest end. He holds his head rather upright (but position can vary a good deal) and has the head feathers sleeked down and the belly and flank feathers somewhat raised as in other species of Firefinch (Kunkel, 1959, Harrison, 1956). The tail is usually slightly depressed and twisted towards the hen although it immediately straightens should the hen move to a position directly in front of the male. The male then bounces up and down with a slight upward and backward throw of the head. This head movement appears less as a rule than in Uraeginthus . He may utter any or several of the Display Calls (see “Voice”). Sometimes, but relatively seldom the male, when displaying, brings his head right down and bows in front of the female’s breast. This suggests a combination with elements of the Greeting Display. In the Senegal Firefinch this movement is the normal culmination of the Stem Display (Harrison, 1956). 92 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH Displaying male drops feather and flutters wings (see text for details). Sometimes, but not very often, the wings may be raised or extended and fluttered during the Stem Display. Usually the bird drops his feather or grass just before he begins to flutter his wings but he continues the up and down movements which may, indeed, become more intense and culminate in an upward jump and flutter on to the female and an attempt to copulate. Seeing this behaviour it is as easy to think that the upward jerking movements of the Stem Display could derive from intention movements of mounting as the usual (and equally plausible) idea that they are derived from nest-building movements. Copulation. If the female responds to the male’s Stem Display by soliciting (and sometimes if she does not) the male will mount and copulate, or attempt to do so. Sometimes copulation may be initiated by the female soliciting with crouched posture and quivering tail in the usual estrildine manner without any apparent (immediate) stimulus from the male. Sometimes the male may take the initiative by approaching the female or hopping persistently after her on the ground, uttering the Soliciting Call and attempting to mount her. Especially under such circumstances apparently successful copulation may take place without any signs of readiness from the female other than crouching still (without quivering her tail or uttering the Soliciting Call) when the male mounts. Under all circumstances the male, before mounting, pecks at the female’s head D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 93 and nape, and (but far fewer pecks) down to her rump in the same manner that Uraeginthus males do, except that I have not seen the present species peck the cloaca of the female. If coition is, apparently, achieved, a brief mutual Bill-pecking follows but this display of aggression does not follow unsuccessful attempts. Nesting and Parental Behaviour . So far as I have seen only the male bird brings material for the outer part of the nest and he appears to do most of the building. This agrees with Harrison’s (1957) observations. However, my birds would not build if I was watching them near enough to observe details. Both cock and hen collected feathers to line the nest, continuing to do so during incubation in the usual estrildine manner. All material was, so far as I saw, held by the end in the typical estrildine way (see Goodwin, i960) and not “ bundled ”. They showed no interest whatsoever in bits of burnt wood (charcoal) at any stage of breeding. When they nested in the small nest basket this evidently gave them the impression of a “ pre-fabricated ” outer shell and the nest they built consisted at the sides only of relatively few fine dead grasses. The wall of the nest built later in the room was much thicker. In each case the eggs lay in a dense bed of feathers although the cup of the nest was very shallow ; saucer-shaped rather than cup-shaped in fact. Both sexes incubate and brood. I got the impression that the male took shorter spells on the nest than the female. This was so on the only day during which I was able to make inspections every 20 to 30 minutes. I did this on 2 5th December when the young in the nest in the corner of the spare room were two days old. Between 6 a.m. and 3.40 p.m. the male took six spells of brooding the young but was seldom on the nest more than twenty minutes. The room light had been on since 3 a.m. on that day, however, so it is quite certain that the male took at least seven spells of “ duty ” since he invariably (at least on all the many occasions when I stayed awake and watched after putting the light in their room on) took over on the nest within thirty minutes of leaving his roost. Possibly in a wild state where the birds might have to search for some time to get enough food for themselves or their young both sexes would spend a more equal amount of time on and off the nest. As soon as the light was put on (usually about 5 a.m. when they had the first nest in October and between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. for the second nest later) in the morning the cock would leave his roosting basket, stretch, preen a little, perhaps sing a little, then go down and feed. He “ sang ” much more often and more loudly during the incubation of the second nest than of the first, I think because the light was put on, as a rule, much earlier then. When he had fed he would go to the nest. As he came to it he would give the “ Twitter- trill Sometimes the female would give her Whistling Calls from within the nest before the male 94 D- GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH entered. More often only soft twittering from one or both would be heard during the moment that both were together in the nest, then the female would slip out. Very often, in fact about three times out of four, she would give whistling calls from the perch. Whenever she did so the male would come out of the nest again, go to her, they would perform the Greeting Display and then the male would return to the nest. On one occasion the female gave the Whistling Call while the male was in the nest with her, only to repeat it after she came out, with the usual result. Owing to her being more timid and suspicious than her mate I was never able to watch the change over closely when the female relieved the male. There seemed to be less ceremony attached to this as she never gave her Whistling Calls and the exchange was very quickly effected. Once the eggs had begun to hatch the female no longer gave Whistling Calls at the change over. From then until the young were about a week or ten days old she would give the Alarm Call (see section on Voice) immediately after leaving the nest. This apparently expressed a reluc¬ tance to leave the nest at this period since she uttered these notes every time she was relieved by the male and left the nest. It was not caused by my presence, on the contrary when I was downstairs I could tell immediately by her calls when she had “ come off duty ”. Neither male nor female showed any signs of defensive behaviour when incubating or brooding. When I reached a finger towards it the incubating bird would crouch tensely as the hand approached then, as my finger entered the nest, would scramble past it and fly into the next room breaking into loud Alarm Calls as it took wing. With newly hatched young the behaviour was different. Then (male twice experi¬ mented with, female only once) the bird, after scrambling past the intruding finger, fluttered downwards to the floor and scuttled under the bed. There was no appearance of injury or incapacity, but the behaviour strongly suggested the distraction displays of such birds as the Reed Bunting. Or at any rate some of the basic elements of such distraction displays. The parental behaviour seems typical of most estrildines (see Kunkel, 1959, Goodwin, i960) in general. While the young were in the nest the cock bird invariably fed them on taking over from the hen and the hen often did when she returned to the nest. Probably she always did if I was not in the immediate vicinity. A point in which the feeding behaviour of this species and also of the Blue-headed and Blue-breasted Waxbills ( Uraeginthus cyanocephalus and U. angolensis ) differs from that of Australian estrildines is worth mentioning. The Australian species (Immelmann, 1962) repeatedly break off feeding for a moment, in order to bring up more food into the mouth, when they have fed to the young one the portion first brought up before beginning to feed. With the African species I have studied the parent can be seen to bring up D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 95 food into the throat before beginning to feed, in the same manner as the Australian species, but having put its bill into the fledgeling’s mouth it then visually appears to bring up more food from the crop and pass it straight on to the young one without disengaging its bill. The mouths of adult and young are engaged for an appreciable time during which there are strong regurgitating movements by the adult and “ bulges ” are seen to pass up from the crop region to the throat and thence, presumably, since they vanish, into the young one. Usually (although not invariably) if one of the above species disengages from a fledgeling once it has started feeding it does not (till “ next time ”, of course), re-insert its bill, no matter how frantically that young one may still beg, but goes to another young to give it a share. That is, of course, if it still has food to dispense. During the period when the young are about to fledge, or have recently fledged, the parents show the usual hypersensitivity to danger, real, suspected, or imagined, that is characteristic of many (perhaps all) species at such times. A recently fledged young one in an exposed place, either on the ground or above it, greatly worries the parents and they try to lead it to safety in the usual estrildine way, repeatedly flying to it, alighting beside it, and then flying to the desired place and calling. I am not certain of the laying periods and commencement of incuba¬ tion for the first nest, but no doubt it was the same as shown for the second which was as follows. The hen did not roost on the nest on the night before she laid her first egg but went on the nest at 5.30 a.m., an hour after the light in the room was put on. She was still on the nest at 6.30 a.m. At 7 a.m. the male was on. I put him off and found the first egg had been laid. The eggs, four in all, were laid at daily intervals. From the time the first was laid both birds were often on the nest by day. In fact usually so when I looked but I was never at home all day during this time. They were, however, left uncovered at night (both cock and hen roosting together in a basket in their cage) until the night of the day on which (in the morning) the third egg had been laid. That night the hen roosted on the nest. This confirms what Kunkel (1959) found for several other estrildine species in which true incubation begins with the third egg. As with other waxbills, at least those species that I have succeeded in breeding, the parents tend to leave the young uncovered by day for considerable periods once they are about a week old and before they are well feathered. For this reason singly-reared young ones never do well. I have had such singletons in several species and in all cases, even if reared, they have been weak specimens and have died within three months of fledging. I feel sure this is due to having been exposed to cold during nestlinghood. It is certainly not due, as I have sometimes seen suggested, to the parents being less “ stimulated ” by a single young one and feeding it less. On the contrary the crops of such singletons are 8 96 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH always packed full of food, so much so that they seldom beg at “ normal ” intensity. Behaviour of Young. The fledged young beg in the usual estrildine manner (Kunkel, 1959) with crouched posture and twisted neck. One or both wings may be very slightly opened and vibrated but there is usually no visible wing movement. The Begging Call is a rapid “ Tche-tche, tche-tche-tche- tche which becomes louder and huskier a few days after fledging. When given intensely it is speeded up to a very hurried, chattering. Usually it is given at about the same tempo as the usual alarm chatter of the Magpie ( Pica pica) . I have twice seen a young one, possibly the same one on each occasion, raise its wings in the same way as a young Amandava does when begging (Goodwin, i960). This happened when the young one had just scrambled over one of its siblings and got between it and the parent. I have also twice seen a wing-lifting display (?) from young that had just become independent but were still, apparently emotionally attached to their father. One, a female juvenile, was in my bedroom for the first time and rather alarmed at the strange surroundings. Her father (who was thoroughly used to coming into this room) flew in, alighted on a cage top the other side of the room and gave the Contact Call. The juvenile flew to him, landed near him and at once crouched with head and tail slightly raised and fully lifted first one wing and then the other. On the same day the male juvenile of the same brood was in the room where they had been reared (and where he was quite “ at home ”). His father went into a small cage in a corner and Nest-called from a twig platform inside. The juvenile male at once flew to him, landed on top of the cage and gave the same crouching and wing- lifting as its sister had shortly before. I have seen no similar display from adults. At about the time they begin to feed themselves, and to spend much of their spare time in the rambling and inconsequential-sounding warbling characteristic of most young passerines, they begin to show a strong interest in the display of the male. This interest increases rather than diminishes and is usually most intense shortly after the male ceases to feed them, which happens about five or six days after they first start to feed of their own accord. At such times the juveniles fly to and cluster round the male if they see him begin the Stem Display. Very often he has only to pick up a bit of grass or feather for them to be attracted. Usually the young at such times give elements of the Greeting Display and I have seen a young male give a very intense Greeting- Display in response to its father’s Stem Display. This behaviour sug¬ gests the same sort of basically sexual bond as has been described for young Bullfinches by Nicolai (1959). The male did not, however, show D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 97 any overt sexual responses towards his young. I had the impression that his Stem Displays at this time were being given either in reference to his mate or in vacuo. He usually appeared nonplussed when the young gathered round him and soon dropped his feather and ceased to display. The young of the first brood fledged when 16 days old. They were noticed to be feeding themselves efficiently at 27 days old ; the father was last seen to feed them when they were 32 days old. When 37 days old two of the young (a male and a female) showed a red band from gape to eye and a few red feathers elsewhere on the face. At 37 days old all three had much adult plumage on heads, necks, and upper parts of breasts. This moult was very “ heavy 55 like that of young Amandava species and unlike the slow and gradual moult of young Uraeginthus . Of course the times and speed of moulting in captivity in England may not agree in all, or many, points with what occurs in natural conditions. Voice I am only too aware of the flaws and imperfections of trying to convey bird sounds by what is now generally looked upon as the bad old- fashioned method of written description. Still, half a loaf is better than no bread and I hope I shall be excused by and able to give some information to those readers who, like myself, have not the time, money, and facilities needed to produce sound spectrographs. Lagonosticto- philes may be perturbed that my descriptions and interpretations of calls do not entirely coincide with those in a previous paper on this species (Harrison, 1957) which appeared in our magazine. It now seems certain that most, perhaps all, Mr. Harrison’s birds were in fact (see Harrison, 1963) the western race of Jameson’s Firefmch (L. rhodo - pareia virata). In naming the various sounds uttered I have in some cases used terms indicative of (presumed) function of the call, in others of its sound. This because it seemed to me a lesser evil than to sacrifice relative clarity of meaning to nomenclatorial consistency. The Alarm Call. A loud hard “ Tchit, Tchittick ! ” “ Tchittick ick ”, etc., very suggestive in tone of the scolding of a Wren ( Troglodytes troglodytes) although the tempo often more resembles that of the much less loud “ticking” of an alarmed Robin ( Erithacus rubecula). The more apparently distressed the bird is the louder and harder and more rapidly “ run- together ” the alarm calling. Where fear appears to be the dominant motivation the bird is inclined to give single “ Tchits ” or “ Ticks ” rather than the more usual series of notes. This call corresponds to the calls that have been recently (Harrison, 1962) defined as “ Excitement Notes ”. However, I prefer the term 98 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH “ Alarm Call ” since in every case (at least with the present species) when I have been able to ascertain the cause of the bird’s outcry it has been something likely to have caused alarm, distress, or conflict. It is, for example, given in the following situations. — (a) When a bird is alarmed by my close presence or by the appearance of a stranger ; if one attempts to catch or otherwise much frightens a caged bird the single hard “ Tchits ” will be given, (b) When the young are approached by a human or when a fledgeling cries out in fear or flutters against a window pane, (c) As a bird takes wing when I have frightened it from its nest. (d) By adults with dependent fledgelings when (on three occasions) they have seen a cat in the garden as they looked through the window. (e) By a bird flying past me from one room to the other. When free in the house they readily and voluntarily fly from the spare room into my bedroom or vice versa even if I am standing in the doorway and they then, of necessity, pass within a few inches of my head. At the moment that it passes the bird almost always gives a brief burst of Alarm Calls. (/) By a female immediately after coming off nest (having been relieved by a male) especially if there are chipping eggs or young under a week old, here the call seems to indicate conflict between the desire to brood or incubate the nest and the need for food or exercise. The Trilling Call. A drawn-out trill with a rising inflection. Usually monosyllabic and variable in length and loudness, but always with a strong “ r ” sound running through it and an “ excited sounding ” tone. Sometimes there is a suggestion of a “ t ” sound at its end. It could be written “ Trrrrrrrrrr-t ” or “ Trrrrrrrrrrr ”. It bears some resemblance to both the probably homologous trilling call of the Java Sparrow (Goodwin, 1963) and the shivering trill of the Wood Warbler ( Phylloscopus sibilatrix) . When given at high intensity this call is uttered with widely opened bill and marked vibration or quivering of the whole body. When given at lower intensity this quivering may only be noticeable in the tail where it is, naturally, always most conspicuous. This call is basically aggressive or threatening although when used between members of a pair it often seems to indicate inhibited or sublimated aggression rather than any overt hostility. When the pair trill together at another bird it may well function to increase the emotional bond between them just as the emotional bond between two people is intensified (if only for a short time) when they both together threaten, laugh at, or defy the same enemy. It is given in the following situations : — ( 1 ) By a male or by both sexes of a pair on catching sight of another Firefinch. (2) By a Firefinch when another (whether its mate or a rival) flies into the room where it is living (whether it is free or in a cage). D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 99 Quite often given when some other bird, such as a Blue Waxbill, flies into the room, no doubt because this supplies some of the same stimuli as a Firefinch in flight. (3) By rival males threatening or defying one another prior to or 44 between rounds ” of a fight. By the victor when the vanquished takes wing and flies away. (4) In answer to the same call from another Firefinch, whether mate or rival. (5) By a male in response to Contact Calling (q.v.) of a female or when she approaches him if he does not apparently, want her immediate presence. In such cases he usually hops or sidles away as he trills. (6) By either of a pair as it takes wing after a Greeting Display. (7) During Greeting Displays in this situation given only at low intensity. The Trilling Twitter. Typically very similar in phrasing to the alarm call but much less loud, lacking the 44 hard ” tone and with an 44 r ” sound in it. Could, perhaps be written 44 Trittit ! Trittitit, etc. This call appears to combine elements of both the Trilling and Alarm calls but at the same time to express a lesser degree of excitement than evokes either of them. It appears to be given in many circumstances where there is some mild degree of excitement involving the presence of conspecifics. It may be given when two birds come together ; as a response to the Trilling Call of a conspecific out of sight (in another room). It is usually given by the male as he approaches the nest to take over incubation or brooding 44 duties ”. Not always easy to distinguish (but there is a difference of tone) from low intensity versions of the Alarm Call. 100 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH The Fear Screech. When a fledgeling is seized in the hand it often gives an unpleasant husky screech, sometimes repeating this two or three times before falling silent. Adults and young no longer dependent on their parents do not usually utter this cry when handled. Sometimes, however, they do so, giving it in a rather deeper tone than a fledgeling does. The Nest Call. This is a very soft, repeated 44 Tu-tu-tu-tu ” or 44 Teh-teh-teh-teh It is given by the male when he has found a nest site and presumably functions to attract the female who is, however, very often, only a few paces behind the site-selecting male. I have also heard it given when both birds were in the nest together so it is quite likely given by the female as well. It may be prefaced or interspersed with the Trilling Twitter in very soft form. The Soliciting Call. This is very similar to the Nest Call, but uttered rather more rapidly than the Nest Call usually is (both are subject to some variation) and has a more excited tone. Could, perhaps, be written 44 qwe-qwe-qwe- qwe . or 44 Twe-twe-twe-twe-twe . . .”. There is some difference between this call as given by males and females but it is slight and may be due to individual rather than sexual difference. This call is given by the soliciting female, at least if the male is not at hand and immediately responsive. Also by the male when he is about to mount the female (sometimes) or, and more particularly, when he wishes to mount her and she is not being very co-operative. The Display Calls. I group together under this heading several calls which are uttered in the Stem Display or in Song (q.v.) but do not appear to be given in other contexts. They are {a) a clear, high-pitched 44 Pee ” or 44 Week ”. (b) A squelchy-sounding 44 Squeh ”, very similar to the homologous call of Jameson’s Firefinch (see Harrison, 1957 and 1963). (c) A husky 44 Fwit ” very suggestive of the sound made by the wings in the Greeting Display but vocal. (d) A soft but husky whispering or muttering very suggestive of the sotto voce whispering calls often given by displaying male Jays Garrulus glandarius. Both this husky muttering and the 44 squelchy ” note may be punctuated by a click rather similar in sound to the bill-snapping of the Java Sparrow. This is probably homologous with the 44 click-like 4 stip ’ ” described by Harrison (1956) for the Senegal Firefinch. Any or all of these calls may be given by the displaying male in any sort of order. If, however, he only gives one note or repetitions of one note during a bout of displaying then it is usually either the squelchy- sounding 44 Squeh ” or the clear high-pitched 44 Pee D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 10 The Courting Screech. A long drawn out husky screech T’skaaa or T’schair subject to some variation but basically very similar to the Fear Screech. This was often given by the captive-bred male when hopping or, more usually, flying towards females in whom he was sexually interested. At such times he was more or less in Stem Display posture while in flight and uttered this screech with wide open bill. He showed this behaviour towards his father’s mate, when he was unpaired, and later towards the female L. jameson virata. He did not screech in this manner at his first mate (his sister, whom he had always known) nor to the hen Jameson’s after they were firmly paired. The screech seems to express a very intense degree of emotion and, I think, conflict between aggressive and sexual impulses. The Contact Calls. In this cover-haunting species which, probably, lives in pairs and does not flock in a wild state, the contact calls are well developed and appear, so far as can be judged from very few specimens, to show marked individual differences. My “ old ” (wild caught) male utters as his Contact Calls a loud, ringing “ Chew-chew-chew-chew ...” with an almost Nightingale-like tone and richness, a slightly less musical but equally loud “ Chui-chui-chui-chui ” and a more Canary-like “ Chub- chub-chub-chub ...” The homologous calls of the “ young ” (captive- bred) male could be written the same way but are much harsher in tone so that his Contact Calling, unlike that of his father, is unpleasant to my ears. Separation from the mate or the Contact Calls of another individual (female or male, mate or rival) usually elicit immediate Contact Calls. Though their function is obviously communicative they seem largely motivated by a degree of uneasiness or mild fear insuffi¬ cient to elicit Alarm Calls. Thus they may be given in response to some mildly alarming behaviour on my part or in response to Alarm Calls (but usually only fairly low intensity Alarm Calls) from a conspecific. Besides a “ Chwee-chwee-chwee ...” very like the male’s the female has other and differently sounding calls that appear to be referable to the Contact Call repertoire. Of these my first (wild caught) female had three forms ( a ) a long-drawn, thin, high- pitched plaintive, whistling “ Feeeeeeeeeee ” somewhat suggestive of the whistle of a male Golden Plover ( Charadrius apricarius in its display flight ; (b) a slightly louder and slightly less plaintive “ Feeeu-feeeu ” and (c) a shorter, quicker, and tri-syllabic “ Fee u- feed- fee u ” very suggestive of the whistling call of the Nuthatch [Sitta europaea). The comparable calls of my present (captive bred) female differ from those of her mother (as above described) in being a little less plaintive in tone. Her equivalent of the tri-syllabic Feed-feed-feed could better be written Fee-fee-fee and more than three “ string together ” notes are often 102 D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH uttered. She also uses much more often the Chwee-chwee-chwee male¬ like Contact Call. These calls are given by the female in situations where the male would utter his Contact Call phrases. They are also uttered by the nesting female (sometimes) before, during, or after the change-over (see under “ Nesting and Parental behaviour ”). When given by a female alone in a room I have not been able to find any difference in the situation correlated with the three forms of whistling Contact Calls. The single very plaintive “ Feeee ” seems especially to be indicative of a greater degree of fear or disquiet. This is suggested by the fact that the original female gave it more often during her first few days at liberty in the house than subsequently. Also, on one occasion when a friend was staying with me who was a stranger to the birds and alarmed them more than I did and the Firefinches kept flying about in a rather worried manner from one room to the other, the female frequently gave the single “ Feeee ” (not the other Contact Calls) when she was perched only a few inches from her mate. He responded in each case with the Trilling Call and the Greeting Display, or at least some attempt at it, at once followed in spite (or because ?) of their alarmed state. The di-syllabic “ Feeeu-feeeu ” is most often used by the hen at the change over. The single “ Feeee ” seems never to be used in answer (or reaction) to the call of another individual, in which situation the tri¬ syllabic “ Feeu-feeu-feeu ” or the male-like Chwee-chwee-chwee-chwee are used. The most striking thing about the Contact Calls is the difference between those of the young pair and those of their parents. Especially in view of the fact that they have never heard any other adults. Since all their other calls sound identical to those of their parents this is unlikely to be due to some adverse factor of the capture environment. This individual difference probably functions for quick recognition of the mate’s voice, which is no doubt useful in this aggressive and probably territorial species. The “ Song ” of the Male In the Blue Waxbills ( Uraegmthus sp.) it is possible to draw a firm distinction between the song (i.e. the rather complex series of notes given when displaying as well as in other situations) and the simpler, repeated Contact Calls even though both are often given in very similar situations. In these Blue Waxbills I have often had the impression that the song represents a sort of stereotyped potpourri of all or most of the other calls in various permutations. This impression is, however, far more vivid and unchallengeable in the case of the present species. The “ Song ” of the male Dark Firefinch appears to consist of little, if anything more than his repertoire of call notes. The only exception is the Alarm Note but its apparent absence in the song may be due to my D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH IO3 thinking it genuine at times when it is given in “ Song When singing the male Dark Firefinch varies the pitch and intensity of some notes and may give them in somewhat different forms. Thus the high-pitched “ Pee 55 may be given as several notes rung together “ Pee-pee-pee- pee ” in a very musical and poignant tone suggestive of the “ Tereus ! ” cry in the Nightingale’s song, the Trilling Call may end in a liquid bubbling sound and so on. In the quieter forms of Song there often appears to be a certain amount of intergradation of different calls but this is hard to be sure of. Such intergradation of different calls is very seldom done when the bird is singing loudly. It is possible to distinguish two main types of singing, one loud and the other quiet and sotto voce. This is, however, an artificial distinction as the two can intergrade and seem to express only a difference in intensity not in motivation. When singing loudly the bird tends to utter each note three or four times in a series, when singing quietly a note will often be uttered only once. This is, however, an average not an absolute difference. In both forms of song there is a characteristic pause after each note or series of notes. Usually the singer does not immediately repeat the same note or series of notes after a pause although he sometimes does so. When singing the bird perches, stands on the ground, or hops about. He tends to hold his head rather high and to look around, moving his head to do so, in the pauses. He may, on the other hand, utilize the pauses for feeding. Often he indulges in low intensity display movements while singing, sometimes he may give full Stem Display with material in his bill while singing alone, although never while actually uttering the Contact Calls or Trilling Call at high intensity. In loud song particularly the style, staccato bursts of vehement short phrases or single notes, with pauses of silence between, is very suggestive of the song of the Nightin¬ gale ( Luscinia megarhynchosy As Harrison (1962) has emphasized for various estrildines, visual isolation is one of the commonest situations eliciting Song. In the Dark Firefinch loud song is rarely and quiet song less infrequently given in sight of conspecifics. I once saw and heard a male singing while perched with his flying and nearly independent young on each side of him and in physical contact with him. Andrew (i960) has pointed out that in many birds song seems to be elicited by the same stimuli that elicit Contact Calls. This is certainly the case in the Dark Firefinch but in this species the nature of the Song makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to say where “ call notes ” end and “ song ” begins or vice versa. Comparison with Calls of Jameson’s Firefinches For some months past I have also had two Jameson’s Firefinches Lagonosticta rhodopareia : a male of the Eastern race L. r.jamesoni and a 104 D- GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH female of the dark Western race L.j. virata. Although the data on them is necessarily scanty (as yet) some of it seems worth giving for compara¬ tive purposes. For brevity’s sake I shall hereafter refer to the two forms of this species in my possession as jamesoni and virata. So far as one can judge from two specimens, compared with only a small number of one race of rubricata , Jameson’s Firefinch gives the impression of being a slightly slimmer and neater-looking as well as slightly smaller bird. The male jamesoni is very like the male of rubricata haematocephala but the red parts are a paler and more pinkish red and the upperparts a warmer, more reddish-brown ground colour. The male virata is dark greyish-brown and dark red, very like the western races of rubricata and the female virata is almost as red as the male, unlike the females of rubricata and jamesoni. Virata is also a little larger, being as large, but perhaps not so heavily built as rubricata. My male jamesoni and female virata apparently each “ mistook ” the other for a rival of the same sex. They showed mutual hostility and the female courted and eventually paired with a male rubricata whose resemblance in colour to a male virata evidently made him preferred, or at least recognized as a male, in spite of differences of language. The calls of virata have already been described (Harrison, 1957). Besides those he lists, however, my female gave a very high, plaintive, long-drawn “ F eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ” and, less often, a bi-syllabic “ Feeee-eeee These were given in the same situations as the Feeeu calls of female rubricata with which they are almost certainly homolo¬ gous. They are, however, even more plaintive and drawn out, almost eerie in tone and astonishingly like one of the calls of the Sun-bittern ( Heliopyga helias ), the long-drawn “ F eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ” having the same, sad, haunting quality as the Sun-bittern’s call. The male jamesoni speaks the same language as the female virata but in a very different accent, the calls being, at comparable intensity, much less loud, and rather higher in pitch. Thus the Alarm Call is a trill essentially like that of virata but much less loud and harsh. I wrote that of jamesoni as “ trrrrrrr ”, “ trrrr-trr-trrt ”, etc., that of virata as “ Churrrr ”, “ Churrrr-rrrr ” when listening to them. The very harsh, loud, nasal Contact Call (or rather one contact call) of virata , which Harrison transcribed as “ Kyew ” or “ Kyah ” and I as “ T’skya ” appear to be rendered by my male jamesoni as a much softer, husky “ tchu ”. His Display Calls do not differ from that described by Harrison for virata although as it also is very soft (by comparison with the “ squelch ” and fwit ” notes of rubricata) it is probably also less loud than the comparative notes of virata. My jamesoni also gives as, apparently, a flight-intention call, a very soft “ Tsit, tsit ” which intensifies into a rapidly repeated “ ti-ti-ti-ti-ti ” (the “ i ” pronounced as in “ bit ” in both cases). His “ song-like ” Contact Call consists of a series of very sweet musical notes strung to- D. GOODWIN - OBSERVATIONS ON THE DARK FIREFINCH 05 gether and uttered either rather rapidly “ We-we-we-we-we-we-we . . or more slowly and poignantly “ Weet-weet-weet-weet-weet-weet . . Usually in the course of a few minutes calling (or singing) he will give both fast and slow versions, commonly one is followed by the other. The slower series is very suggestive of one of the phrases of the Wood¬ lark’s song. As is the case with rubricata, the male jamesoni, when singing, goes through his complete repertoire, alarm calls excepted, and makes at least incipient display movements when uttering the Display Galls. An interesting point in connection with the difference in calls in the two species is that to human ears the Alarm Galls of virata and jamesoni sound extremely like the anger call of rubricata and not in the least like its Alarm Call. However, the Dark Firefinches were more perceptive than their owner in this. They respond (if at all) to the Alarm Trill of a jamesoni (or virata) with Alarm Calls, never with their Trilling Call with which they answer the (to me ) similarly sounding trill of an unseen member of their own species. My male jamesoni more often gives the Stem Display without any symbolic nesting material in the bill than with a stem or feather and he commonly adopts a rather more horizontal posture and lifts his head up less far than rubricata. As, however, I have only seen him display by himself such displays as I have seen may have been only low intensity versions. The Greeting Display of my female virata is the same as that of rubri¬ cata although she much more often gives it without the wing slapping component. She appears only to lift and slap down her far wing in this display when she is performing it at very high intensity. Whether this is a specific character or an individual idiosyncrasy it is, on present evidence, impossible to say. REFERENCES Goodwin, D. (1959). Observations on Blue-Breasted Waxbills. Avicult. Mag., 65 : 149-169. - (i960). Observations on Avadavats and Golden-breasted Waxbills. Avicult. Mag., 66 : 1 74-199 - (1963). Observations on Java Sparrows. Avicult. Mag., 69 : 54-69. Harrison, C. J. O. (1956). Some Fire-finches and their Behaviour. Avicult. Mag., 62 ; 128-141. — — ‘ (I957)- Notes on the Dark Fire-finch. Avicult. Mag., 63 : 128-130. - (1962). An Ethological Comparison of some Waxbills (Estrildini) and its Relation to Their Taxonomy. Proc. Z°°b $oc’ Load., 139, Pt. 2, pp. 261-282. - (I9^3). Jameson’s Firefinch and the Dark Firefinch. Avicult. Mag., 69 : 42. Immelmann, K. (1962). Beitrage zu einer vergleichenden Biologie Australischer Prachtfinken (Spermestidae). £ool. Jb. Syst. Bd., 90, S.i. 1-196. Kunkel, P. (1959). Zum Verhalten einiger Prachtfinken (Estrildinae) . Z. Tierp- psychol. 16 : 302-350. Nicolai, J. (1959). Familientradition in der Gesangsentwicklung des Gimpels {Pyrrhula pyrrhula L.) Journ.f. Orn., 100 : 39-46. 106 SIR R. COTTERELL - BREEDING THE VINACEOUS FIREFINCH BREEDING THE VINACEOUS FIREFINCH (. Lagonosticta vinacea ) By Sir Richard Cotterell, Bt. (Hereford, England) Description Male : — Forehead and crown grey ; cheeks black ; mantle, back and rump vinous-pink. Tail coverts and outer tail feathers pink to crimson ; wings brown but coverts washed-pink ; underparts vinous- pink with tiny white spots on side of breast and body. Eye red. Bill upper mandible dark olive-green. Lower paler. Legs and feet olive- green. Female : — A paler edition of the male — no black on the cheeks. The whole head being grey. Distribution West Africa. Senegal, Gambia, Portuguese Guinea and possibly French Guinea. Distribution eastwards not defined. Wild Habits Little is known about this species. In Gambia it is local in distribution and usually associated with bamboos and fresh water. Nothing is known of its nesting habits. I purchased a pair of these birds at the beginning of June, 1963, from Mr. Liptrott. He tells me that they came to him in a consignment from Senegal. On arrival the cock looked in very good order, but the hen appeared a little rough. However they were put in a cage to settle down. When settled they were not at all wild. On 9th June they were transferred to the heated shelter of an outside aviary 12 by 8 feet. As the weather was good, they were allowed out after three days. Also in the same aviary were a pair of Blue-headed and a pair of Black-cheeked Waxbills. They got on well with the Blue-heads, but did not care much for the Black-cheeks — I suppose owing to the slight similarity of colour. They then went into a moult for just over a month. They appeared to eat entirely pannicum millet and millet sprays. On 7th August the cock was carrying nesting material, and a nest was completed in a wicker finch basket in the shelter. The nest consisted of grass stems copiously lined with feathers. On 13th August the hen flew out of the nest after I had been in the shelter for a minute or so. It thus appeared that sitting began on this day. On this surmise, according to the habits of most other estrilds, the young should hatch on 27th August and fledge on 14th September. On 23rd August I went abroad for a holiday until 12th September. SIR R. COTTERELL - BREEDING THE VINACEOUS FIREFINCH IO7 I left instructions that from 27th August ant pupae and mealworms should be fed to them three times per day. I am told that the parents were not out together until 2nd September, and that they were not so avid after the ant pupae as most other waxbills with young. As is always the case with more than one pair of birds in an enclosure, it is impossible to ensure that the ants’ eggs are available for the birds that should have them. On my return on 12th September I inquired if there were any young Firefinches out, and was told not. I went to look in the aviary and was greeted by two young birds. I did not look in the nest in case there were more to come. The next day another young one was found dead under the nest. This was considerably less developed than the other two, so probably had been dead in the nest for four or five days. The young birds were more or less uniform mouse-brown all over with a very slight vinous wash, beak nondescript, and a very short russet tail. They were extraordinarily tame and I could walk right up to them on the perch. Five days after fledging I discontinued feeding ant pupae as they were difficult to get, and the parents did not appear very keen on them. This, I think, was a mistake. Four days after this the young birds, whose tails were now full length, were chasing the parents for food but getting no response. They were starting to pick up some seeds for themselves but appeared very hungry. So I fed ants’ eggs again for another few days. Also on this day the hen flew out of a new nest with one egg in it. (More of this anon.) The young went through a very tricky time from then on, as the parents seemed to be too busy with their new nest to bother about them. They appeared tucked-up and hungry. They were definitely moulting by 7th October (twenty-five days after fledging) and one was showing clear black markings on the face. By 23rd October the young hen was almost indistinguishable from her mother though the young cock had only about a third of his black face. Now to revert to the second brood. I was stupidly caught unawares by this, as all the Waxbills which I have bred have almost invariably gone to sit on a second brood, ten days after the previous family has fledged. Anyhow I found a barrel¬ shaped nest about 5 inches long by 3 inches high built of grass stems in some brushwood about 5 feet from the ground in the shelter. It was much the tidiest nest I have ever seen a Waxbill make. I immediately put in a mass of pigeon feathers, but these were not used for about three or four days, then they all disappeared. I rather fancy the same procedure happened the first time, i.e. the feathers were not used until laying was completed and sitting had begun. I decided to try an experiment with this brood, to see whether they could be reared on mealworms alone. 108 SIR R. COTTERELL - BREEDING THE VINACEOUS FIREFINCH On 24th September the cock was sitting hard, which meant that they should hatch 8th October and fledge about 26th October. On 14th October I noticed that one of the parents was still always in the nest. But chosing my moment I was able to feel in the nest and found that there were definitely live young. I then went away for three days, leaving the same instructions that mealworms should be fed three times per day. On 1 7th October I noticed that the mealworms were not being taken and both parents were looking rather disconsolate. I felt in the nest and found four dead young — two well-grown, one medium, and one very small. I would say that they were not big enough to have fledged on the proper day so it looks as though they died about the time I felt in the nest on the 14th. The crops of the two bigger ones were full of pannicum millet and the younger ones were empty. The cause of death may have been the objection of the old birds to my feeling in the nest ; though this I think is most unlikely. A more probable cause may be that in my absence the evening mealworms were not fed early enough. Anyhow it was very sad. They went to nest again 24th October and I was in two minds whether to let them continue at this late date or not. However, I finally decided to let them go on and from hatching date fed meal¬ worms and an insectile mixture. Although they hatched, the young died after a few days, and they paid no attention either to the meal¬ worms or the insectile mixture. I think the difficulty with all the estrilds is the supply of insect food for rearing young. Ant pupae seem to be the answer, but it is an awful labour getting enough of them to keep several breeding pairs going. Gentles were not tried — possibly they might provide the answer. Undoubtedly they find a lot of various insects themselves in a planted outdoor aviary but these need supplementing in a suitable manner. The young cock has not yet (21st November) moulted into his full plumage, though they both look in good order — they were moved into an indoor birdroom about a month ago. Finally this is quite one of the most attractive Waxbills. They are reasonably tame and I feel could be bred quite easily if the insect problem could be solved. REFERENCE David Bannerman. Birds of Tropical West Africa, Vol. 7 As described, Sir Richard Cotterell, Bt., has bred the Vinaceous Fire- finch Lagonosticta vinacea. It is believed that this may be a first success. Any member or reader knowing of a previous breeding of this species in Great Britain or Northern Ireland is requested to communi¬ cate at once with the Hon. Secretary. W. R. PARTRIDGE - BREEDING THE GREATER PATAGONIAN GONURE IO9 BREEDING THE GREATER PATAGONIAN GONURE ( Cyanolyseus byroni ) By W. R. Partridge (Evesham, Worcs, England) Early in 1 960, 1 was fortunate to find a very fine pair of these magnifi¬ cent birds, in a dealer’s shop, which I was able to purchase and bring home and install in my bird-room, until late Spring, and then transfer to the aviary they have since occupied. This aviary is at the end of a range occupied mainly by pigeons, doves, softbills, and a few small seedeaters. The flight is 21 ft. long, 5 ft. wide and 7 ft 6 in. high, with a large indoor shelter. The Greater Patagonian Conures are the only parrotlike birds that are regularly housed in this range, which comes under the care of my assistant, Peter Brown, to whom I give much of the credit for this, and other successful breedings in the same block. The Greater Patagonian Gonure ( Cyanolyseus byroni) is the largest of the Conures, and is a native of Chile. Its colour is dark brownish-olive on the head, neck, and upper breast, which is crossed by a greyish- white band. The lower breast is yellow with an orange- red patch in the middle. The wings are a lighter and brighter olive, and the rump, yellow-bronze. The bill is horn-black. The sexes are alike in colour, but the male of my pair is easily distinguished from the female by his stronger head and beak, more masculine appearance, and larger orange-red patch on lower breast. Length approximately 20 in. This Gonure differs in size from the Lesser Patagonian Gonure (' Cyanolyseus patagonus ) which comes from Patagonia and La Plata, being some 2 or 3 in. longer than the latter, and having a more definite greyish-white band across the upper breast. During 1961 and 1962, the pair were supplied with a box 11 in. square, 2 ft. 6 in. tall, hung 3 ft. above the ground, half way down one side of the flight, but their interest was confined to chewing the box to pieces. In the Spring of 1963 what remained of this box was removed and replaced by a hollo wed-out log of extremely hard wood. This log is 29 in. high, standing on a post, so that its base is again 3 ft. above the ground, and stood on the side of the aviary in the same position as the original box. The inside of this log measures approximately 9 in. in diameter, and the entrance hole, which is 20 in. above the nest, is 4 in. in diameter. The nest itself is formed of wood chippings chewed off the inside of the log by the birds themselves, and a very small amount of rotten wood-dust that was put in the bottom of the log when it was installed. The birds were of quite a shy disposition, and were never actually 10 W. R. PARTRIDGE - BREEDING THE GREATER PATAGONIAN CONURE seen in the nest log, so it was with some surprise that on inspecting it on 20th May, three glossy white and obviously fertile eggs were found. As the hen was now off the nest, and in the shelter, I risked testing them with a light, and estimated they had been incubated between five and seven days. As incubation progressed, the pair steadied down consider¬ ably, and the hen started remaining in the nest when one passed through the aviary. The nest was not inspected again until i ith June, when the ! hen left the nest, and feeble sounds could be heard coming from inside. j On inspection, all three eggs were found to have hatched, and the chicks looked to be from three to five days old, which would make the period of incubation to have been twenty-four or twenty-five days. By the time the chicks were two weeks old, they made themselves well heard on all possible occasions. The cock was not seen to enter the nest until after the young were hatched; from this time onwards he was regularly observed entering and leaving the nest, presumably to feed the hen, and later the chicks as well, which he continued to feed together with the hen, for several weeks after they left the nest. The youngsters progressed rapidly in growth, and were soon well feathered, but it was not until 4th August, when they were eight weeks old, that the first two youngsters left the nest. The third youngster came out two days later. The youngsters were exactly like their parents, excepting that the upper mandible was ivory-white in colour, where in the adults, it is horn- black. They are now, at the time of writing this article, eight months old, and are still identifiable from their parents by the colour of their beaks, which, although they have darkened considerably, are still much lighter than the parents. The young were very intelligent from the time they left the nest, and never flew into the wire, either on the top or end of the aviary, as so many young parrakeets will do, and almost immediately were following their parents in and out of the shelter. The only additions to their normal diet of canary seed, sunflower seed, and apple were several pieces of bread each day, and an increase in the amount of green food, in the form of spinach-beet, which I have found invaluable in the breeding season, for most young parrakeets. As described, W. R. Partridge has bred the Greater Patagonian Conure Cyanolyseus byroni. It is believed that this may be a first success. Any member or reader knowing of a previous breeding of this species in Great Britain or Northern Ireland is requested to communicate at once with the Hon. Secretary. W. R. PARTRIDGE - BREEDING THE CAYENNE SEEDEATER I I I BREEDING THE CAYENNE SEEDEATER ( Sporophila frontalis) By W. R. Partridge (Evesham, Worcs, England) In November, 1959, I had ten small South American seedeaters sent me. They were easily identifiable as being Sporophila of some species or other. One was a smaller bird than the rest, which I later gave away. The remainder subsequently proved to be two cocks, and the rest hens, of Sporophila frontalis . As at the time I was unable to find any description of these birds, I treated the two cocks, on account of the different colouring, as a pair, and put them in an aviary with some various doves and pigeons. I was further mislead by the fact that both cocks and hens uttered a short song. What proved later to be four hens, were placed in another aviary. In i960 nothing was done by either lot of birds, but in 1961, after the leaves had fallen from a nut-bush in the aviary occupied by the cocks, a cup-shaped nest built of fine twigs was found. During the winter, one of the cocks died ; the remaining bird was put with two hens, in a 2 1 ft. x 8 ft aviary, shared with a pair of Green Imperial Fruit Pigeons. To confirm that they were beyond doubt Sporophila frontalis , I wrote to our Hon. Secretary, Mr. Arthur Prestwich, to ask if he could turn up a description in his library. As usual, he was very helpful, and referred the matter to Mr. Derek Goodwin, who in turn was extremely helpful by supplying an excellent sketch and description of the birds, which are slightly smaller and thicker built than a House Sparrow. The cock is a general olive-brown, strongly tinged with grey throughout. The throat is white, broken by an olive-grey streak on either side. This white runs right down through to the abdomen, but below the throat it inclines to become greyer than the pure white of the throat. A broad white line runs across the brow, between the eyes, this line being broken in the centre by olive-brown, as in the rest of the head. A narrow white line extends above and behind the eye. The flanks are olive, and the wings show two greyish- white bars. The beak is short, thick, with deeply curved culmen, and is a dark horn-brown. The legs are brown. The female is the same size as the male, is olive-green, lacking the greyish tinge of the cock, and the chin is yellow, shading through the throat and breast to greenish-yellow. The wing bars are buffish-brown. Both birds have the same limited song, which can be heard for a con¬ siderable distance, and consists of three or four staccato notes, followed by a low warble. The whole song range is very short and repeated over and over again. Early in March, 1962, the cock, now with two hens, started showing interest in the small body-feathers moulted by the Imperial Fruit Pigeons that were scattered about the aviary. He would pick one up and 9 I 12 W. R. PARTRIDGE - BREEDING THE CAYENNE SEEDEATER fly to a high perch, where he would hold it in his feet, picking it up from j different angles and then dropping it again. A couple of weeks after his first interest in the feathers, he started to build a nest in a small nitida bush, about 2 ft. high. The nest was placed in the top of the bush, and was composed entirely of very thin nitida twigs and feathers. It had a fairly deep cup and was not lined, and it was possible to see through the bottom. This, like all subsequent nests, was built entirely by the cock, j and was completed in three days. No further interest appeared to be ! taken in this nest for almost a month, but on 1 1 th April, it was found to contain two eggs. There is some doubt if these two eggs were laid by the same hen, as they were entirely dissimilar, both in shape and colour. One was elongated, resembling that of a Robin, being covered by indistinct sandy-reddish spots, which were larger and more definite at the thick end. The other egg was shorter and rounder, and quite j heavily blotched with dark brown spots, particularly at the larger end. Both eggs had a white ground. On 13th April, one of the hens started to incubate, and the cock and other hen were never seen near the nest, except when anyone was in the aviary, and then, if the cock should fly in the bush, he was greeted with hisses. The hen incubated for almost a month before she finally abandoned the eggs, which were found to be infertile. On 1 7th May, the cock was again seen carrying feathers, and there shortly followed a second nest, again in a small nitida bush, but at the opposite end of the aviary. At first the hen seemed to accept this nest, but after two or three days she lost interest in it, and shortly after this, the cock took the nest to pieces, only to reconstruct it in a small bush overlooking a drinking pool. The hen showed no interest in it at all. On 5th June, the hen was seen to be taking an interest in her original nest, and on 1 ith June, two eggs were found in this nest. A further egg was added on the 1 2th, when the hen started to incubate the three eggs, which were all alike and similar in colour and shape to the latter of the first two described above. The eggs hatched in under two weeks, and the hen alone brooded and fed the chicks. The cock took no part in feeding the young, and in fact, if he approached the nest, was immediately driven off by the hen. Whilst she was rearing the youngsters she took very little canary seed, her normal diet, but seemed to spend most of her time catching small flies and aphis in the aviary, although she was supplied with any amount of aphids and ants’ eggs. She would take none of them, apparently relying on her own catching efforts to feed the chicks. The youngsters left the nest after fourteen days, spending the first two days on the ground and in low bushes, before they found the use of their wings, and got on to higher perches in the aviary. Some ten days after the youngsters left the nest, the hen went back to nest again, laying three more eggs from which one was hatched and reared, as was J. J. YEALLAND - LONDON ZOO NOTES I 1 3 a fourth youngster from a fourth and final nest, by which time it was well into September. The plumage of the youngsters on leaving the nest was similar to that of the hen, with a more yellowish tinge on the under parts. All these youngsters, with the exception of one from the first round which had roosted in the open and was lost in a downpour of rain one night a week after it left the nest, proved subsequently to be hens. I have found these finches to be extremely hardy, surviving the extremely cold weather we had for some six weeks in 1963, in an unheated aviary. No nest was built during 1963, due, I think, to the fact that the cock spent a long time coming through the moult, which he did not start until early in the New Year. Apart from their nesting habits, and hardiness, I can find little to recommend these birds to aviculturists. Their song is strictly limited, they are not very colourful, and are extremely destructive to growing bushes. These Cayenne Seedeaters, under the care of my assistant, Peter Brown, were housed in another part of the same range in which my Greater Patagonian Conures bred. As described, W. R. Partridge has bred the Cayenne Seedeater Sporophila frontalis. It is believed that this may be a first success. Any member or reader knowing of a previous breeding of this species in Great Britain or Northern Ireland is requested to communicate at once with the Hon. Secretary. * * * LONDON ZOO NOTES By J. J. Yealland A Brunnich’s Guillemot ( Uria l. lomvia) that flew on to a ship some 500 miles to the eastward of Cape Race, Newfoundland, was recently brought to the Gardens. It was the first of this species ever to be in the collection, if, indeed, it could be said to have been in the collection, for it did not long survive, being in a very emaciated condition and its plumage damaged by oil. A new subspecies is a specimen of the Fairy Bluebird ( Irena puella puella). The Javan I.p. turcosa is the only form to have been previously kept at Regent’s Park. Dr. K. C. Searle sent from Hong Kong a pair of Chinese Bamboo Partridges ( Bambusicola t. thoracica ), Red-flanked, Japanese and Chinese White-eyes and a Chinese Starling ( Sturnus sinensis). Other arrivals of particular interest are a Cheer Pheasant, Red¬ headed Buntings, a White-capped Tanager, Spotted Emerald Tanager and a pair of Azure Jays (Cyanocorax caeruleus). Kenya Eagle-Owls have three chicks. BRITISH AVIGULTURISTS’ CLUB I 14 COUNCIL MEETING A Council Meeting was held on 9th March, 1964, at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London, W. 2. The following members were present : — Miss E. Maud Knobel, President, in the Chair. Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt., Vice-President. Miss K. Bonner, Mr. W. D. Cummings, Miss R. Ezra, Mr. L. W. Hill, Mr. F. E. B. Johnson, Mr. R. G. Kirkham, Mr. K. A. Norris, Mr. C. M. Payne, Mr. D. H. S. Risdon, Mr. E. O. Squire, Mr. N. R. Steel, Mr. J. J. Yealland, and Mr. A. A. Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. The Hon. Secretary-Treasurer gave reports for 1963. The Society’s Awards A Certificate of Merit was awarded to the Zoological Society of London, for the first breeding of the African Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis. Hon. Life Member Mrs. C. H. Seth-Smith was elected an Hon. Life Member of the Society. Arthur A. Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. BRITISH AVICULTURISTS’ CLUB Dinners and Meetings during the 1964-65 session have been arranged for the following dates : Monday, 14th September, 1964. ,, 9th November, 1964. ,, 8th March, 1965. „ 10th May, 1965. The Dinners will be held at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London, W. 2. Arthur A. Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. The eighty-fourth meeting of the Club was held at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London, W. 2., on Monday, 9th March, 1964, following a dinner at 7 p.m. NEWS AND VIEWS ”5 Chairman : Mr. K. Norris. Members of the Club : Miss P. Barclay-Smith, A. W. Bolton, Miss K. Bonner, R. A. Chester, W. D. Cummings, J. O. D’eath, C. W. Desmond, B. Dittrich, Mrs. W. Duggans, Miss R. Ezra, Dr. R. Gottlieb, A. V. Griffiths, H. J. Harman, L. W. Hill, Dr. E. Hindle, F. E. B. Johnson, Mrs. S. Johnstone, F. T. Jones, Dr. S. B. Kendall, R. G. Kirkham, Miss E. M. Knobel, G. B. Lane, R. F. Marshall, Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt., W. R. Partridge, C. M. Payne, W. H. Phillips, A. A. Prestwich, D. H. S. Risdon, B. E. Robinson, R. C. J. Sawyer, Mrs. H. Seth-Smith, H. A. Snazle, E. O. Squire, N. R. Steel, A. J. Swain, P. L. Wayre, P. O. Williams. Members of the Club, thirty-nine ; guests, sixteen ; total fifty-five. The evening was devoted to a conversazione. Arthur A. Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. * ❖ & NEWS AND VIEWS In the January, 1964, number of Bird Keeping in Australia there is an interesting report that the cinnamon mutation of the Cordon-bleu is gradually increasing, being bred by several aviculturists. A fawn or cinnamon mutation of the St. Helena Waxbill has also appeared. * * * The U.S. Secretary of the Interior has announced the arrival of thirty-three Whooping Cranes at their wintering grounds in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. This is an increase of five in the flock that had left in the spring. Of great importance is the fact that there are no less than seven young birds of the year, whereas in the previous year there had been none. * * * Sir Edward Hallstrom, Director of the Taronga Zoological Park Trust, Australia, has been made an Honorary Fellow of the Zoological Society of London. Sir Edward has presented many collections to the Society. Perhaps the most noteworthy is the representative collection of Australian fauna which the Society received in commemoration of the visit of H.M. The Queen and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to Australia in 1963. * * * J. C. Peters, Veterinary Surgeon, Blijdorp Zoo, Rotterdam, success¬ fully fitted an artificial bill to a Ground Hornbill in 1957 (see Avicult. Mag., 1958, p. 125). A somewhat similar operation has been carried through by Mr. Wilfred Lawson, a dental specialist. About two years ago a toucan in the possession of K. A. Norris was attacked by its mate i6 REVIEWS and its beak was badly damaged. Mr. Lawson fixed a metal and plastic “ beak ” to the damaged one, thus enabling the bird to eat naturally. Now the beak is nearly normal. * * * The Yellow-billed Hornbill Lophoceros jiavirostris was bred in the Bloemfontein Zoological Gardens towards the end of 1961. A short breeding account in The Ostrich , December, 1963, says that three eggs, laid in a hollow palm stump, proved to be infertile. Shortly after two more were laid and these were successfully hatched, after an incubation period of twenty-one days. The young ones left the nest when they 1 were eleven weeks old. One was drowned in the pond in the aviary a few days later but the other was apparently fully reared. On the first attempt the cock took five days to close the nest entrance, and on the second two only. On the second occasion the nest opening was normal again after nine weeks. * * * I sometimes wonder why so many overseas aviculturists, more particularly American, call Poephila gouldiae the Lady Gould Finch. The black-headed phase of this finch was discovered by John Gilbert on Greenhill Island, at the head of Van Diemen Gulf. John Gould, in naming the Gouldian Finch in honour of his wife Elizabeth, writes : “ It is with feelings of the purest affection that I ventured in the folio edition to dedicate this lovely bird to the memory of my late wife, who for many years laboriously assisted me with her pencil, accompanied me to Australia, and cheerfully interested herself in all my pursuits Mrs. Gould (nee Coxen) was indeed a very skilful artist and was responsible for many of the plates in her husband’s works. The mother of five children, Mrs. Gould died at the early age of thirty-seven (i8thjuly, 1804-15^ August, 1841). It is quite correct to preface Amherst’s Pheasant with “ Lady ”, also to apply the title to the one time Lady Impey’s Pheasant, now com¬ monly Impeyan : but Lady Gould’s Finch is quite inadmissable. A. A. P. * * ❖ REVIEWS BIRDS OF THE LABRADOR PENINSULAR AND ADJACENT AREAS. By W. E. Clyde Todd. University of Toronto Press and Oxford University Press, London, 1964. Price £7 ys. This is stated to be a distributional list, published in association with the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, but such a modest title gives a very inadequate idea of the contents of this impressive volume. The earlier part summarizes the twenty-five expeditions which the writer or his colleagues undertook to collect information on the bird life of the REVIEWS 117 region. Most of these involved travelling the “ hard way ”, sometimes in virtually unexplored territory, before the advent of aeroplanes, and in themselves are of considerable geographical interest. The birds of this region are more numerous than might have been anticipated, a total of 338 species and sub-species being covered in the present work. Forty-six of these are classified as Accidental-Visitants, mostly from other parts of America but ten are definitely of European origin. Three species — two puffins and a petrel — from the Southern Hemisphere, which come north to escape the southern winter, are classified as Summer-Migrants. Twenty species are Transient- Visitants, breeding in the far north and wintering to the south beyond the limits of Labrador. There are 49 Permanent-Residents, but many of these are resident only in the sense that they are known to pass the winter season somewhere in the territory and most of them move about with the changing seasons. Four species are Winter-Residents breeding outside the area. The great bulk of the avifauna, however, is composed of 200 species and sub-species of Summer-Resident birds, which winter farther south and migrate northward in spring to reach their breeding grounds, leaving again on the approach of winter. The general introduction is followed by a systematic list of the species and their study and consideration from a taxonomic standpoint is an important part of the memoir. The main theme, however, is concerned with the problems of distribution, general and local, of the Labrador avifauna. All definite locality-records for each species have been plotted on separate maps and some of them are reproduced in the present volume. The presentation is aimed to show the significance of climatic, ecological, and topographic conditions as distributional factors. The result is a valuable addition to our knowledge of the avifauna of a little known region. E. H. CHECK-LIST OF BIRDS OF THE WORLD. Vol. X. A con¬ tinuation of the work of James L. Peters. Edited by Ernst Mayr and Raymond A. Paynter Jr. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. U.S.A., 1964. Price 10 dollars. As justly stated in the introduction to the present volume, Peters’ Check-list has long been recognized as an indispensable reference for reliable information on the classification, correct names, synonymies and geographical distribution of birds and there is nothing like it in the world literature for any other kind of organism. One minor change in the present Volume is the elimination of vernacular names. There were criticisms on the selection of the English names used in Volumes IX and XV and the critics seemed to 1 18 CORRESPONDENCE feel that an effort should be made to standardize and supply appro¬ priate English names for all species. This would have involved cumber¬ some polls and other elaborate procedures beyond the scope of a scientific work, so acting on the advice of ten of the 1 2 authors of this and forthcoming volumes the vernacular names have been omitted. This step will be regretted by the less experienced amateur but it was obvious that the Editors could not take any other decision. Volume X deals with two families of the Passeriformes, Suborder Oscines, of very unequal size, comprising the Prunellidae (Accentors) with only one genus Prunella and the Muscicapidae divided into six sub-families. S. Dillon Ripley is responsible for the Prunellidae and the sub-family Turdinae (Thrushes) ; the sub-family Polioptilinae (Gnat catchers and allies) is by Raymond A. Paynter Jr. and the remaining four sub-families — Orthonychinae (Logrunners), Timaliinae (Babblers), Panurinae (Parrotbills) and Picathartinae (Picathartes) i are by Herbert G. Deignan. P. B-S. * ❖ * CORRESPONDENCE BARTLETT’S BLEEDING-HEART PIGEONS Following Mr. C. Naether’s interesting article in this magazine for November- December, 1963, I would like to state that the typical form criniger inhabits Mindanao, with a closely related form in Samar and the Basilan group of islands. The late Madame E. Lecallier and M A. Decoux, in France, reared the species several times between 1920 and 1939 — I was myself successful at Los Angeles between 1953 and 1958, ten birds being raised to maturity by one pair. After the death of the breeding male, the female, mated to one of her sons, never laid again, neither at Los Angeles, nor since i960 at Cleres, where she still lives. This dove never lays more than one egg in a clutch, while the Common Luzon Bleeding-heart lays two. Chateau de Cleres, J. Delacour France. The Editor does not accept responsibility for opinions expressed in articles, notes, or correspondence. SPECIAL BIRD FOODS FAMOUS SINCE 1823 Universal Fortifier Perfort BEKFIN ictorial Packet 3 oz. 1/2 4 oz. 1/6 (Insectivorous i lb. 2/9 *lb. 2/9 4 lb. 2/9 Red Packet) 1 lb. 5/- 1 lb. 5/3 1 lb. 5/3 *lb. 3/9 2 lb. 9/3 3£ lb. 15/6 3* lb. 15/6 1 lb. 7/3 3i lb. 14/9 7 lb. 30/6 7 lb. 30/6 3h lb. 23/- 7 lb. 14 lb. 28 lb. 27/6 50/- 92/- 28 lb. 98/- 14 lb. 28 lb. 52/6 98/- 7 lb. 39/9 28 lb. 154/- Fort-Egg and Colorfort ilb. 3/- 1 lb. 5/3 3£ lb. 17/- 7 lb. 32/9 14 lb. 57/6 28 lb. 112/- C.L.O. HEALTH GRAINS « GREENSTUFF ” Rearing and Condition Food (Condition Seed) 1 lb. 3/3 14 lb. 24/- 3 oz. 1/3 A dehydrated form of green 2 lb. 5/9 28 lb. 43/6 1 lb. 5/6 food consisting of lettuce, 3* lb. 7/9 56 lb. 80/- 3* lb. 16/3 spinach, carrot, etc., readily taken by all birds. Packets 1/3 & 3/10, also sold in bulk. 7 lb. 13/9 1 cwt. 150/- 7 lb. 31/- All the above prices are carriage paid MEALWORMS “ MARBA ” DUTCH BRED “ SANTA ” GERMAN BRED (small type) (large type) Whether you prefer the small Dutch mealworm or the larger German type, we can give you the finest service obtainable, with shipments arriving twice weekly. Dispatch guaranteed same day as orders received. 1 oz. 3/- 2 oz. 5/0 4 oz. 8/6 8 oz. 15/- I lb. 25/- Also in original Boxes as imported Nett weight guaranteed 2 lb. 47/6 3i lb. 66/6 6* lb. £6 5s. Od. All Carriage Paid. MAGGOTS We sell only the best liver-fed maggots, specially recleaned and ready for immediate use for bird feeding. Packed in bran. No mess or smell. 2 oz. 4 oz. 8 oz. I lb. 3/4 4/6 7/- 10/6 FEEDING SUNDRIES Dried Flies (Chinese) Silkworm pupae (Whole) „ „ (Ground) Dried Dragonfly larvae .... Dried Shrimp (Fine, Medium, or Coarse) . Ant Eggs ...... Pure Dried Egg ..... Dried Rowan Berries (Whole) „ „ „ (Crushed) Pure Breadcrumbs (Fine, Medium, or Coarse), far superior to biscuit meal . 2 lb. 3/- ; 4 lb. 5/6 ; 14 lb. 17/6 “ Egg-crumbs,” guaranteed to consist of 90 per cent breadcrumbs and 10 per cent pure egg . .2 lb. 5/6 ; 4 lb. 10/6 ; 7 lb. 17/6 ALL ABOVE PRICES ARE POST PAID * lb- 1 lb. 5/- 9/6 3/9 6/6 4/- 6/9 6/6 12/6 2/3 3/6 11/6 21/- 6/6 12/6 2/9 4/6 3/- 4/9 28 lb. 28/- E. W. COOMBS, LTD. CROSS STREET WORKS, CHATHAM, KEHT Telephone : Chatham 44969 Telegrams : Avicult , Chatham , Kent ★ ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ * * ¥ * r f IT ¥ * “1 name ¥ * * this ¥ * * * Parrot ...” ¥ ¥ * ¥ * Brief biographies of men and women in whose honour ¥ * commemorative names have been given : together with ¥ * a complete list of parrot-like birds — scientific names with ¥ * their derivations, and English names. ¥ * ¥ * Price 2 is., post free. ¥ * * Arthur A. Prestwich ¥ ¥ * EDENBRIDGE, KENT. ¥ * ¥ * ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★> f ¥ When Visiting the COTSWOLDS AVICULTURISTS ARE WELCOME TO Set in the charm oj an old English Garden at the lovely Village oj BO UR TON- ON- THE - WA TER CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION Francis Akers-Douglas, Red Court, Crawley Down, Sussex. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. A. E. Black, 5 Caughall Road, Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire. Proposed by W. P. Bland. Heinrich Bregulla, Malersteig 4, 1 Berlin 47, Western Germany. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Michael E. Clifford, Edford, Brook Street, West Bromwich, Staffs. Proposed by W. C. H. Spooner. Terence Davison, Star Cottage, Fulbrook, Burford, Oxfordshire. Proposed by L. W. Hill. Dr. Humberto T. Ferreira, Rua Barao de S. Francisco 322, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Proposed by C. Marler. B. H. Gray, 53 The Pyghtile, Wellingborough, Northants. Proposed by L. W. Hill. James C. Holcomb, 4705 Dody Street, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.A. Proposed by Carter L. Hood. Robert R. Jackson, Tannenwald, Camp End Road, Weybridge, Surrey. Proposed by L. W. Hill. Michel Lacoste, i avenue du Marechal Maunoury, Paris 16, France. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Norman C. Lewis, Greycot, Raby Park Road, Neston, Cheshire. Proposed by L, W. Hill. Brian P. Meade, 274 Firs Lane, Palmers Green, London, N.13. Proposed by F. C. Astles. Bryan E. Reed, 46 The Oval, Park Lane Estate, Wednesbury, S. Staffs. Proposed by G. E. Whitmore. Robin L. Restall, No. 17C Lime Grove, New Malden, Surrey. Proposed by Mrs. W. Duggans. Dr. Ian R. Robertson, 47 Port Hill Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. T. D. Rothery, 1 1 Albion Avenue, Newton Drive, Blackpool. Proposed by W. P. Bland. Robert Specian, 5900 Cypress Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. G. W. M. Taylor, Cooleen, Grange Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. Proposed by Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt. NEW MEMBERS The seventeen candidates for Election in the March- April, 1964, number of the Avicultural Magazine were duly elected members of the Society. CORRECTED NAMES AND ADDRESSES Andrew R. Hynd, 6 Belsize Road, Dundee, Angus, Scotland. Rafael S. Medina, Canteras 28, Las Palmas de Gran, Canaria, Canary Islands^ Mrs. B. E. T. Michell, Whitehall Lodge, Ifield, Sussex. CHANGES OF ADDRESS F. W. Auburn, to Moxhams Mill House, The Bartons Road, Fordingbridge, Hamp¬ shire. Gilbert J. Barker, to 6 Peter Avenue, Blackburn North, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. William J. Bourne, to 36 Lower Church Street, Croydon, Surrey. Lt.-Col. J. M. Brockbank, to Manor House, Steeple Langford, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Miss D. I. Cafferty, to 401 Fullerton Parkway, Chicago 14, Illinois, U. S. A. Michael K. Clark, to 141 The Ryde, Hatfield, Herts. J. J. C. Mallinson, to Old Coach House, Three Oaks, St. Lawrence, Jersey, Channel Islands. H. W. H. Ozanne, to Hida Cottage, Perelle, St. Saviour’s, Guernsey, C.I. Bryan F. Roberts, to Forest Road, Piddington, Northampton. Jon. B. Sigurdsson, to Asvallagata 3, Reykjavik, Iceland. DONATIONS (Coloured Plate Fund) H. Bancroft . Mrs. E. J. Birchall A. Birtles H. W. Clarke L. Cox G. Detry Mrs. W. Duggans . Mrs. J. W. Flintoft D. Goodwin A. V. Griffiths Dr. J. R. Hodges . J. A. Johnson Natal Zoological Gardens A. J. O’Brien P. G. Paris . Mrs. F. Poe . Mrs. M. Williams £ s. d. 10 0 1 0 0 10 0 5 0 0 5 0 16 0 10 0 16 0 6 0 0 1 1 0 10 0 5 0 10 0 1 10 0 10 0 1 10 0 2 IP 0 MEMBERS’ ADVERTISEMENTS The charge for Members’ advertisements is threepence per word. Payment must accompany the advertisement , which must be sent on or before the 15 th of the month to A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood, Edenbridge, Kent. All members of the Society are entitled to use this column , but the Council reserves the right to refuse any advertisements they consider unsuitable. For Rare Birds contact Baidyanath Acooli. Exporter of Rare Indian animals. Post Box 12008, Calcutta 2, India. Wanted. Avicultural Magazine. Any good series previous 1958. — G. Detry, 1 Avenue des Princes, Wavre, Belgium. For Sale. The Birds of Tropical West Africa , by David Armitage Bannerman. 8 volumes in perfect condition. Offers ? — A. Clarence, 25 Elms Avenue, Parkstone Poole. Bird Notes, the Journal of the Foreign Bird Club, seventy-six odd parts. Offers to Hon. Secretary, Galley’s Wood, Edenbridge, Kent. 1 Will any breeder of African Owls please contact Mrs. F. V. Michell, Whitehall Lodge, Ifield, Sussex. Ideal for bird watching. Converted loose boxes overlooking breeding waters of ornamental wildfowl farm. Surrounded by farmland yet good commuting London. Three bedrooms, bathroom, dining-room, sitting-room 26 ft. by 15 ft., cloakroom, kitchen, garage, acre. Mrs. F. V. Michell, Whitehall, Ifield, Sussex. STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, HERTFORD has bred the Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala. Breeding accounts have been published in Bird Keeping in Australia. In addition, H. J. Hutchinson has been successful with the Golden- crowned Conure. 50 NEWS AND VIEWS Dr. N. P. Sholar, Mooresville, North Carolina, reports : “ Our Psittacines are doing very well. I have raised over forty-five Port Lincoln Parrots over the last three years, and what is unique about this is that no one else has ever raised any over here in the United States. My Pennants have raised some twenty-five the past three years. A few Barnards also have been raised ”. * * * P. H. Pudney, Flinders Park, South Australia, has recently reared a brood of four Bourke Parrakeets. Such an event is not unusual in itself but what was unusual was the nesting site. An 1 8-inch length of 6 • oo tyre, with one end blocked and the other partly so, was hung in the normal manner. The split part which normally fits the rim was covered with tin and not being a perfect fit allowed ventilation. * * * W. D. Cummings reports from Keston : “ We thought you would be interested to learn that our Fairy Bluebirds hatched two young — at a fleeting glance they looked like baby Moorhens, covered with black down and with scarlet gapes. Things were progressing well for about a week, as cock and hen were both feeding, and then all stopped and I could find no sign of them ; this coincided with a particularly wet weekend and could have had something to do with it ”. ❖ * * B. V. Ramanjulu, of the Indian Ornithological Garden, Dhran- gadhra, reports two recent breeding successes. Malabar Parrakeet Psittacula columboides. On 16th April, 1964, the nest was found to con¬ tain five eggs ; three hatched on 1st, 2nd, 3rd May, and all three young are doing well. Indian Ring-necked X Moustache Parrakeet. The Moustache mated with a very young male Ring-necked in spite of several good Moustache males being in the same aviary. Two eggs were seen on 30th March, 1964. One young one was found on 13th April, and the second hatched on the 1 7th. The first fell from the nest on the 24th and died from its injuries. The second is thriving. ^ ^ ^ In the Magazine , 1963, 177, we mentioned the successful breeding of Corncrakes in the Edinburgh Zoo. Last year the success was repeated. A male mated with two females. One laid twelve eggs but only four hatched and the male killed the chicks as they left the nest. The second female, one of the 1962-bred birds, laid nine eggs. To prevent further tragedy the male and first female were removed to an adjoining aviary. Six chicks made their appearance on 1st July ; the other three eggs proved to be infertile. One chick was drowned in the small drinking pond, but the five others were fully reared. An observation worthy of note is that in the spring, 1962, both male and female were seen and heard uttering the well-known, rasping disyllabic sound crek-crek. There is a breeding account and some good photographs of the young REVIEWS 151 Corncrakes in the Annual Report , ig6g, of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. * * * The Scottish National Zoological Park, Edinburgh, last year cele¬ brated its Jubilee, 1913-1963. In honour of the event Messrs. Chr. Salvesen and Co., Ltd., presented sixty- two Gentoo Penguins, from South Georgia. According to the Annual Report , ig6g, the breeding for the year in the penguin colony was satisfactory. “ Six kings, eleven gentoos and two macaronis were hatched, but five of the gentoo chicks and, even more to be regretted, the two macaronis succumbed. The remaining six gentoo chicks and all six king chicks, however, have been successfully reared, the former already moulted into adult plumage while the young kings will retain their brown chick down till the following spring. It is worthy of record that two eggs were laid during the season by one of the female kings, the first being infertile and discarded. Previous examples of this double laying by king penguins were recorded in 1919, 1922 (when two birds laid twice) and 1923 ”. * * * John A. Fell, Victoria, Australia, sends his results for the 1963-64 breeding season. Pale-headed Rosella, one ; Adelaide X Pale-headed, killed by the female parent ; Yellow Rosella, the old breeding cock died and the hen made a very poor job of rearing the young, only two left the nest and these died within a few days ; Golden-mantled Rosella, four ; Eastern (Red) Rosella, three ; Adelaide X Yellow Rosella, three ; Green Rosella, the hen laid three clutches of mostly fertile eggs despite a crippled foot, some hatched but none was reared ; Red- rumped, five ; Blue-bonnet, two ; Cockatiel, two ; Regent, one ; Turquoisine, eighteen ; Scarlet-chested, two ; Blue-winged, four ; Elegant, three ; Mallee Ring-necked, three ; Pileated, three ; Masked Lovebird, one ; Peach-faced, thirty-four ; Nyasa, eighteen ; wild, green Budgerigar, three ; other Budgerigars, eight ; Swamp Quail, four ; King Quail, six ; Diamond Dove, six, silver, two, split, three ; Bar-shouldered Dove, seven ; Brush Bronze- winged, two ; Common Bronze- winged, two ; Crested Pigeon, five ; Indian Ruddy Dove, four ; Indian Turtle Dove, three ; Talpacoti Dove, one ; fawn Ring-necked Dove, four ; Java Dove, four ; Peaceful Dove, failed to rear ; Squatter Pigeon, laid four clutches but refused to incubate ; Zebra Finch, forty- five reared, nine varieties. A. A. P. * * * REVIEWS ZEBRA FINCHES. By C. H. Rogers. Iliffe Books, Ltd., London, 1964. Price 7 i. 6d. This book deals with the keeping and exhibiting of Zebra Finches. It includes detailed descriptions of all the different colour varieties and 2 152 REVIEWS these will be of interest to many who are aviculturists or ornithologists rather than fanciers. The standards of the Zebra Finch Society demand that show birds should be “ Bold throughout and of the c Cobby 5 type ” so the reviewer fears that, in a few more years, our Zebra Finches may well become the same sort of monstrous travesties of their beautiful original as are our present-day Budgerigars. The remedy suggested for birds which show hypertrophy of nest-building behaviour and make “ egg sandwiches ” is not, as one would have thought, to breed from those that don’t behave in this way but to supply so little nest material that they are unable to. Very full instructions on feeding and housing are given and will be of great value to the novice. Little is said about the behaviour of the Zebra Finch, on which so much of interest has been published of recent years in the ornithological literature. A comparison of the author’s own observations with these would have been of considerable interest since it appears (page 13) that in those Zebra Finches he has kept the females have, in contrast to what others have recorded, taken the major role in seeking nest sites and fetching building material. Whilst this book cannot be recommended as comprehensive to those whose interests lie in the Zebra Finch as an interesting species rather than a show object, even they will find it a useful addition to more ornithological works while to the budding “ fancier ” it will be invaluable. D. G. THE BOOK OF CAGE BIRDS. By Charles Trevisick. Stanley Paul and Co., London, 1964. Price i6.y. This book covers nearly all aspects of bird keeping although the emphasis is rather on pet birds and the showing of birds than on breeding. The author is obviously a great enthusiast but, perhaps, tends to communicate this enthusiasm a little too readily and to give the impression that bird keeping is a lot simpler and less demanding than it is ; or at any rate ought to be if the birds are to be given a fair deal. To give one example ; the statement (page 14) “ A lot of the birds that one buys are freshly imported and for the first few weeks appreciate a little warmth,” (italics mine) would hardly indicate to the complete beginner, who is most likely to consult such a book, that in fact many of them will die if they don’t get a lot of warmth. The diet recommended for “ all the Finch family ” (page 51), in which context it is clear that “ finch ” is being used (justifiably in a book on bird keeping pure and simple) for both finches and estrildines, does not include insects. In the chapter on doves we are told that “ Being peaceful by nature they do not damage the wire one bit ”. The latter part of this statement (only) is, of course, true, but the wire is only too likely to damage the doves more than one bit if they fly forcibly against it. This, as all dove keepers will know, may happen in several REVIEWS *53 contexts. Typically there is no mention of such happenings or any indication of how they can be minimized or avoided. The terms “ variety ”, “ type ”, etc., are used throughout when species are meant and the beautiful wild species of Phasianidae are referred to as “ Fancy Pheasants ”. D. G. THE COLOURFUL WORLD OF BIRDS. By Jean Dorst. Paul Hamlyn, London, 1964. Price 15s. net. This colourful book is certainly a worthy medium for the subject of colourful birds. The illustrations by Pierre Probst are both attractive in themselves and attractively arranged and the letterpress, written for children, is by an ornithologist of international repute, Professor Jean Dorst, Director at the National Museum of Natural History, Paris. It is stated that this is a book for all children with enquiring minds and it will undoubtedly stimulate their interest in, and greatly increase their knowledge of, birdlife. The excellent and simple maps showing bird migration and where various species occur are particularly good. In a chapter devoted to cage-birds the author relates how the first Canaries were brought to France and also tells how Parrakeets and Parrots were brought to Europe. A section entitled “ Do you know that ...” contains an interesting assortment of most varied information. This is certainly a gift book all children would like to receive, and those who are no longer children would not find it amiss. P. B-S. THE BIRDS OF THE LONDON AREA. By a Committee of The London Natural History Society. A new and revised edition. Rupert Hart-Davis, London, 1964, price 42 s. net. This new and revised edition of the London Natural History Society’s invaluable record of London’s birds is most welcome. The first edition, which was published in 1957, was produced by a Committee under the chairmanship of R. C. Homes and the present edition has again been prepared by Mr. Homes with the assistance of Stanley Cramp and D. I. M. Wallace. The first edition covered the years 1900 up to the end of 1954 and the original text has not been altered but a supplementary chapter added covering the years 1955 to 1961 detailing the major changes and giving special emphasis to Inner London and migration. In these years twenty-five species have been recorded in the Area for the first time this century bringing the total number up to 270. These new records include such rarities as Purple Heron, Crane, Spoonbill, Rose-coloured Starling, and Caspian Tern. The loss of habitat by wading and water birds by the modernization of sewage farms and draining of marshy ground is a depressing though i54 NOTES inevitable result of increasing density of population and it is disturbing to read of the decrease in breeding species of birds of prey, the Kestrel and Sparrow Hawk which have now become quite rare birds. The Black Redstart which established itself as a breeding bird in the bombed sites of Inner London which offered its favourite nesting sites has slowly declined since new buildings have been erected. But on the other hand new nesting species have arrived and the provision of sanctuaries in parks, active protection given by the various authorities and the keen interest of the general public are encouraging for the future. P. B-S. NOTES Breeding Black-necked Swans As the 1963 season was so cold all but the last egg laid by my Black-necked Swans got frozen and so only one hatched off. Thus steps were taken to protect the eggs this year and the result was that five out of six were hatched off. One egg was left in the nest and the other eggs were taken away as soon as possible for safety ; but difficulty was experienced in providing the pen with dummy eggs. Large electric bulbs were tried but they were very soon turned out of the nest. A greengrocer, on being asked if he could supply some “ oval ” grapefruit, replied “ I beg your pardon, you did say oval ones sir ? ” to which I answered “ the 64,000 dollar question is, of course, what do I want oval grapefruit for, so I will give you 64,000 guesses ”. The greengocer asked again “ you did say 4 oval grapefruit ’ sir ? ” When he was told that they would be used as dummy swans eggs he soon provided some of the right shape by hand manipulation. So as eggs were taken away, grapefruit were used as dummies. In due course of time, the sixth egg was laid and the pen started to sit. The grapefruit were then replaced by the proper eggs. It might be of interest to know that even the grapefruit were not wasted, someone found them in the greenhouse and ate them, expressing the view that they were the tenderest, ripest grapefruit they had ever had in their life. They were somewhat shocked when they were informed that they ought to be, as a swan had sat on them for a fortnight. The only tragedy this year was that one of the cygnets fell out of the nest and could not get back before it died of cold. It is suggested that just before the eggs hatch out, the nest should be lowered to prevent this happening ; the four cygnets are thriving on duck weed and turkey crumbs. One other event of interest has happened to the Australian Shellducks. The female sat on eleven eggs until they chipped, then eleven ducklings hatched under a bantam and all have survived. It would be interesting to know if this is a record. Robert A. Copley. The Editor does not accept responsibility for opinions expressed in articles , notes, or correspondence. SPECIAL BIRD FOODS FAMOUS SINCE 1823 Universal Fortifier Perfort BEKFIN (Pictorial Packet) 3 oz. 1/2 4 oz. 1/6 (Insectivorous Colorfort Hb. 2/9 lib. 2/9 lib. 2/9 Red Packet) *lb. 3/- 1 lb. 5/- 1 lb. 5/3 1 lb. 5/3 lib. 3/9 1 lb. 5/3 2 lb. 9/3 31 lb. 15/6 31 lb. 15/6 1 lb. 7/3 31 lb. 17/- 3£ lb. 14/9 7 lb. 30/6 7 lb. 30/6 3* lb. 23/- 7 lb. 32/9 7 lb. 27/6 28 lb. 98/- 14 lb. 52/6 7 lb. 39/9 14 lb. 57/6 14 lb. 50/- 28 lb. 98/- 28 lb. 154/- 28 1b. 112/- 28 lb. 92/- HEALTH C.L.O. GRAINS Rearing and Condition Food (Condition Seed) 1 lb. 3/3 14 lb. 24/- 3 oz. 1/3 2 lb. 5/9 28 lb. 43/6 1 lb. 5/6 31 lb. 7/9 56 lb. 80/- 31 lb. 16/3 7 lb. 13/9 1 cwt. 150/- 7 lb. 31/- “ GREENSTUFF ” A dehydrated form of green food consisting of lettuce, spinach, carrot, etc., readily taken by all birds. Packets 1/3 & 3/10, also sold in bulk. All the above prices are carriage paid MEALWORMS “ MARBA ” DUTCH BRED “ SANTA ” GERMAN BRED (small type) (large type) Whether you prefer the small Dutch mealworm or the larger German type, we can give you the finest service obtainable, with shipments arriving twice weekly. Dispatch guaranteed same day as orders received. 1 oz. 3/- 2 oz. 5/0 4 oz. 8/6 8 oz. 15/- I lb. 25/- Also in original Boxes as imported Nett weight guaranteed 2 lb. 47/6 3i lb. 66/6 6£ lb. £6 5s. Od. All Carriage Paid. MAGGOTS We sell only the best liver-fed maggots, specially recleaned and ready for immediate use for bird feeding. Packed in bran. No mess or smell. 2 oz. 4 oz. 8 oz. I lb. 3/4 4/6 7/- 10/6 FEEDING SUNDRIES Dried Flies (Chinese) Silkworm pupae (Whole) ,, „ (Ground) Dried Dragonfly larvae .... Dried Shrimp (Fine, Medium, or Coarse) . Ant Eggs ...... Pure Dried Egg ..... Dried Rowan Berries (Whole) „ „ „ (Crushed) Pure Breadcrumbs (Fine, Medium, or Coarse), far superior to biscuit meal . 2 lb. 3/- ; 4 lb. 5/6 ; 14 lb. 17/6 “ Egg-crumbs,” guaranteed to consist of 90 per cent breadcrumbs and 10 per cent pure egg . . . 2 lb. 5/6 ; 4 lb. 10/6 ; 7 lb. 17/6 ALL ABOVE PRICES ARE POST PAID lib. 1 lb. 5/- 9/6 3/9 6/6 4/- 6/9 6/6 12/6 2/3 3/6 11/6 21/- 6/6 12/6 2/9 4/6 3/- 4/9 28 lb. 28/- E. W. COOMBS, LTD. CROSS STREET WORKS, CHATHAM, KENT Telephone : Chatham 44969 Telegrams : Avicult, Chatham , Kent ★ ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ¥ * ¥ ¥ ¥ “I name ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ this ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Parrot . . ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Brief biographies of men and women in whose honour ¥ ¥ commemorative names have been given : together with ¥ ¥ a complete list of parrot-like birds — scientific names with ¥ ¥ their derivations, and English names. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Price 2is.} post free. ¥ ¥ * Arthur A. Prestwich ¥ ¥ ¥ EDENBRIDGE, KENT. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ BOOKS on BIRDS Catalogue on request WHELDON & WESLEY LTD LYTTON LODGE, CODICOTE, Nr. HITCHIN, HERTS. Telephone : Codicote 370. When Visiting the COTSWOLDS AVICULTURISTS ARE WELCOME TO Set in the charm oj an old English Garden at the lovely Village oj BO UR TON- ON- THE - WA TER CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION W. H. Brown, 21 The Ridgeway, Tonbridge, Kent. Proposed by J. Yealland. Brigadier N. S. Cowan, Administrator, The National Trust, Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, Bucks. Proposed by L. W. Hill. F. H. Gooding, Friday Farm, Crawley Down, Sussex. Proposed by Miss S. Locker Lampson. J. Hutchinson, 130 Baslow Road, Totley, Sheffield. Proposed by D. V. Guest. Mrs. Eve Laidlay, Holmwood, Perth. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Harold F. Leeming, 33 Coral Road, Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia. Proposed by Miss K. Bonner. Eric Lindgren, University of Western Australia, Department of Zoology, Nedlands, Western Australia. Proposed by J. M. Forshaw. O. D. Long, Box 8063 Causeway, Salisbury, S. Rhodesia. Proposed by Mrs. H. V. Wheeler. James Mailer, Park Farm, Buckden, Huntingdon. Proposed by Hartley Brown. Stuart A. Moore, i Nevill Way, Hove 4, Sussex. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Jack H. Rawlings, Kelling Pines, Holt, Norfolk. Proposed by Miss K. Bonner. Mrs. Doris Turner, Golden Pheasant Hotel, Llwynmawr, Nr. Wrexham, North Wales. Proposed by L. W. Hill. Professor G. W. Wharton, Department of Zoology and Entomology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. NEW MEMBERS The eighteen Candidates for Election in the May-June, 1964, number of the Avicultural Magazine were duly elected members of the Society. RE-ADMITTED TO MEMBERSHIP J. M. Fisher, The Old Rectory, Ashton, Northampton. Carl-Ivar Stroemgren, P.O. Box 309, Cathedral Station, New York 25, N.Y., U.S.A. CHANGES OF ADDRESS Mrs. Lucille Z. Bruns, to The Pet Hut, 4102 East Anaheim Street, Long Beach 4, California, U.S.A. Mrs. D. E. Dineen, to Walton Manor Aviaries, Chequers Lane, Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Surrey. T. Dineen, to Walton Manor Aviaries, Chequers Lane, Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Surrey. Rainer R. Erhart, to Department of Geography, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, U.S.A. Mario C. Fernandes, to Rua Dr. Julio de Matos 89-20 Esq., Porto, Portugal. Dennis V. Guest, to The Rectory, Wilford, Nottingham. Mrs. B. M. Gwynne-Evans, to 24 Cottesmore Gardens, London, W. 8. Major E. F. Housden, to 82 Stoneleigh Park Road, Ewell, Surrey. E. J. T. Housden, to c/o the Ministry of Justice, Box R. W. 84, Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia. Major M. Hughes-Halls, to Fidler’s Lodge, South Park, Carlton Road, South Godstone, Surrey. Dr. Lewis F. Kibler, to 212 Front Street, Jamestown, New York, U.S.A. Ference Kiss, to 1105 Glasgow Road, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A. John D. Lindsay, to c/o Barclays Bank, D.C. 20, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W. 1. J. A. Page, to Barnby Villa, Newport Road, Emberton, Nr. Olney, Bucks. Wolfgang Rohr, to Director, Heidelberg Zoo, Tiergarten-Str. Germany. Ronald H. Sales, to 4 Kingsdown Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire. K. E. L. Simmons, to 1 1 Ashgrove, Clevedon, Somerset. Dr. T. G. Taylor, to 64 St. Peters Avenue, Caversham, Reading, Berks. Jan R. van Oosten, to 201 1 Mountain View Drive, Mt. Vernon, Washington, U.S.A. Mrs. Grace Wheatley, to Church View, Thakeham Street, Nr. Guildford, Surrey. S. H. Woods, to 39 Pentland Rise, Portchester, Hants. DONATIONS (Coloured Plate Fund) G. J. Barker £ s . 10 d. 0 D. M. Coward 1 0 0 Dr. E. P. McCabe . 1 0 0 Dr. N. P. Sholar 1 10 0 MEMBERS’ ADVERTISEMENTS The charge for Members * advertisements is threepence per word. Payment must accompany the advertisement , which must be sent on or before the 1 5 th of the month to A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood, Edenbridge, Kent. All members of the Society are entitled to use this column , but the Council reserves the right to refuse any advertisements they consider unsuitable . For rare birds contact Baidyanath Acooli. Exporter of rare Indian animals. Post Box 12008, Calcutta 2, India. Wanted. Avicultural Magazine, Vol. 5-8, Part 1 (January-February, 1952) : — Peter Glover, The Old Clergy House, Cornwood, Ivybridge, Devon. For Sale. Avicultural Magazine, 1928 to 1964, Also Foreigner, 1934/5/6 and part 1937 : — -J. Leavesley Buxton, 227 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull, Warwickshire. LIST OF MEMBERS A List of Members, including titles and degrees and addresses, is due to be published in the January-February, 1965 number of the Magazine. It would be helpful and much appreciated if members would kindly inform the Hon. Secretary of any alterations, additions, or subtractions as soon as possible, and at the latest 31st October, 1964. STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, HERTFORD. NTENTS PAGE Grey Parrot {with plate), by Mrs. Eve Wicks Breeding the Malachite Sunbird {Nectarinia famosa) , by Mrs. K. M. Scamell Breeding the Hoopoe, by Charles Everitt ...... A Near Miss with a Scarlet-chested Sunbird, by B. E. Reed Pheasants at the Sydney Royal Show, by Norman MgCance Breeding the Joyful Greenbul, by Charles Everitt . . The New Tropical House at Chester Zoo ( with plate), by M. F. Coupe . In Memoriam — Cecil Stanley Webb ( with plate) ...... California Aviaries, by Jean Delacour ....... Hooded Mergansers — Rearing Problems, by Robert A. Copley . Notes on the Rufous-breasted Dunnock [Prunella strophiata ), by C. J. O. Harrison The Masked Wood Swallow, by Charles Everitt ..... London Zoo Notes, by J. J. Yealland ....... News and Views ........... *55 158 163 166 168 170 172 173 177 182 184 186 188 189 VOL. 70 No. 5 PRICE 7/6 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1964 THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Founded 1894 President : Miss E. Maud Knobel Hon* Secretary and Treasurer : A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood. Nr. Edenbridge, Kent. Assistant Secretary s Miss Kay Bonner. Membership Subscription is £2 per annum, due on 1st January each year, and payable in advance. Life Membership £25. Subscriptions, Change of Address, Names of Candidates for Membership, etc., should be sent to the Hon. Secretary. THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Hon. President : Mr. Jean Delacour. President : Mr. A. N. Lopez. Secretary : Mr. David West, 209 N. 18th Street, Montebello, California, U.S.A. The annual dues of the Society are $4.00 per year, payable in advance. The Society year begins 1st January, but new members may be admitted at any time. Members receive a monthly bulletin. Correspondence regarding membership, etc., should be directed to the Secretary. THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE The Magazine is published bi-monthly, and sent free to all members of the Avicultural Society. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year on the payment of subscription. All matter for publication in the Magazine should be addressed to : — The Editor s Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, M.B.E., 51 Warwick Avenue, London, W. 9. Telephone : Cunningham 3006. The price of the Magazine to non-members is 7 s. 6d., post free, per copy, or £ 2 5 s. for the year. Orders for the Magazine, extra copies and back numbers (from 1917) should be sent to the publishers, Stephen Austin & Sons, Ltd., Caxton Hill, Ware Road, Hertford, England. Telephone : Hertford 2352/3/4. Avicult. Mag. Copyright] African Grey Parrot Chick Fifty-four Days Old. Perching. [Mrs. Wicks Copyright ] [Mrs. Wicks African Grey Parrot Chick When Six Months Old. Shows eye fully pearled. Frontispiece Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 70. — No. 5. — All rights reserved. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1964 “ SUKIE ”, BABY AFRICAN GREY PARROT By Mrs. Eve Wicks (St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, England) This bird was hand-reared by me from the age of seventeen days, and members may like particulars of the notes I kept. The parents “ Johnny and Jackie ”, produced three babies, but were themselves too young to cope with the responsibility of rearing a family to maturity. The first chick died when three weeks old and the second one died four days later, also three weeks old. 23rd September , ig6j. 17 days old. Weight 4 J oz . The third chick looked very feeble and would obviously have joined the others, so I took it indoors and presumed that if it got through the critical three- week period it stood a chance of survival. It was so weak and half-starved that the first day I had difficulty in getting it to take a few drops of mixture every hour. I fed it with a spoon turned slightly sideways, as would be the mother’s beak. With the resilience of youth, however, it was taking a teaspoonful of mixture every two hours by the next day. Its last feed was 1 1 p.m. and it would not take any food during the night. The mixture was Bengers and arrowroot, made to the consistency of thin cream, with hot milk. The arrowroot was given because the droppings were so liquid. After a week I substituted Farex for the arrowroot. “ Sukie ” was housed in a box 14 inches square, turned on its side, to keep the chick dark and protect his tender eyes, only just cracking open. The mother had denuded him of down and he was quite naked, so it was essential to keep him warm. Peat was in the bottom of the box, covered with a woolly, and a woolly covered the hot-water bottle, to keep back direct heat. The chick was covered by another light woolly and snuggled up to the bottle. From a tender age he could throw off the woolly or wriggle under it at will. ■ ftiaiTlIPAMI AM c\ e\ 156 EVE WICKS - “ SUKIE,” BABY AFRICAN GREY PARROT 1st October , 1363. 23 days old. Weight 6 oz . 6th October , 1363. 26 days old. oz. “ Sukie ” is now exercising by feet stamping and wing flapping. The wings are very tender and swollen, where the feathers are about to break through, much like a baby’s gums when teething, and he needed very gentle handling. nth October , 1363. 31 days old. Weight g oz. Primaries breaking through. 13th October. 34 days old. Has commenced preening and will not be covered up during the day¬ time. Scratching peat vigorously. 16th October , 1363. 36 days old. ii\ oz. Taking six teaspoonsful of mixture at each meal : 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m., 1 1 p.m. The long break between 1 1 a.m. and 4 p.m. would presumably be when the parents rested. “ Sukie ” always dictated his own meal times and lengthened the time between meals when ready to do so, by refusing a meal at the already agreed time, but accepting it half an hour or so later. 21st October , 1363. 41 days old. Weight , 13 oz. Red tail just breaking through. Will now eat up to fourteen sun¬ flower seeds, slightly crushed after shelling, after each meal. “ Sukie ” is now vigorously scratching the peat first to one side to a height of 10 inches, and then back again. While doing this he suddenly pounces on any sunflower seed kernels that may have been dropped. He can see quite well in the dark. Presumably this scratching of the bedding would be for two reasons. (1) It would aerate the nest and, as the chicks stay in it for twelve weeks or more, this keeps it dry and sweet. (2) It exercises the chick and by pouncing on any particles of food teaches him to pick up for himself. 23th October , 1363. 43 days old. Weight 14 oz. Food is now made to the consistency of thick cream, but “ Sukie ” is getting tired of baby food. Have tried him with scrambled egg and also porridge, but after a few meals this also was rejected. The slow process of shelling quantities of sunflower seeds has now commenced. 2nd November , 1363. 33 days old. Weight 13 oz. Now enjoys a lamb chop bone, with a little lean meat, no fat ; and I also cracked sunflower seeds and let him extract the kernel himself. This he enjoyed so much that it was a job to get him to take the shelled seeds and as he was so slow in getting out the kernel, it was quite a problem to see that he consumed sufficient. I also gave him a little Madeira cake and a grape. EVE WICKS 44 SUKIE,” BABY AFRICAN GREY PARROT 1 57 He can now use his beak for balancing himself and is chewing apple twigs. He perches during the day, but still likes to be tucked up at night. 3th November, 1363. 56 days old. Weight 15 oz- He never reached this weight again, so presumably it was 4 4 puppy- fat ”. Meals are a problem, refuses all soft food. 12th November, 1363. 63 days old. Weight 13 oz- Loss of weight due to 44 Sukie’s 55 independence. Can now crack his own sunflower seeds, and is so very slow, but insists on doing the job himself. I still persevere with offering shelled seeds in between the process of shelling his own. He is now feathering nicely and his red tail is 2J in. long. 23th November, 1363. y6 days old. Weight 13 oz- I have three other parrots in the room, so 44 Sukie ” has not become too humanized. These birds (an African Grey cock, an Amazon cock and an Amazon hen) are all free and 44 Sukie ” now likes to go into an empty cage and copy the other birds. 3rd December, 1363. 84 days old. Weight 13 oz . Flying well, but cannot land properly or change direction. 10th December , 1363. 31 days old. Weight 13 oz . Can now control flight and back-pedal to land. Practised this a lot and seemed to enjoy it. 24th December, 1363. 13 weeks. Weight 13 oz- Eyes starting to pearl and 44 Sukie ” getting aggressive with the other birds. Realizes that I rescue him when he is in a fix. Decided to let him stand on his own feet and did not rescue him when he was showing off. This checked his aggression, but he will still tweak the tail of any bird near to him and fly back to my head (his favourite perch) for safety. 31st December, 1363. 16 weeks. Weight 13 oz . 44 Sukie 5 5 is completely fearless of anything and anybody. When a friend came in with her dog, he perched on its head, although he had never seen a dog before. He has since done this with another dog, but fortunately both dogs were used to birds, so they took no notice of him. After feeding the chick I always wiped his beak with a tissue and now every time he sees a handkerchief he wants his beak wiped. 44 Sukie ” is now six months old and weighs 14 oz. He is in perfect feather and the only thing that distinguishes him from an adult is the brown tips to his red tail-feathers. For the last two months he has been very playful and, at the same time, occasionally quite spiteful. He nipped quite sharply, and obviously intended to hurt. This is, perhaps, nature’s way of making the parent birds wean off their young and make them fend for themselves. He is now getting very affectionate, and only nips on rare occasions. i58 K. M. SCAMELL - BREEDING THE MALACHITE SUNBIRD BREEDING THE MALACHITE SUNBIRD ( Nectarinia famosa) By Mrs. K. M. Sgamell (Newdigate, Surrey) The Malachite Sunbird is perhaps one of the best known and, once acclimatized, the hardiest of the East and South-East African Sunbirds which are kept in aviaries and cages in this country. Much has been written about this species in this and other avicultural magazines so I will describe only briefly one of the most brilliant of the sunbirds. The general distribution of this sunbird extends from Eritrea to the Transvaal. There are two races of the species, the more brilliant in colour and larger in size, I believe, coming from the South. It is a bird of the hills and mountains and according to some writers, is usually found at levels above 5,000 feet and on Mt. Kenya and elsewhere at altitudes up to 14,000 feet. It feeds on the nectar found in aloes and other tubular flowers and is highly insectivorous. One of the largest of sunbirds, the cock is very handsome in breeding plumage which in this country we have found to be fleeting and incomplete. In colour it is in general a metallic green with a golden wash. The flight feathers and tail are blackish — the central tail feathers elongated. Underneath, the metallic feathering is bluish. The female is drab in colour, brownish above with a blackish white-tipped tail, the outer feathers of which are also edged with white which helps to distinguish this species from other hen sunbirds. Below, the hen is a mottled yellow. Out of colour the cock retains its tail until it is moulted, but the dark flight feathers still remain, together with some metallic feathering. At such times he is also a drab specimen. We obtained our pair about two years ago from acquaintances in Southampton. The birds had been imported direct from South-East Africa and were placed in an aviary with a pair of Paradise Flycatchers and a pair of Diamond Doves. The aviary shelter has heat in the winter (minimum normally about 40° F. though it has been lower many times). Last summer the sunbirds showed no inclination to breed. They are both very tame, as are most Malachites, and until this spring were not pugnacious to the other inmates. Nor were they aggressive to each other which is most unusual with Malachites and many other sunbirds. However, in April, 1964, they were in magnifi¬ cent condition — fitter than I have ever seen Malachites before. The mild winter and daily access to the outside flight with plenty of midges to hawk perhaps made all the difference. Whilst I was on holiday in early May, my husband noticed the cock Malachite chasing the Paradise Flycatchers, which are larger birds in every way. Those who have kept Malachites will know that when these sunbirds are really fit they will attack most birds. He caught the K. M. SGAMELL - BREEDING THE MALACHITE SUNBIRD 159 Malachites up and transferred them to a small planted flight measuring 6 ft. 3 in. by 3 ft. 3 in. by 6 ft. 3 in. high which led into a 6 by 6 by 7 ft. high cedar shelter itself divided into four small sections each opening into similar flights. In the first flight is a mature bamboo which I transplanted last year. We had this aviary in reserve for the first pair of sunbirds which came into full breeding condition and these happened to be the Malachites. Into the shelter we placed a supply of feathers, fine grasses and kapok. Almost immediately the hen sunbird started carrying the grass and in a day or two had made a start towards building a bulky nest in the bamboo. On 14th May, on a fine sunny morning, the nest was beginning to take some shape from all the materials supplied with masses of kapok exposed to whatever weather was to follow the fine spell. My husband thought it a good idea to construct a clear plastic roof over the nest and fastened the polyglaze to the roof of the flight. There was great excitement beneath with both birds flying wildly about and all nest building ceased. The hen certainly didn’t like the covering which she pecked at so it had to be removed. It seemed that the first shower would swamp the flimsy and almost unprotected nest but as events proved later, the hen knew better. I returned from holiday on 17th May, and as the nest was making little progress, decided to add teased packing string cut in 6 inch and 9 inch lengths, to the other material. The string was readily used by the hen in large amounts to anchor the purse-like affair to the various stems of the growing bamboo. There was very heavy rain on the 19th but nest building continued slowly until about 4th June by which time we had supplied handfuls of kapok which would be used up within a day or so. The hen seemed to be sitting closely on 6th June with her head poking out of a hole on the topside of the domed structure which was at last completed. All this time the cock had supervised the work in which he took a deep interest but no part. He frequently chased the hen when she slackened her building efforts and his display with head thrown back and wings extended and with the tail moved from side to side was repeated at intervals throughout the days. On 7th June the hen was off the nest for a moment and I was able to see an egg quite clearly through the entrance hole, it may have been there a few days earlier. The egg was quite large, very dark brown at one end and tapering down through a pale grey /green to an off-white at the pointed end. She sat with her head poking out and completely indifferent to either of us or the occasional camera, day after day, the cock remaining on his perch at the other end of the flight. On the morning of the 15th at 7.45 a.m. she was off the nest for a few minutes and I had a quick look at the nest expecting to see a second egg, but there was still only one. About 5 p.m. the same day I observed the hen feeding a chick which was clearly seen. I saw it i6o K. M. SCAMELL - BREEDING THE MALACHITE SUNBIRD later about 7 p.m. as the hen was not brooding continuously. We placed ajar of broad bean tops loaded with black-fly in the flight and in the shelter a biscuit tin containing over-ripe fruit and banana skins which were well inoculated with fruit flies. I don’t think the black fly were touched. On the 16th I searched the roses for greenfly but without success. The weather was very cool. Around the garden and in the wooded area surrounding it, I collected some aphis from “ cuckoo-spittle ” which is found on long stems of grass, among the bracken, on blackberry bushes, on honey-suckle, and on the underside of hazel nut leaves, etc. It was a long slow job but at such an early age in the development of the chick, I was able to keep up with the demand ! On the 1 7th I continued collecting the aphis and a friend brought in a further supply of fruit flies, etc., which I added to the stock in the shelter. The next day was very wet and cold, about an inch of rain fell, so I set the thermostat controlling the heater tube in the shelter to 750 F. and shut the door. I followed the same collecting programme on the 19th which was again wet and cold. On Saturday the 20th, I had a look inside the nest. The chick was surprisingly large, had a short whitish beak, body dark, and almost naked. We both worked hard all day until dark collecting the large aphis but we had now given up any pretence of removing them from the “ spittle ” which anyway tended to disappear in about 20 minutes which was the time it took to collect about two dozen. On arriving at the shelter with the collecting dish the hen would come charging through the pop-hole from the flight on to a perch and stand waiting for the shelter door to open and the dish to be placed on a shelf ! It would help itself to about a dozen of the aphis, picking them from the remains of the “ spittle ” so that its beak would be partly open with a row of the insects from root to tip of the bill. It would then fly to the nest, cling on, and deliver the row of aphis into the throat of the gaping chick, a matter of 2 or 3 seconds, say 30 seconds in all. After a few minutes the remaining twelve to fourteen aphis would be fed to the youngster in like manner. The results of 20 minutes work would have disappeared and I can only assume she made do with fruit flies until I returned. My diary records that on the Sunday, 21st June, we had a busy day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. trying to keep up supplies. The weather was still cool and we had several other birds with young, such as both pairs of Spreos, Shamas, and a pair of Shelley’s Starlings so there was plenty to do one way and another. On the 22nd and 23rd, still in coolish weather, we continued as before but the heated shelter was now taking effect on the fruit fly cultures and substantial numbers were being produced which helped with the feeding. On 29th June the cock was observed feeding with one aphis at a time ! The next day our garden seemed to be clear of aphis so I placed a small piece of raw meat in the shelter K. M. SGAMELL - BREEDING THE MALACHITE SUNBIRD l6l and opened the door. This quickly attracted some flies so I shut the door. The flies then made for the closed window which was protected with 1 inch netting and the hen Malachite stood on the netting and picked them off the window ! It was quite simple and I repeated the procedure frequently throughout the day. It was certainly a change from the arduous job of collecting aphis ! In the cool of the evening it meant collecting more aphis which had now begun to re-appear, but it eased the work. On the morning of the 27th the young Malachite seemed to be weak and listless but the day was hot and both parents fed flies and aphis. At about 9.30 p.m. two pots containing about sixty aphis were left in the shelter but somehow it did not seem that the supply of live food was going to be enough. The hen was not feeding or brooding and seemed to be more interested in the cock which was still in perfect breeding condition. From past experience with other breeding birds I realized that the parents were losing interest in the chick and were likely to start another family. They were too fit, the food supply came too easily. I netted the cock and placed it in a cage in my hummingbird aviary which is out of sight and probably out of earshot of the hen. At 7 a.m. next morning I shut the hen in the shelter and examined the young bird in its nest in the flight. It was in a bad way — the beak was stuffed with teased out string. I removed the chick from the nest and took it indoors. We then cut off some of the string with scissors and slowly pulled up what seemed to be endless strands at the end of one of which was a fly ! The bird had every appearance of being unfed for some hours and this was now under¬ standable. I next returned the bird to its nest, released the hen from the shelter and also returned the cock to the aviary. Both parents ignored the chick ! At this point I almost gave up but after breakfast I decided to hand-feed the bird with the usual plunger type feeder, something I have never been very successful at. I always respect those people who take hand feeding in their stride ! However at this moment I saw the hen clinging to the nest feeding once again so I left well alone ! During the next few fine days all was well, the hen feeding regularly with beakfuls of live food and the cock making a lot of fuss about the odd contribution he made to the feeding. The hen only removed the sac containing the droppings. I had to enter the flight a few times to cut away some of the strands of twine which were coming loose from the nest which was now beginning to show signs of wear and tear. On Wednesday, 1st July, the young bird left the nest at about 10 a.m., the sixteenth day after it hatched. I returned it to its nest but it was out again at 3 p.m. and returned voluntarily at about 8 p.m. A most unusual occurrence for a softbill if one can call a sunbird such. It looked very much like the hen — the beak had grown quite a lot and 62 K. M. SCAMELL - BREEDING THE MALACHITE SUNBIRD was about half the size of an adult’s beak and similar in colour. The bird itself was about three-quarters the size of the hen and similarly marked but a shade darker in colour. Both parents fed the bird throughout the day and it flew fairly well but without much direction. The next morning the chick did not leave the nest until about io a.m. and was out all day looking tight and sleek. It returned to the nest about 8 p.m. As the parents were competing with each other in the feeding, often breaking up a fly in the process and moreover knocking the chick about in their efforts to be the first to feed, I caught up the cock once more and removed him to other quarters as before. Peace was restored. The next day, 3rd July, a heavy thunderstorm broke about 3 p.m. but the youngster had already returned to the nest before the light had become really bad. At 8 a.m. on the 4th I saw the young Malachite drinking nectar for the first time and during the day it drank frequently. It returned to the nest on and off all day and the hen was brooding it at 8 p.m., the pair of them completely filling the nest cavity. The young bird was now as large as its mother but its beak was about two-thirds adult size. On 5th July the young bird had found its way to the shelter. The night had been very cool and so had some of the day and the young bird was in and out of the nest drinking nectar very frequently. On the 7th it was seen to catch small flying insects itself though it gaped to be fed. The night of the 7th-8th was very rough, with rain and high winds. The hen was very soft and had obviously been sleeping in the flight. The young bird was very tight and had probably slept in the shelter or nest. I shut them both in the shelter and later on the hen had recovered. Between the 9th and 19th July the weather was very sunny and hot and I was now satisfied the young bird was feeding itself so I removed the hen from the flight and placed it with the cock in their original aviary with Paradise Flycatchers and Diamond Doves. Both parents were in a moult and the cock was now in his winter plumage. At the time of writing, 20th August, the young bird is now fully grown, has moulted a few feathers about the head. About a week ago I introduced a hen Violet-backed Sunbird to the aviary. This bird had been freshly imported and from past experience I had found the species rather vicious. However, they seem to agree. The immature Malachite is really like an adult hen except for the darker upper plumage and there will be uncertainty in regard to its sex until it really moults out. As described, Mrs. K. M. Scamell has bred the Malachite Sunbird JVectarinia famosa. It is believed that this may be a first success. Any member or reader knowing of a previous breeding of this species in Great Britain or Northern Ireland is requested to communicate at once with the Hon. Secretary. CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE HOOPOE 1 63 BREEDING THE HOOPOE By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N.J., U.S.A.) The Hoopoe is one of the birds that has been mentioned and illus¬ trated for hundreds of years, its image being depicted in ancient Greek and Egyptian mural paintings, and it is referred to in the Bible as the Lapwing. Legends have been built around this bird, one being that, after King Solomon had been shaded by the wings of a flock of Hoopoes from the glaring noonday sun, he rewarded the birds with crowns of gold. People coveted these, and an incessant persecution of the Hoopoe was maintained to secure it. Tired and weary of this continual oppres¬ sion, the birds asked the King to take the crown back. This he did, replacing it with a beautiful fan-shaped crest. A further legend, of European origin, affirms that the Hoopoe was the form assumed by Jereus, King of Crete, as an atonement for his past sins. The fame of the bird, however, was not confined to legend, for many references in literature have been made to its use in magical and medicinal pre¬ scriptions. These were mainly for afflictions of the sight or memory, and use of different parts of the bird’s anatomy were recommended by various scribes from the early Egyptian days down to the Pharmacopoeia Universalis by Dr. R. James (1752). The nominate race, Upopa e. epops , has an extensive range, wintering in the Mediterranean countries and Asia Minor, passing its breeding season throughout Central Europe, including the south of England. There are at least four other races ranging through Asia, these including U. e. orientalis of northern India ; U. e. longirostris of Burma and neighbouring areas ; U. e. ceylonensis of southern India and Ceylon, and U. e. saturata of Mongolia. The differences in the races consist of variations in the markings, size of crest, and length of bill. There are also two other members of the family of Upupidae in Africa, Upopa africans of East Africa and U. senegalensis of West Africa. The species with which I am concerned here is U. e. longirostris , pairs of which were received at various times by Mr. Boehm from Burma and Thailand. The sexes are very similar, the main colouring consisting of black, white, and pinkish-brown. They are about 12 inches in total length, 2J inches of which may be accounted for by the thin, slightly decurved bill. The head and the fan-shaped crest are pinkish-brown, the crest feathers increasing in length from front to rear and being broadly tipped with black. The back and sides of the neck, and the shoulders, are a dull ashy-fawn, the remainder of the back being banded broadly in black and fawny-white, these bands extending across the wing-coverts. The quills of the wings and tail are black, the primaries having a white band across their tips, the secondaries with three or four white bands evenly spaced throughout their length. The 64 CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE HOOPOE black tail has a single chevron-shaped white bar across the centre. The chin is whitish with the throat and upper-breast being pale pinkish- fawn. The remainder of the underparts is white, extensively streaked with black and ashy-grey except for the under tail-coverts which are clear white. The bill is horny black, lighter at the base of the lower mandible ; the legs and feet are slate-grey, and the iris is reddish- brown. They have an extremely short tongue, taking all their food, mainly insects, by probing with their long bill, grasping it, and flicking it back into their mouth. The wings are rounded and their flight is slow and undulating, rather butterfly-like. The main visual difference in the sexes lies in the length of the bill and the size of the crest, those of the female being slightly smaller in both cases. Whether it is a definite sex indicator or not I would not like to say, but I have noticed that, with the pairs in the Boehm aviaries, the males appear to have nine pairs of black tipped feathers in their crest, whereas the females have but seven pairs. Any comments on this would be welcomed. The crest lies back over the head but is raised whenever they become excited, and also when they are feeding. It is a pleasing sight seeing them walking on a lawn, they are very sociable and confiding birds, probing in the grass, each probe being accompanied with an elevation of that fascinating crest. They have a soft, mellow call note, a repeated “ hoop-hoop ”, from which their common name undoubtedly derived. Although it sounds very pleasant when one is observing them, I can assure you that it can become very irritating when there is a flock of them on your lawn during the heat of the afternoon, when you are trying to take a few moments of sleep, as I experienced during my years on the plains in India. There had been attempts by Hoopoes at breeding in the Edward Marshall Boehm aviaries from i960 onwards, with the exception of 1962, which was not a particularly good breeding year for anything. Both in i960 and 1961 a pair did produce eggs, but in each instance the female died after having laid three eggs. As the same male was concerned each time, he was given a rest and a new pair, the male coming from eastern India in December, 1961, and the female from Thailand in June, 1962, were released into the Tropical aviary during July, 1962. This is a large aviary, planted, as its name implies, with palms, banana and olive trees, tropical cacti, ferns, and flowering plants and has a stream, fed by a waterfall, running in an irregular course around the inner limits. Due to the type of vegetation, a minimum temperature of 60 degrees is maintained throughout the year. Many other birds shared this with the Hoopoes, such as Blacksmith Plovers, Sun Bitterns, White-collared Kingfishers, Azara Manakins, Plumbeous Redstarts, Paradise Flycatchers, Black- tailed and Gould’s Trogons, Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, and Indian White-eyes, just to mention some of them. CHARLES EVERITT BREEDING THE HOOPOE 1 65 A 12 inch thick, 10 feet high tree stump, with a fairly large hole in it at about 8 feet up, had been positioned in the aviary for use of such birds as the Trogons or Hoopoes, if they should decide to go to nest. It was in May, 1963, that the female Hoopoe was seen going in and out of this nest hole, which incidentally, led to a hollow about 9 inches in depth and 8 inches in diameter. During the period 18th to 22nd May, four eggs were laid but they all proved to be clear. They were pale blue, completely unmarked, and measured, on the average, 25 by 16 mm. In June she started again, this time laying five eggs by the 19th. Again, four were clear but the other did hatch on 3rd July. Except for the fact that a tiny live object could just be discerned at the base of the nest hole with the aid of an electric hand-torch, little more information can be given as to whether there was any nestling down or not. However, by the time the chick was nine days old it could be seen that it was feathering up in greyish-fawn and that it did have a dark, thick bill, about § inch in length, the gape being margined in white. By another seven days the feathering closely resembled that of the adults, even to the black-tipped crest, and the bill had taken on the long, thin, curved shape of the older birds, but it was much shorter, not more than an inch in length. At this time the parent birds spent most of the daylight hours out of the nest, paying it regular visits to feed the nestling. Although it vacated the nest for a brief period on 25th July, it was not until the following day that it finally fledged. A complete replica in general form of its parents, except that the colour tones were softer, the crest not so full, neither was the bill as long. It finally attained independence on 3rd August, and has since shown itself to be a male. During the incubation period and early brooding days, seemingly carried out by the female only, the male was most conscientious in his attendances upon her. Their diet was comprised entirely of live-food in the form of mealworms, crickets, moths and other insects and grubs foraged in the aviary, plus ground raw beef. The male seemed to make a habit of taking four feeding trips to the nest, then something for himself, then back to the nest again, repeating this series of operations about three times each hour. Whenever the female seemed to feel he was overdue with the rations she would poke her head out of the hole and make a plaintive “ hoop-hoop He would promptly reply and, in a matter of seconds, would be there with something for her to eat or feed to the nestling as the case might be. Contrary to my expectations, having scented Hoopoe nests at 200 to 300 yards distant in India, there was a negligible smell connected with this nest. This may have been due to there being but one chick, as compared to the normal three or four in the wild, or maybe they had become civilized in their lush surroundings and did carry out a certain amount of nest sanitation. It is owing to their habit of never cleaning 1 66 B. E. REED - A NEAR MISS WITH A SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD the nest of the excreta of their offspring that they are regarded as unclean by the natives of India, and are left entirely unmolested. Although I have no particular desire to have the unpleasant odour permeating through the beautiful aviaries, laid out in such a natural style by Mr. Boehm, I do hope that another season may produce a nest full of young Hoopoes. Editor's Note. — It is greatly regretted that, owing to an error, the above article on Breeding the Hoopoe was not published before the article on the Breeding of the Thailand Hoopoe by Kenton C. Lint. The first breeding of this sub-species must be credited to Mr. Edward Marshall Boehm and Mr. Charles Everitt. * * * A NEAR MISS WITH A SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD By B. E. Reed (Wednesbury, Staffs., England) This article is of an interesting experience we had early this year with Scarlet-Chested Sunbirds ( Chalcomitra senegalensis gutturalis) in our birdroom. I should perhaps explain at this point that “ we ” includes my partner Mr. A. Holmes. Our birds are housed in what almost amounts to a semi-greenhouse approx. 1 6 feet long by 8 feet wide by 6 ft. 6 in. to the eaves and 7 ft. 6 in. to the apex. The birds are kept in pairs in small indoor flights or large cages. We have only experienced serious fighting with the Scarlet-Chested Sunbirds and I think you will agree that we speak from experience, having kept fifteen or sixteen different species of sunbirds. The room is thermostatically controlled at 6o° F. min. (This was raised to 70° when the sunbirds had laid in order to increase our supply of fruit flies.) The birds are fed on a Nectar Recipe as used by the late Cecil Webb and is made up as follows : — to the making of 1 pint, 6 teaspoons of Baby Food, 2 teaspoons Condensed Milk, J teaspoon Haliborange, 4 teaspoons Glucose, and 2 teaspoons Honey. This is changed about 2.30 p.m. and is substituted by a mixture of 1 dessertspoon of “ Stimuli te ” and 1 dessertspoon of honey to 1 pint of water. (These mixtures are only approximate and are varied daily as they must get differences in the wild state.) The main source of live food given to our sunbirds throughout the year are fruit flies and occasional spiders. Slices of sweet fruit are occasionally given to those sunbirds that will eat them. The Scarlet-Chested Sunbirds were imported by us from Portuguese East Africa in March, 1962. We have tried to pair them up many times but serious fighting always broke out after a couple of days. On 8th February, 1964, these two birds were placed in a flight indoors B. E. REED - A NEAR MISS WITH A SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD 1 67 approx. 2 ft. g in. square by 6 feet high. They immediately began fighting and the cock was removed. It was noticed soon after that the hen was bickering with a pair of Kirk’s Black Sunbirds in the next compartment. So a large piece of cardboard was fastened up to prevent this. An artificial nest of grass, which was put up in the flight with the hen, was immediately destroyed by her. The cock was introduced to her again on the 23rd March, 1964, and apart from a bit of squabbling all was quiet. Within a couple of days she was seen to be attempting to get through the wire netting into a seedeater flight. We guessed that she wanted to get to one of the nest- boxes and one was given to her. She began building almost immediately and the materials used were canary nesting material, bits of grass and moss. (Cobwebs were refused.) It was lined with scraps of paper off the floor. The nest was very deep and had a porch over the entrance. The nest-box was an old cardboard nut and bolt box with the corner ripped out. The nest was completed on the 10th April, an interesting point being that she would only build when the sun was shining. The display consists of the cock flicking his tail from side to side while singing continuously. He also holds the wing which is furthest away from the hen in a curious position (dropped, with the shoulder of the wing held out and the wing itself curved almost into an arc.) The hen will then open and shut her wings continuously and raise her tail (this is vibrated rapidly up and down). Mating then takes place. When about to lay it was noticed that she caught more insects than usual, possibly in order to form the egg shells. She was seen to be sitting on the 2 1 st April and one egg was seen in the nest on the 26th April. It was cream, heavily blotched, and streaked with greyish-brown, especially towards the larger end. It was quite pointed and was about 18 -5 to 19 mm. long by 13*5 mm. wide. (Two infertile eggs laid since confirm this.) The youngster is believed to have hatched on the 6th May as the hen was noticed catching large amounts of fruit flies. On the 8th May, the hen was seen hanging on the front of the box feeding her offspring. It was covered in white down and the inside of the mouth was white. It also had an extremely wide gape. About this time the hen was seen searching the cracks in the flight for spiders, and it must be stated that the feeding was carried out almost entirely on these, the hen taking approximately sixty to one hundred spiders per day. The youngster was fed at first by regurgitation but in the later stages the spiders were killed and fed whole. On 14th May the inside of the youngster’s mouth was seen to be changing to yellow. It had also begun to feather up. The droppings were removed from the nest three or four times per day. On the 1 6th May the cock sunbird was removed from the flight as the birds were seen attempting to mate again. On the 1 7th May the hen was seen to be in a distressed condition. 1 68 NORMAN McCANCE - PHEASANTS AT THE SYDNEY ROYAL SHOW (We think now that she had not been taking any food herself but had been feeding it all to the youngster.) She was, therefore, placed in a hospital cage for five hours and she recovered. During this time we hand-fed the young bird with freshly killed spiders and fruit flies. About g p.m. on that evening she was trying to get out of the hospital cage and upon being released into the flight she went into the nest and sat on the young bird. The young bird left the nest on 26th May at approximately 5 p.m. As its flight feathers were not developed it was returned. It promptly left again. This was done three times and eventually it was left out. It was progressing well and its flight feathers were opening slowly when it suddenly refused to feed on the 31st May, although the hen kept trying to feed it. It died early on the morning of the 1st June. We think that it is possible that it died of shock as we had two very bad thunder¬ storms at night on the 29th and 30th May. We think that the slow development of its flight feathers may have been due to our inability to provide enough live food in the first few days of its life. We have found that any hen sunbirds in breeding condition will show this by filling the nectar bottles with any scraps of paper, straw, etc. they can find. The building, feeding, and incubation, was carried out entirely by the hen. At the time of writing (6th June) the hen is pulling the nest to pieces and we shall introduce the cock to her again in another week. In conclusion we should like to thank all the people who helped us by collecting spiders, especially Mr. Alan Lavender who, although a Non-Fancier, collected in the region of three to four dozen per day. * * * PHEASANTS AT THE SYDNEY ROYAL SHOW Norman McCance (Avonsleigh, Victoria, Australia) To judge the pheasants at the Easter Show in Sydney at the invitation of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, I travelled 1,000 miles (there and back) by car ; left it parked with 50,000 other cars outside the vast show grounds ; mingled, and was nearly mangled, among 300,000 Good Friday visitors ; and left a bit of my heart with Sydney, one of the world’s most fascinating cities. In Australia we have fifteen different species of pheasants kept in aviaries, with no prospect of increasing the number of species, because of the ban on importations of all birds and eggs, for fear of Newcastle disease introduced to poultry. Having regard to the lack of any new pheasant “ blood ” since 1932, we seem to have kept what we have got in pretty good shape and condition, without noticeable signs of in- breeding. NORMAN McGANGE - PHEASANTS AT THE SYDNEY ROYAL SHOW 1 69 Only on King Island, a small part of Tasmania in Bass Strait, an hour’s flight from the Melbourne airport, are pheasants available as game birds. This is due to the happy circumstance of no foxes being introduced to the island. These pheasants are all wild-bred, and are hunted with dogs for shooters who fly from as far away as Brisbane (1,600 miles) for the fortnightly open season in June. About 2,000 cock Ringnecks are shot in that season ; no hens. At the Sydney Royal Show, forty-three pairs of pheasants were exhibited. The only available species not shown were the very high- priced rareties, the Siamese Firebacks, Edwards, and Cheers. A few pairs of each of these survive, but they are increasingly difficult to rear, probably owing to in-breeding. As their prices range around £50 a pair, they appear too valuable to risk showing. None of the birds shown was in perfect condition, owing to the very late moult coinciding with a very early Easter. Only six days later than its earliest possible date, Easter Sunday fell on March 28 ; had the full moon reached its fullness 1 1 hours 1 1 minutes later than it did, Easter Sunday would have fallen on April 5 ; and that extra week would have perfected the plumage of most of the birds shown ! Lady Amherst’s were resplendent, as usual. The Australian standard is very high, owing to careful breeding from English Amhersts imported from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, about 1925. The champion Amherst cock shown by the religious order of the House of David in Sydney was practically perfect : snowy breast and flanks, blue face, correct crest, splendid ruff, and long clearly-etched tail. Also, the best Goldens were beyond reproach. We are lucky in Australia in having very few Golds with Amherst blood (and luckier still vice versa). By careful feeding on a diet rich in vitamins and minerals the show Goldens were both iridescent and wonderfully rich in colouring. “ Best bird in the show ” was adjudged to be a Silver cock. It won by a very narrow margin from the Golden and Amherst champions, mainly on its condition ; but also because of its exquisite markings, rivalling the delicacy of the old Chinese embroideries. This is rare in Silvers. Reeves’s were represented by only one pair, far from perfect, in the moult. They gave promise of much better colour and size in maturity. Swinhoe’s were excellent types of high quality but mutants lacked the solid blackness and iridescence necessary for top ranking. A pretty problem gave the judge a headache in the “ any other variety ” class, where five pairs of Goldens were shown, each cock having exactly the same yellow bar across the upper breast (though otherwise 24-carat). They could have been condemned as mongrels ; disqualified as out of their proper class among Goldens, where they would have been disqualified anyhow ; or hailed as very interesting examples of xanthism, or yellowness in the mutation range that 170 CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE JOYFUL GREENBUL includes albinism (whiteness), melanism (blackness), or erythrinism (redness) . The judge ruled in favour of xanthism in the firm belief that, properly developed, this mutation might lead to the yellow-breasted Gold bred by Professor A. Ghigi in Italy. His belief was not confirmed by a letter written to the Ornamental Pheasant Society of Australia (Mr. E. A. Eldridge) by M. Jean Delacour who insisted that our yellow-barred Goldens were showing the taint of Amherst blood. The judge at the Sydney Royal asks pardon from M. Delacour for entire disagreement with him. The honourable and venerable President of the Avicultural Society of America ruled without knowledge of our birds’ breeding. * * * BREEDING THE JOYFUL GREENBUL By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N.J., U.S.A.) A member of the Bulbul family, the Joyful Greenbul — Chlorocichla 1. latissima — comes from Africa, where it may be found in a com¬ paratively restricted area ranging from north-eastern Congo, through the Sudan, to Kenya. It has a most melodious song but also possesses a harsh, staccato alarm note, which it is subject to give vent to at the slightest provocation. About 10 inches in total length, the sexes are so similar in appearance that, to sex an individual bird, presents quite a task. The upper plumage is golden-green, the head feathers being dark centred, giving it a scaly effect. The underparts are golden-yellow, more intense at the throat, forming a distinct patch. The only difference we have noticed in the sexes is that the throat patch is less extensive in the female, and the underparts in general are not as bright as those of the male. These observations have been made on one pair only, so they may not be at all conclusive. There is a subspecies, Chlorocichla l. schoutedeni, which is found from the eastern Congo to south-west Tanganyika. It is slightly larger than the nominate race and is a brighter green, the underparts also being green with a yellowish wash. A pair of the former species was received by Mr. Boehm in August, 1961, from the well known collector the late Cecil Webb. After a period in one of the pens in the main bird-house, early in 1962, they were released into a planted aviary that also contained Royal and Spreo Starlings, Red-eyed Bulbuls, Scarlet Cocks of the Rock and Plumbeous Redstarts, pairs of each. They settled down well in their new environ¬ ment and it was then that the beauty of their song could really be appreciated. So far as we are aware, no attempt to nest was made during that first year. It may appear strange that I employ the phrase “ so far as we are aware ”, but the reason for this is that, when they did CHARLES EVERITT - BREEDING THE JOYFUL GREENBUL I 7 I go to nest, the site was not revealed until such time as there was a nestling. It was late in July 1963 that they began to get very excited whenever anyone entered the aviary, flying in and out of the overhanging trees, chattering incessantly. Nevertheless, they did not come down for any of the live-food placed in there, at least not whilst we were present. However, on 25th August, from another aviary one of them was observed carrying a moth into one of the dense bushes and coming out empty billed. Then, during a temporary lull in the general bird noises always evident in an aviary, a faint cheeping was heard. On examina¬ tion of this bush, carried out under a veritable bombardment of protest cries by the Greenbuls, an open, cup nest containing one nestling was found. It was obvious at a glance that it was a young Joyful, for the colouring so closely resembled that of the adults. It was almost fully feathered and, to hazard a guess, was about one week old. The gape was bright orange, margined in pale yellow. When it left the nest six days later, the upper plumage was green with a brownish wash, the underparts being pale yellow, washed with green. Both parents fed the fledgling, varying the diet between live-food and fruit, but seldom attempting to do so while any of us were in the vicinity. It grew rapidly, finally attaining full independence on 1 8th September, although, prior to that date, it had been seen feeding on its own. Now, at six months old, it is identical to its parents, favouring the male in its call note and overall colouring. Unfortunately, owing to the tardiness in locating the nest, it is not possible to supply any data as to the size or colour of the eggs, nor as to how many made up the clutch. The nest had been constructed of Spanish Moss, rootlets, and fine grasses, was about 9 inches across the top with a central cup about 2J inches deep. Maybe there will be an opportunity of gleaning information concerning the eggs, and further details of the nestlings, if they decide to breed again this year. If such is the case a report will be made on these items in due course. ❖ * * 172 M. F. COUPE - NEW TROPICAL HOUSE AT CHESTER ZOO THE NEW TROPICAL HOUSE AT CHESTER ZOO By M. F. Coupe (Section Officer, Chester Zoo) The Tropical House is 240 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 40 feet high in size, and is constructed mainly of reinforced concrete and sandstone. Translucent sheeting is used as extensively as possible for the roof and sides, to allow the maximum amount of light penetration. Included in the building are the Reptile House, Nocturnal House, and Pigmy Hippo, Gorilla, and Orang Utan enclosures, as well as vast accommoda¬ tion for free-flying birds and spacious aviaries. The whole construction is on two levels, with a large ramp between the two and numerous pathways wind their way amidst profuse tropical vegetation. When walking round the house, visitors can view the birds in flight and from all angles, and seats are provided for those who wish to bird-watch in comfort. A tropical and sub-tropical rain forest have been recreated as closely as possible — the temperature varying in different areas to suit the particular animals exhibited there. The temperature at ground level in the centre of the house averages 70° F. and the humidity is 70-75 per cent but at the upper level the temperature is slightly higher and the humidity somewhat lower. The house has been planted with trees, shrubs, and flowering plants — all thriving well and growing fast under these ideal conditions. Over 250 birds of seventy species have complete freedom within the confines of the house, enabling visitors to observe them in surroundings similar to their natural habitat. Hummingbirds and sunbirds are a special feature and our many species are doing extremely well. Also at liberty are Touracos, African Starlings, Bluebirds, Zosterops, tropical finches and many other species. Numerous nectar bottles and feeding tables are provided and fruit for the larger birds is skewered onto branches located throughout the house. To help the general public to identify the birds many species are depicted in coloured illustrations. Eventually it is hoped to have illustrations of every species exhibited, but in the meantime a list of all the free-flying birds is given to each person entering the house. A row of aviaries included at ground level is designed principally to house the Toucans, Barbets, and Hornbills, which cannot be mixed with the other birds at liberty. Also in these aviaries are Go-away Birds, Rollers, Weka Rails, Quetzals, and a Flicker. There is another row of aviaries at the top of the ramp, in the upper level, which are now empty but are reserved for a collection of Birds of Paradise — due to arrive in the near future. All the aviaries are planted to resemble the natural environment of the birds. Avicult. Mag. [To face p. 172 The New Tropical House at Chester Zoo Avicult. Mag. Copyright ] [John Markham Cecil Stanley Webb Whipsnade, 1952 [To face p. 173 IN MEMORIAM - CECIL STANLEY WEBB 173 IN MEMORIAM— CECIL STANLEY WEBB The suddent death of Cecil Webb on 10th April, 1964, at his home in Nairobi, Kenya, at the age of sixty-six, has robbed field zoology and aviculture of an outstanding personality. It has also brought a profound sense of personal loss to his many friends who held him in the highest esteem and affection. His early days were passed in his father’s home in Essex, where he and his brother Leslie ran a poultry farm, specializing in Buff Orpingtons and exhibiting them with great success. Both brothers were imbued with the spirit of adventure, and shortly before the first world war they sold their farm and went to South Africa, where they became overseers on an experimental farm in the bush veldt. Here, in addition to learning the care of cattle, mules, donkeys and pigs, the brothers were introduced to ostrich farming. Some aspects of this were exceedingly dangerous, especially when the birds had to be caught to have their feathers plucked. It was here that Webb got his first glimpse of the wonderful bird life of South Africa — Hornbills, Rollers, Bee-eaters and Glossy Starlings, besides coming into daily contact with the various antelope and other game which strayed on to the 10,000 acre farm. This ideal life was interrupted by the declaration of war in August, 1914, and the partnership was broken, Leslie being made manager of a ranch and Cecil being hastily equipped with horse and rifle and ordered to be prepared to fight rebels against the South African Govern¬ ment. After the campaign against the Germans in South-West Africa, he volunteered for overseas service in a regiment of heavy artillery, where he was rejoined by his brother. The regiment, the 71st Siege Battery, consisted of 6 inch howitzers and was the first South African unit to arrive in England for service on the Western Front. It was at this point, in June, 1916, that I first met the man who was to become a lifelong friend. I was Regimental Medical Officer to a group of batteries and made daily visits to the 7 1 st which was dug into a camouflaged position in a little orchard at Mailly-Maillet, near Albert, in readiness for the great battle of the Somme which started on 1st July, 1916. In the autumn of that year, after the advance up the Ancre, the 71st was moved to the Ypres salient, and for some years we lost sight of each other. Webb’s first venture into the animal-collecting business was made in September 1919, when he brought back to England a large number of South African birds which he and his brother had collected in the Transvaal. He disposed of them to the livestock department of a big London store, and being pleased with the success of his venture, cabled his brother to bring home another consignment. He then returned to the Transvaal and applied himself to trapping birds of all kinds, including many rare insectivorous birds such as Burchell’s Crimson- *74 IN MEMORIAM - CECIL STANLEY WEBB breasted Shrike, Thrushes, Sunbirds, and Lapwings. It was then that he started to experiment with various forms of synthetic foods to replace the birds’ natural diet. After this expedition he tried to settle down in England, but the urge to travel and collect was too strong. This time he went to Bechuanaland, Rhodesia, and Portuguese East Africa and started in real earnest to become an animal collector. He brought most of his collections to the London Zoo and gave them the first choice of rarities, while the rest went to private collectors, notably the late Mr. Alfred Ezra, the late Mr. John Spedan Lewis, and M. Jean Delacour. It was at the latter’s suggestion that he made an expedition in 1927 to Annam in Indo- China, where he collected many rare Thrushes, Babblers, Pittas, and Bee-eaters. One bird he managed to establish was La Touche’s Owl which had never been brought alive into captivity. There were also many pheasants, including Rheinhardt’s, Edward’s Blue, Fire-back, and Ghigi’s Peacock Pheasant. Most of these birds went to M. Delacour’s aviaries at Cleres. It would be impossible to enumerate in detail his many expeditions, but one of the most important was in 1929, when he went with M. Delacour to Madagascar and returned to the London Zoo with, among many other specimens, an Aye-Aye, a highly specialized Lemur. The Zoo had not seen one of these exceedingly rare and interesting animals since one imported in 1862. For some time I had been urging him to visit British Guiana to try to bring back specimens of that curious prehistoric-looking bird, the Hoatzin. In 1921 I had myself, following William Beebe’s instructions, found a thriving colony of these birds on the Canje Creek. I described this to him and told him how to get there. I had only been able to bring back skins for the British Museum but Webb got five live birds which he fed on fresh caladium leaves, gradually weaning them on to lettuces. When he returned with his collection, which included Sloths, Tapirs, Cock of the Rock, and Humming Birds, the five Hoatzins were alive. Unfortunately three died of cold during the journey home and one only survived for a day after arrival, but the remaining bird was in perfect condition and lived in the Zoo for some months. This was the first time a Hoatzin had ever been brought into and kept in capti¬ vity anywhere in the world. During the 1930’s, expeditions followed to Kenya, Tanganyika, Australia, the Gamerouns, India, the Gold Coast, and Ecuador, and on five of these expeditions he was accompanied by his niece, Delys Webb, who helped him to feed and care for his collections. Then, in the summer of 1939, he went for the third time to Madagas¬ car. War was declared and for six years he was marooned in this great island, at one time without news of the outside world for two and a half years. He was forced, through lack of funds, to take to the jungle IN MEMORIAM - CECIL STANLEY WEBB 175 where he could live for next to nothing. The list of creatures he captured and preserved during his enforced stay would take many pages, and his adventures when the Vichy Government took over and the island became a German satellite make interesting and exciting reading, especially the part he played in the British invasion of the island. This is all described in his autobiography A Wanderer in the Wind (Hutchinson). His entire collection of skins of lemurs, rodents, insectivores, and birds was purchased by Sir John Ellerman, who presented them to the British Museum. When Webb eventually succeeded in getting a letter through to me at the end of the war, I arranged for him to travel to Mombasa and pick up a load of animals which various friends of the London Zoo had got together to help restore its depleted collections. These included the African Elephant “ Dicksi ”, a Baringo Giraffe, baboons, monkeys, antelope, lions, and snakes. He was able to get a passage on the S.S. City of Calcutta which was bound for Liverpool, but at his suggestion I succeeded in getting the ship diverted to the Port of London, which cut several days off the voyage and eliminated the railway journey from Liverpool to London. Soon after his return, the Zoological Society appointed him Curator- Collector and he immediately went back to Kenya in the winter of 1 945-46 to bring home an even larger collection — eighty-seven mammals, 150 birds and two large pythons. The mammals included six Giraffes (three of them reticulated) and a Black Rhinoceros. Most were finger-tame for he found that tame animals had much more chance of survival on a long journey. In February, 1947, he visited British Guiana for the second time and brought back a representative collection of South American species, including a Harpy Eagle and many Humming Birds. There was yet one more trip for him — to the British Camerouns, where he was successful in capturing and bringing home a bird equalling the Hoatzin in rarity — a Grey-necked Picathartes, the first ever to be brought into captivity. This bird lived for several years in the Tropical House at Regent’s Park. He was, more than anyone, responsible for re-stocking the London Zoo and Whipsnade after World War II. In all he had made over twenty major expeditions to every part of the world in search of animals. On his return from the Camerouns he was appointed Curator of Mammals and Birds at the London Zoo but retired from this post for personal reasons in 1 95 1 . In April of that year he married a great friend of ours, who was to share thirteen years of absolute happiness with him, for Daisy Burlington- Green proved an ideal companion who shared his interest and love for all living creatures. Shortly after leaving Regent’s Park he was appointed Superintendent of the Dublin Zoo, where he made many improvements, but after five years he became restless again and decided to return to the warmth of Kenya. For a 176 IN MEMORIAM - CECIL STANLEY WEBB time he and his wife settled on a small estate at the foot of Mount Kenya, to which they became very attached, but they had to sell out under the Land Settlement Scheme, so they moved to Nairobi where he was given a Curatorship at the Coryndon Museum, a post he held until his untimely death. In my opinion he was one of the greatest animal collectors of all time. For forty years his life was devoted to the capture, handling, and care of wild animals, for which he possessed a unique gift. It must be remembered that his collecting was done before air transport for animals came into common use, and it was amazing to see the perfect condition in which he would deliver the smallest and most delicate creatures after many weeks of travel by land and sea. The Webbs were never happier than when they had a house full of unusual pets. One of the most attractive wild creatures they reared from birth was “ Horace ”, a wild Irish Hare, about which he wrote a delightful little book, A Hare About the House (Hutchinson, 1955). In his last letter to me, written only a fortnight before his death, he told me of their latest pets : “ A Pearl-spotted Owlet, 3 inches high, amazingly tame and loves being held. One of our greatest joys is a Ruppell’s Robin-chat who sits in a hedge close to the house and mimics everything in a loud voice. His repertoire includes the calls of Kites, Fruit Pigeons, Red¬ chested Cuckoos, Paradise Flycatchers, Bee-eaters and many others, also human whistles and songs of his own composition. ” All his life he did the things he wanted to do, with determination, courage, and immense skill and care, and he died in the country he loved and among those creatures he had made his lifelong friends. Geoffrey Vevers. Whipsnade June , 1964. JEAN DELAGOUR - CALIFORNIA AVIARIES r77 CALIFORNIA AVIARIES By Jean Delacour (Cleres, France) Because of the favourable climate of California, and probably also of the way of life there where most people have the use of a garden, more birds are kept and reared around Los Angeles than perhaps in any other part of the United States or even of the world. But we seldom read much about them, as most of their owners are either too busy, or too reluctant to write. Only Mr. A. H. Isenberg and Mr. D. West take the trouble to report to this magazine. A few others give some news of their birds in the American (Los Angeles) Avicultural Bulletin, but not to any great extent. I have spent nine years in California (1952-1960) as Director of the Los Angeles County Museum, and I still go there every winter for a couple of months, so that I do not lose touch with the local aviculturists. As the Honorary President of the Avicultural Society of America, I usually attend its yearly Christmas dinners and one or two monthly meetings. Furthermore, I stay most of the time with either of two close friends, Mr. Ray Thomas and Mr. W. J. Sheffler, who have large collections and know much about birds, but who never write ... I think therefore that a few lines on their aviaries and those of some other prominent collectors may be in order. Most kinds of birds are kept in California. Pheasants, Partridges, Quails and other game birds are reared in quantities, as well as Water- fowl. Parrots and Parrakeets are particularly popular. Many Pigeons and Doves, Finches and Waxbills breed freely. A number of people keep mixed collections, and a few possess remarkable series of fruit and insect eating species. The San Diego Zoo, of course, maintains a very large and beautiful collection of all sorts of birds and propagate many interesting ones under the care of an able curator Mr. K. C. Lint. What I shall try to depict here is the recent achievements of a few aviculturists who have been for several decades very skilful and successful with different birds, but who seldom or never have recorded it in print. The roster of aviculturists in California is subject to many changes as years pass. A number take up birds, often at once on a big scale, either as amateurs or as professional breeders; they may be lucky and prosper at first, but most of them soon become discouraged and give it up as quickly as they have started. There are however many happy excep¬ tions to this rule! * * * Mr. J. W. Steinbeck, of Walnut Creek, near Concord, north of San Francisco, is the only professional breeder whom I know who has made good and prospered for perhaps over forty years. It is true that he is a 1 78 JEAN DELACOUR - CALIFORNIA AVIARIES real bird lover and a good gardener, and that he also owns orchards which contribute to his income. His aviaries are roomy and numerous, disposed on a semicircle around a large expanse of grass dotted with fruit trees, at the back of his house. Each pen is against a solid partition and has a deep shelter, and several trees. Every one of them houses a number of pairs of wild pigeons and doves, and a pair of pheasants: Monals, Tragopans and Peacock Pheasants of several species. A number of Crown- Pigeons and Nicobars are there, three of the former (■ Goura coronata ) and several of the latter have been reared in recent years, as well as many Satyrs, Temmincks, Monals, Grey, Germains, Palawan and Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasants. Of the smaller pigeons and doves, Mr. Steinbeck has produced every year hundreds of many species, some very rare. He also keeps several Crowned Cranes in the garden, a pair of Blue and Yellow Macaws, and a number of Australian Finches and Waxbills in special aviaries. I have known Mr. Steinbeck, and have acquired birds from him, for more than thirty years. I take the same pleasure in visiting his establishment and discussing birds with him today as I did long ago. I hope to be able to do it again for some years to come. * * * Mr. Frank E. Strange lives alone at Redondo Beach, near the ocean, to the south of Los Angeles. A retired bank employee, he has been for a long time the best breeder of Quails and Partridges in the world. He has great knowledge and experience, and a very keen and unselfish interest in those birds. His collections changed along the years as he is continually acquiring species never kept before, which he practically always rears for the first time in captivity. His installation consists of many compartments, more or less 15x10 feet, and 6 feet high, with long grass (no shrubs), boxes and perches, each for a breeding pair. The eggs are mostly incubated by bantams, but reared in brooders with wire bottomed runs. His techniques and care are such that he seldom fails to raise the young. Here is the list of the species reared in captivity by Mr. Strange during the last twenty years : Partridges : Chinese Bamboo, European Grey, Red-legged, Barbary, Chukar, Capueira ( Odontophorus ), Stone ( petrosus ), See-See ( bonhami ). Francolins : Sharpe’s {clappertoni) , Erckel, Bare- throated {leucocepus) , Crested (. sephaena ), Double-spurred (bicalcaratus) , Close-barred ( adspersus ), Kirk’s ( rovuma ), Hildebrandt, Red- winged ( levaillanti ) from Africa ; Grey ( pondicerianus , 2 races), Black (francolinus) , Swamp (gularis) from India. JEAN DELAGOUR - CALIFORNIA AVIARIES *79 Quails : Mountain, Mearns, Masked and Red Bobwhites, Colombian Crested, Douglas, Gambel, Blue Scaled (2 races) from America ; Jungle Bush ( Perdicula asiatica ), Painted Bush (P. irythrorhyncha) , Chinese (C. chinensis) , from India ; Swamp ( ypsilophorus) from Australia ; Harlequin, Cape from Africa ; Painted and Red Spurfowl, from India (the Ceylon Spurfowl has been reared by Mr. Suthard at Long Beach.) Mr. Strange has also bred repeatedly the Green Junglefowl from Java and the Crested Tinamou from Argentina. Mr. William J. Parsonson, of Paramount, is known mostly for his successful keeping and breeding of Waterfowl. But he also rears Pigeons, Doves, Tinamous and Sonnerat’s Junglefowl. He is a true lover of birds and plants, and I remember meeting him as a boy of fifteen already dedicated to those hobbies. As an engineer working full time for the County of Los Angeles, he is a busy man, but nevertheless he finds enough leisure to look carefully after his birds. He has a large collection of ducks in a big, wired-over enclosure, and rare geese, each pair in a pen; also Black Swans. Grass is hard to grow in a dry climate, but judicious feeding makes up for it. His greatest triumph has been the breeding of a male Kelp Goose, a unique achievement to this day, which he hopes to duplicate this year. He keeps a pair of this difficult species in perfect condition on a diet of high protein and alfalfa pellets, with the addition of some iodine to the food or to the water. He also rears every year big broods of Orinoco and Andean Geese, some Peruvian Crested Ducks, Ashy and Ruddy-headed Geese, Common Shelducks and Laysan Ducks, to list only the rarer ones. Mr. Harold Rudkin, at Fillmore, carries on with his family tradition. Some of us keep a fond memory of his father, who lived to be almost a centenarian ; he was a remarkable aviculturist, first in England, and later on in California. He has a magnificent collection of parrots and parrakeets, the gem of which are a pair of Spix Macaws and a beautiful lutino (P. menstruus ) Pionus, all yellow and pink. He rears every year a lot of young birds, a good many of which, particularly Macaws, Cockatoos and Grey Parrots are produced from eggs incubated under bantams, the young being hand-fed from birth. Mrs. Rudkin’s help in this matter is very important, and the birds so reared are naturally extremely tame. Among them, in 1963, were two Red- tailed Black Cockatoos. Apart from the Parrots, Mr. Rudkin keeps small birds, fruit-eating and others, such as Fairy Blue birds, Cocks-of-the-Rock and Tanagers, and some Pigeons, Game birds and Waterfowl. Recently several Victoria Crown Pigeons, Nicobars, Imperial Fruit Pigeons, Mountain Witch Doves, Black and Black-necked Swans, various Peafowl, Ocellated Turkeys and Ceylon Junglefowl have bred successfully at Fillmore. l8o JEAN DELAGOUR - CALIFORNIA AVIARIES Mr. W. J. Sheffler built, forty years ago, a beautiful circular aviary, with sixteen compartments radiating around a central shelter, all solid masonry and steel frames, in the garden of his home at the foot of the Baldwin Hills, in a central part of Los Angeles. Next to it is his private museum, which contains a considerable collection of bird skins, mostly from Mexico. The aviary still is in good shape, and well filled. There are a number of Parrakeets and Parrots, Pheasants, Quails, Francolins, Doves, Touracous, Tanagers and hundreds of Finches. His greatest rarities are half a dozen of the beautiful Rosita’s Bunting ( Passerina rositae) from S. W. Mexico, a bird larger than the well known Indigo Bunting, a lighter blue, with the breast pink degrading to buff in the belly in the male ; the female is light brown. Quite a number of birds have been reared in Mr. Sheffler’s flights along the years, one of his greatest successes being the breeding of the Vermilion Tyrant Flycatcher ( Pyrocephalus rubinus) . He had much larger series of Parrots and Parrakeets, game birds and ducks first in the southern part of Los Angeles, and later on at Salome, Arizona ; but those aviaries have been abandoned some fifteen years ago after the retirement of the attendant. They are now used by another amateur. * ❖ * I was happy, as always, to spend a few days at Ross, to the North of San Francisco, with my old friends Mr. and Mrs. Eric Kinsey. Mr. Kinsey retired a few years ago and disposed of his larger place at Manor, where they had long kept so successfully practically all the native Californian birds, even the most difficult ones. Their new home has only one bird room where some 80 birds, mostly native, live in cages, but also a few exotics such as Clarinos, Solitaires, Shamas and Fruit- suckers. Their skill in caring for difficult species, and the perfection of their cages still are unsurpassed. * ❖ * Mr. Ray Thomas possesses, in his fine and large garden at Bel Air, the best collection of small birds in California, and also very fine parrots and parrakeets. They are housed in a bird room, five large flights, two of them planted with trees, 1 8 smaller ones with shelters at the back, and 6 more in a transformed greenhouse. Most of the smaller aviaries are reserved for parrots, but one contains two beautiful and very rare males of the Banded Cotinga ( Cotinga c. maculata) from eastern Brazil, a present from Dr. E. Beraut ; the gleaming blue of the plumage is magnificently contrasted with the silky plum colour of the throat and lower breast. Another compartment is inhabited by a number of small Waxbills and Parrot finches, and a third one by a pair of Rothschild’s Starlings. Among the parrakeets which live in the other pens must be mentioned Crimson Wings, Kings, Queen Alexandra’s, several other Australian species ; Queen of Bavaria’s Conures ; lutino JEAN DELACOUR - CALIFORNIA AVIARIES 1 8 I and blue Ringnecks. A pair of bluish Ringnecks imported from India five years ago, have produced pure blue offspring as well as bluish ones. There are also a Hyacinthine Macaw, a Hawk-headed Parrot and a bronze- winged Pionus (P. chalcopterus) . The five large aviaries are the homes of hundreds of small and medium sized birds. So many are kept together that fighting between them is discouraged and seldom occurs. Many species and individuals, which would readily kill one another under other conditions, live happily together, and losses are much smaller than the average bird keeper would expect. As the birds are most carefully fed and the aviaries very clean and well kept, they do not suffer from overcrowding. Of the three smaller aviaries, which are nevertheless 25 x 30 feet or bigger, one is full of Finches, small Starlings, Bulbuls, small Troupials, large Tanagers, Thrushes, Robins, Babblers, South American Buntings, Sparrows, Weavers, Whydahs, etc.; even a Pitta and a Cock-of-the Rock live there. Some belong to species seldom kept such as the Grey Starling ( Cosmosparus unicolor ), the Indian Stare ( Saroglossa spiloptera ), and several South American Buntings : Pselliphorus tibialis , Arremon taciturnus , Poopsiza torquata and P. whitei. Another aviary, large and planted, is stocked with innumerable species of small Tanagers, Sugarbirds, Waxbills and other little birds, and some bigger ones, among which Amethyst and Emerald Starlings, several Fruitsuckers and Babblers. The third one has Fairy Bluebirds, Blue- throated Toucanets, different Asiatic and South American Barbets, large Tanagers, Orioles, Troupials, Bellbirds and Starlings. The two larger flights are full of bigger birds. One shelters the stronger ones : Pink-crested, White-cheeked and Purple-crested Touracous ; Toco, Greenbilled and Sulphur-breasted Toucans ; Lidth’s and various Mexican and South American Jays and Magpies. The other one accommodates over a hundred Touracous (Knysna, Senegal and Schutti), Jay-Thrushes, Spreos, Glossy Starlings, Mynahs, Troupials, large Barbets, Toucanets, Thrushes and other medium sized species. It is a remarkable show, and a successful one when one considers the great number of species thus associated. During the weeks I have just spent with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, as I do every winter since my retirement, I thoroughly enjoy this large and excellent collection of birds. Mr. Thomas also most kindly keeps for me, until the spring comes to Europe, the various birds that I cannot resist buying when I am in California. There always have been good bird shops there. Many have gradually disappeared along the years. But new ones have opened. A number of retail dealers around Los Angeles have interesting birds at present, and one wholesale man, Roy Marshall (M. and M. Bird Ranch, Monrovia) always shows a large assortment of species from all over the world, some very unusual. Those from the Americas, particularly 1 82 ROBERT A. COPLEY - HOODED MERGANSERS - REARING PROBLEMS Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico are particularly attractive and advantageous like also those from Japan and China (Hong-Kong), as they come direct to Los Angeles. In my late years, I feel just as excited at the sight of rare birds to be acquired and just as unreasonable as I have ever been since my early years. * * * HOODED MERGANSERS— REARING PROBLEMS By Robert A. Copley (Hemingford Grey, Hunts, England) In the spring of 1964 the two pairs of Hooded Mergansers nested, one pair in a box in a high bank of grass and the other laid in several boxes. The eggs of No. 1 were collected carefully and turned everyday until nine had been laid ; they were then put under a specially selected bantam ; in 32/3 days they hatched. Care had been taken to apply an overhead heating lamp every time the bantam came off. Different methods were tried to induce them to feed, a cellophane bag with two tubes in it for the maggots to emerge did not seem to interest them so a maggot was threaded onto a needle and cotton and swung in front of the youngsters who immediately showed great interest and in a few hours they were catching and eating the flying maggots. Four young were eating on the second day and the whole five eating and drinking on the third day. This was rather a laborious way of feeding and soon it was found that the young jumped at the maggots as they were being threaded. It was an extraordinary sight to see these difficult feeders fighting for the maggots as they were threaded onto the needle. This dispensed with the cotton and for the next four days they voraciously consumed a quart of maggots and some mealworms. This was so unexpected that the maggot supply had to be doubled. At seven days they started picking up maggots and mealworms on their own, but still preferred the food presented from above them when they would actually have a tug-of-war if two happened to seize the same maggot. If the long needle was held horizontally two or three would swing on the needle trying to pull off maggots. This hatch did not have a weakling though one did have an eye blocked up which was opened in warm soft water and was in working order soon afterwards. In six days the young had doubled in size and instead of feeding eight times in twenty four hours the period was reduced to six ; this made night feeding 1 1 o’clock, 4-5 o’clock, 8 o’clock. The feed at 2 a.m. ceased on the fourth day. ROBERT A. COPLEY - HOODED MERGANSERS - REARING PROBLEMS 1 83 It was extremely lucky to find a completely docile and friendly bantam that did not mind the daylight heating lamp on day and night. The young, even when only a few days old, stretched and sunned themselves in the rays of the heater while the poor bantam panted. Directly maggots were started to be threaded they would all five begin plucking my hand and the maggots on the needle. One or two got pricked and promptly went under the bantam but returned before the feeding was over. They could be fed while sulking in this way. Some seized the needle as well as the maggot and became very dangerous dashing about with a long lance pricking the bantam and the other birds before being disarmed. It was fortunate that no damage was done to others. At fourteen days old they were quarter grown and were eating bread and milk with eggs, sand, and fishmeal, but a large number of maggots were consumed every day. Three of the other four fertile eggs of the second pair hatched ; one a week early and it only lived twenty-four hours. One died in its shell and one hatched only with considerable help. These had to be fed every two or three hours and the flying maggot principal did not provoke the immediate response as it did with the other five. Unfortunately the bantam in this case took every flying maggot it could. This appeared to discourage the one remaining youngster as much as it did the feeder. So it had to be done by hand with tweezers every two hours night and day for a week. At a fortnight the youngster was still boarded for food and lodging and looked like being a guest for a long time and had not grown appreciably. Bantam and young were allowed in fine weather (May) into the garden where the young picked up leaves and tried to eat them ; any¬ thing brown interested it particularly a leaf blown by the wind. But put a maggot or mealworm beside the leaf and it would promptly turn its back. At a week or ten days old this young bird was very little bigger than when first hatched and on the fourteenth day was found on its back dead. The first pair laid again eight eggs and the female was allowed to start the incubation, but it was felt that this was too risky so the eggs were given to a bantam. All of the eggs were fertile and in due course hatching started. Two died in the shell, two died the same day, two lasted three days, one lasted five days, one continued taking flying maggots for five days and then lost interest. Every two hours it was fed but died about ten days later. All this was a great disappointment. The second pair laid again and the eggs were collected late in May and put under a good bantam and the same conditions were followed as in the first batch. All except one were infertile and that one was broken by mistake. The first five birds went on to open water at three months old and all 184 c. J. O. HARRISON - NOTES ON THE RUFOUS-BREASTED DUNNOCK fed from one’s hand. They like bread, milk, eggs, maggots and chick- crumbs, and fish from the lake. They are entirely free and mix with the other five older birds quite happily. Certain lessons have been learnt but there are still more to learn before the breeding of these wonderful waterfowl can come under some planned control. * * * NOTES ON THE RUFOUS-BREASTED DUNNOCK ( Prunella strop hiata ) By C. J. O. Harrison (Perivale, Middlesex, England) Dunnocks are rarely imported, and there has been little opportunity to study any species other than our own common Dunnock, Prunella modularise which is better known to some by the older and less apt name of Hedge-sparrow. During part of 1962 and 1963 I was able, through the kind help of John Yealland, to make some observations on two Rufous-breasted Dunnocks, P. strophiata. This species occurs in India where it is found on the Himalayas on open rocky ground or among scrub. In a garden aviary with a shelter shed I found that they were terres¬ trial feeders but otherwise spent much of their time in branches or on the higher ledges on the inside walls of the shelter. They were secretive and shy and difficult to observe since they tended to crouch motionless or hide when disturbed. If one’s approach had been noticed it could be safely assumed that they would be found in the other part of the aviary or round the other side of a bush, waiting quietly for one to go away. As a result of this it was impossible to study their feeding in any detail. They ate some mealworms and gentles and seemed to find minute objects of interest on the floor of the flight, but I am pretty certain that they also ate a great deal of seed, mostly millet. They were quite hardy and seemed indifferent to the cold weather of the awful winter of early I963- They were in general similar to the common Dunnock in their appearance, but looked a little longer in the leg, with a more hunched look about the head and shoulders. Most of the plumage was light brown with dark-brown streaking, and this extended over the back, wings, top of the head, and flanks ; but there were some conspicuous patches of colour. The sides of the head were blackish, bordered below with white, and above by a black-edged superciliary stripe. This had two distinct parts, the anterior part from the bill to just over the eye was narrow and pale cream in colour, the hinder part from the eye to the nape was much broader and of a bright orange-chestnut colour. When the bird was active and the plumage sleeked the anterior part was more noticeable as a pale streak, but when the plumage was fluffed up a broad orange posterior stripe suddenly became very conspicuous. The C. J. O. HARRISON - NOTES ON THE RUFOUS-BREASTED DUNNOGK 1 85 throat was white, streaked with pale grey, and the breast and fore¬ flanks were orange, which in one bird deepened to a more tawny chestnut tint, raising hopes that the sexes might be different. The belly and under tail-coverts were white. The sexes are said to be alike, and throughout the time that I had them neither bird gave any indication of sexual behaviour, and I finally suspected that both were hens. I received the birds at different times, and when the second arrived the first was already established in the aviary. Immediately the second bird was introduced, the first approached it in a crouching posture and then chased it. This crouching posture was obviously aggressive and was seen several times during that day. The bird crouched with belly to the ground, tail uptilted, and head thrown back a little with bill pointing up. In this posture it displayed frontally to the other bird the contrasting orange breast and white throat, as well as the bold head pattern against a back¬ ground of darker plumage. Aggressiveness rapidly decreased and within a few days was no longer apparent. Apart from this single occasion the two birds showed little specialized posturing. Wing-flicking did occur when they were nervous or excited but this appeared to be less frequent and less apparent than in the common Dunnock. What was more noticeable at times of excitement or alarm was a marked momentary quivering of the tail in a vertical plane, in a manner rather reminiscent of the Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus though not so vigorous as in that species ; a movement which I had not noticed in the Dunnock. This quivering occurred during utterence of the alarm call, when it appeared to be related to the force with which the call was given. But it also occurred when the birds were silent but mildly disturbed. Both birds were rather silent. The note given when they were dis¬ turbed, which might have been a contact note or indicated mild alarm, was a dry “ trit-it-it ”, more like that of a Bunting than a Dunnock. It appeared to correspond to the “ si-si-si 55 call of the common Dunnock. The more intense alarm of excitement call was a rapid repetition of a series of loud notes “ tic- tic- tic- tic ”, midway in pitch between the alarm call of the Robin, Erithacus rubecula , which it closely resembled, and that of the Wren T. troglodytes. This usually indicated that there was a cat somewhere in the vicinity of the aviary. This note appeared to correspond to the loud “ seee ” note of the common Dunnock. The latter were present in the garden about the aviary and their song could be heard by the captive birds. The wild Dunnocks did not respond to the sight or calls of the birds in the aviary and the Rufous-breasted Dunnocks did not respond to the sight, calls, or song of the wild common Dunnocks. The difference in colouring and voice appeared to be sufficient to prevent recognition and there was no evidence of any interspecific reaction. 1 86 CHARLES EVERITT THE MASKED WOOD SWALLOW Although they were kept with a pair of Jay- thrushes and various seed-eaters the Rufous-breasted Dunnocks did not appear to arouse any reactions and did not conflict in any way with the other birds. Possibly their inoffensive furtiveness and rapid movements prevented it. There might have been some difference had other small and mainly insectivorous species been present. * * * THE MASKED WOOD SWALLOW By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N.J., U.S.A.) The Masked Wood Swallow — Artamus personata — is one of the Artamidae family, there being seventeen species in all, fourteen of which are confined to the Australasian area, the others being found in Asia and Africa. In some regions in Australia they are referred to often as Swallow Shrikes and, in others, as Blue or Bush Martins. Gregarious in their habits, often associating with the White-browed Wood Swallow — A. superciliosis — (see A.M. i960, 229), they generally collect in the southern parts of Australia during their breeding season, ranging from August to January. The sexes are dissimilar, the adult male being slate-grey above, with a jet-black face mask and throat patch, the latter edged with white. The underparts are pale silver-grey, the tail being forked with the feathers tipped with white. The underside of the wings is very pale silver-grey, almost white. They have short, black legs and a sturdy powerful bill, also black. They are about 8 inches in total length, representing, with the White-browed, the two largest species of the family in Australia. The female, of the same size, lacks the black face mask and throat patch, these being replaced by very similar markings in dark grey. The remainder of the plumage is duller than that of the male, the under-parts being a smoky-grey. Although in their native habitats normally they select low bushes or trees for the location of their open, cup-shaped nests, in the planted aviary a pair shared with White-bearded Honeyeaters, Cedar Wax- wings, and Ruby-throats, despite many admirable nesting sites, they chose a most conspicuous position in one of the feed stands. It was a trough about 9 inches long by 3 wide, the sides being 2 inches high and, normally it held three feeding cups. In this case, however, only two cups were used and the swallows began building in the little 3 by 3-inch square left. Actually the pair had been received by Mr. Boehm, direct from Australia, in April, 1962, and nested in the same position that very year, but failed to rear any young, undoubtedly due to their not having been fully acclimatized. In order to provide more room, and to avoid interference from the other birds at feeding time, the cups were CHARLES EVERITT - THE MASKED WOOD SWALLOW l87 removed and placed elsewhere in the aviary. A nest of fine twigs and rootlets was completed within three days and the first egg was laid on 13th March with a second the following day. Incubation, which was shared, lasted for a period of twelve days and began with the laying of the first egg. The eggs measured 21 by 15 mm., were light greyish- green, clouded and blotched with shades of brown and underlying spots of grey. The newly hatched chicks were very dark skinned, covered with grey down, streaked with sooty-black. Their gapes were pale yellow. As the nest was so shallow and it was felt that a danger existed of chicks being ejected or dragged out of it, a wire frame was fitted around it, raising the height to about 3J inches. The parent birds resented our intrusions in a very physical manner, swooping down and striking us continually whilst it was being put in place, but went straight back to their young as soon as we got out of the way. As with the incubation, the rearing was shared, live-food being the sole diet seen to be employed during the nesting period. A wide variety of this was provided in the form of mealworms, crickets, and whatever flying insects it had been possible to trap by the use of night-lights. These last, however, were at a minimum for, at that time of the year, they are not very plentiful. Quill feathers were showing and their eyes were open at six days old. Vacating the nest at fourteen days old, they were fairly strong on the wing for fledglings, and immediately portrayed the characteristic of the adults at feeding time by switching their tails from side to side as they begged for food. It was now that the parent birds began to vary their diet by introducing them to the ground raw beef and the chopped fruits, as a supplement to the live-food. The colouring of the young birds was basically grey, heavily flecked with sooty-black, except for the flight and tail feathers which were plain slate-grey. One of them showed much darker face markings than the other and it was assumed, correctly as it turned out, that there was one of each sex. All subsequent breedings have shown the same difference, thus revealing that they are sexable as soon as they leave the nest. Actually, it had been noticed whilst they were still in the nest, the difference being apparent at about eleven days old. They were independent at thirty days old and adult plumage finally was acquired at six and a half months old. In all, they had four rounds that year, 1963, rearing seven young, four male and three female. In each instance the young birds had to be removed as soon as the female went to nest again as the male began to chase them around. Most gregarious in the non-breeding season, it has been found that, with aviary birds at least, once they decide to go to nest they do not want any other Wood Swallows around. Since we lost our original White-browed Wood Swallow males but have two females left, it was decided to pair the young Masked males to *5 1 88 J. J. YEALLAND LONDON ZOO NOTES the female White-browed with the hope of, eventually, by selective line breeding, producing a visual White-browed male. The outcome of this experiment, begun in 1964, will be subject of a separate paper at a later date although I can say that, at the moment, June, 1964 we do have three fine hybrids, fully independent, and the parents are sitting again. It does look as though there may be one male and two females amongst them, but it is too early to be sure on this point as, since they are hybrids, it is not known to what extent the face markings will differ in the sexes. As stated above, a full paper on this hybridizing will be produced once the birds have acquired full adult plumage, and it is hoped that 1965 will see the commencement of phase two, pairing of one of the male hybrids back to its mother, endeavouring to lessen the influence of the Masked in the final colour pattern. * * * LONDON ZOO NOTES By J. J. Yealland Arrivals during June and July include a number of interesting birds presented by Dr. K. G. Searle. These are four Red-thighed Falconets ( Microhierax caerulescens burmanicus ), two Falcated Teal, five Little Egrets, one Eastern Cattle Egret, one Eastern White-breasted Waterhen, one Watercock, two Chinese Necklace Doves ; the following bulbuls : three Chinese ( Pycnonotus s. sinensis ), two Chinese Red-eared (P. j. jocosus), two Chinese Red-vented (P. aurigaster chrysorrhoides) , one Brown-eared ( Hypsipetes amaurotis ), one White-headed Black Bulbul (. H . madagascariensis leucocephalus) , and a Black-naped Oriole. The falconets are of a race new to the collection : there are two races of this species, the nominate one living in parts of India and Assam and burmanicus in Burma, Shan States, Siam, and Annam. Small birds and mammals, beetles, butterflies, and dragon-flies are among the natural foods and the nest is generally in a disused barbet or woodpecker hole, three or four white eggs forming the clutch. Two new African species have been presented by Messrs. G. H. and J. R. Newmark. These are the Abyssinian Crimson-wing ( Cryptospiza s . salvadorii ) and the Oriole Finch (. Linurgus olivaceus). Other acquisitions of particular interest are eleven immature Rosy Flamingos ( Phoenicopterus r. ruber), thirteen Kittiwakes, a White-crested Hornbill of the race from Ghana, Berenicornis albo-cristatus macrourus, and a Blue-backed Chlorophonia ( Chlorophonia cyanea). When the breeding pair of Sarus Cranes nested, the two eggs were sent to Leckford where one chick hatched and is so far thriving. A second clutch was laid, one weakly chick hatching and living for about a week. As crane chicks can be reared by domestic hen foster mothers, the practice of taking at least the first clutch should certainly be tried in the case of the rarer species. NEWS AND VIEWS 189 Four ErckePs Francolins and three Sonnerat’s Jungle-fowl chicks are being reared by their respective mothers : one Mealy Rosella has left the nest and a second clutch is being incubated. In 1962 a pair of Masked and a pair of White-throated Jay-Thrushes were put into the Waders’ aviary where they have lived ever since. In that year the Masked built a nest and laid, but the eggs did not hatch. This year three nests were built and in one a chick of the Masked has been reared, not entirely by the parents as it appears, for whenever they were not near, one of the White-throated sat on or by the nest. Whether the chick was fed by all four birds is not known and the height of the nest and the density of the privet bushes in which it was built made it difficult to see what exactly did go on, but the incubation of the egg or eggs seemed to be done entirely by the hen Masked and the others did not interfere until the chick or chicks hatched. One of the nests is believed to have been built by the White-throated and this was in a willow tree, but so far as is known no eggs were laid there. Last year a pair of wild Herring Gulls, evidently attracted by those living in the Southern Aviary, stayed behind in the spring and nested on the high rockwork of the adjoining sea lions’ pond, rearing three chicks — the first record of wild Herring Gulls nesting in London. This year a pair nested on the rocks and a second pair on a wide ledge that runs round a ventilation turret on the nearby Ostrich House, each pair rearing one chick. A Sclater’s Crested Guineafowl [Gutter a edouardi sclateri) collected by the late Cecil Webb in British Cameroon during 1948 has died. The Secretary has drawn attention to the erroneous use of the name c Lady Gould’s Finch ’ to describe the Gouldian Finch. The tanager, Calospiza nigrocincta franciscae, named in honour of a Mrs. Wilson, is sometimes similarly treated. Another case is that of Estrilda rhodopyga , originally described by Sundevall and often called Sundervall’s Waxbill even by some who should know better. One sees strange names in the advertisements, but there is perhaps some excuse for the Indian dealer who used to offer Verditer Flycatchers and regularly called them Vertical Flycatchers. * * * NEWS AND VIEWS The degree of Master of Science (Honorary) was conferred on G. S. Mottershead, Director-Secretary, Chester Zoological Gardens, by Manchester University, on 9th July, 1964. * * * Lawrence W. Cahill, Superintendent, Paignton Zoological and Botani¬ cal Gardens, has been appointed Curator, Calgary Zoological Gardens and Natural History Park, St. George’s Island, Alberta, Canada. NEWS AND VIEWS igO A. W. Richards, North Ryde, New South Wales, writes : “ The last breeding season was very good to me. I bred five Violet-eared Waxbills, thirteen Black-rumped Waxbills, twelve Green Singing Finches, also White-headed Nuns, Cordon-bleus, and Cubans. Three young Black-cheeked Waxbills were battered to death by rain on their first day out of the nest.” * * * Sir Richard Cotterell, Bt., is well known to members as a breeder of rare firefinches. Not so well known is that Sir Richard’s Garnons estate is one of Britain’s woodland showplaces — the winner of many Royal Agricultural Society awards. Sir Richard is retiring as Chairman of the English Forestry Commission of which he has been a commissioner since 1945. * * * In the last number of the Magazine I mentioned that J. G. Hamilton had bred the Purple-crowned Lorikeet in South Australia. I now learn that Ted Bruton of Hawthorndene, Brisbane, Queensland, was also successful last year. Two pairs nested. One pair laid a clutch of three eggs which failed to hatch. The other pair hatched two young ones. One young one fell into some plants and strangled itself but the other was successfully reared to maturity. * * * The Eighth Annual Lunch, at the invitation of the Chairman and Council of the North of England Zoological Society, was held at the Zoological Gardens, Chester, on 8th July, 1964. Between eighty and ninety members and guests attended. Mr. W. R. Partridge thanked the North of England Zoological Society for entertaining our members yet again. In an appropriate little speech he mentioned that Mr. G. S. Mottershead had celebrated his seventieth birthday on 12th June, the opening of the new Tropical House on 13th June, and the celebration of the N. of E.Z.’s 30th Anniversary on the same day. The weather was a little stormy at first, but the day developed into a beautifully sunny one. The roses can never have looked better — in spite of the buffeting they had received during the two previous days. The new Tropical House was, of course, greatly admired. It was especially fortunate that a small collection of humming birds had arrived only the day before and so were an added attraction. Once again the thanks of all are due to Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Mottershead and Mr. and Mrs. F. Williams and indeed their entire staff for their very considerable efforts to ensure the event should be such a success. A. A. P. SPECIAL BIRD FOODS FAMOUS SINCE 1823 Universal Fortifier Perfort BEKFIN Fort-Egg and 'ictorial Packet) 3 oz. 1/2 4 oz. 1/6 (Insectivorous Colorfort 4 lb. 2/9 4 lb. 2/9 £lb. 2/9 Red Packet) 4 lb. 3/- 1 lb. 5/- 1 lb. 5/3 1 lb. 5/3 4 lb. 3/9 1 lb. 5/3 2 lb. 9/3 34 lb. 15/6 34 lb. 15/6 1 lb. 7/3 34 lb. 17/- 34 lb. 14/9 7 lb. 30/6 7 lb. 30/6 34 lb. 23/- 7 lb. 32/9 7 lb. 14 lb. 28 lb. 27/6 50/~ 92/- 28 lb. 98/- 14 lb. 28 lb. 52/6 98/- 7 lb. 39/9 28 lb. 154/- 14 lb. 57/6 28 1b. 112/- HEALTH C.L.O. GRAINS “GREENSTUFF” Rearing and Condition Food (Condition Seed) 1 lb. 3/3 14 lb. 24/- 3 oz. 1/3 A dehydrated form of green 2 lb. 5/9 28 lb. 43/6 1 lb. 5/6 food consisting of lettuce, 34 lb. 7/9 56 lb. 80/- 34 lb. 16/3 spinach, carrot, etc., readily 7 lb. 13/9 1 cwt. 150/- 7 lb. 31/- taken by all birds. Packets 1/3 & 3/10, also sold in bulk. All the above prices are carriage paid M EALWORMS “ MARBA ” DUTCH BRED “ SANTA ” GERMAN BRED (small type) (large type) Whether you prefer the small Dutch mealworm or the larger German type, we can give you the finest service obtainable, with shipments arriving twice weekly. Dispatch guaranteed same day as orders received. 1 oz. 3/- 2 oz. 5/0 4 oz. 8/6 8 oz. 15/- I lb. 25/- Also in original Boxes as imported Nett weight guaranteed 2 lb. 47/6 3i lb. 66/6 64 lb. £6 5s. Od. All Carriage Paid. MAGGOTS We sell only the best liver-fed maggots, specially recleaned and ready for immediate use for bird feeding. Packed in bran. No mess or smell. 2 oz. 4 oz. 8 oz. I lb. 3/4 4/6 7/- 10/6 FEEDING SUNDRIES Dried Flies (Chinese) Silkworm pupae (Whole) „ „ (Ground) Dried Dragonfly larvae .... Dried Shrimp (Fine, Medium, or Coarse) . Ant Eggs ...... Pure Dried Egg ..... Dried Rowan Berries (Whole) „ „ „ (Crushed) Pure Breadcrumbs (Fine, Medium, or Coarse), far superior to biscuit meal ..... 2 lb. 3/— ; 4 lb. 5/6 ; 14 lb. 17/6 " Egg-crumbs,” guaranteed to consist of 90 per cent breadcrumbs and 10 per cent pure egg 2 lb. 5/6 ; 4 lb. 10/6 ; 7 lb. 17/6 ALL ABOVE PRICES ARE POST PAID 4 1b. 1 lb. 5/- 9/6 3/9 6/6 4/- 6/9 6/6 12/6 2/3 3/6 11/6 21/- 6/6 12/6 2/9 4/6 3/- 4/9 28 lb. 28/- E. W. COOMBS, LTD. CROSS STREET WORKS, CHATHAM, KENT Telephone : Chatham 44969 Telegrams : Avicult, Chatham, Kent The Birdland Zoo Gardens Charmingly coloured booklet illustrating the story of Birdland. Price 37-. Interesting 7 in. disc, 64 Voices of Birdland Price 107-. (Prices include postage) BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER BOOKS on BIRDS Catalogue on request WHELDON & WESLEY LTD. LYTTON LODGE, CODICOTE, Nr. HITCHIN, HERTS. Telephone : Codicote 370. When Visiting the COTSWOLDS AVICULTURISTS ARE WELCOME TO Set in the charm oj an old English Garden at the lovely Village of SOUR TON- ON- THE - WA TER CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION A. Berry, Field Cottage, Moor Lane, Carnaby, Bridlington, E. Yorks. Proposed by R. T. Kyme. John B. Crook, i Windsor Road, Chesham, Bucks. Proposed by L. W. Hill. Philip J. Crutchfield, Biology Department, Methodist College, Fayettsville, North Carolina, U.S.A. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Mrs. D. A. Hendry, Rt. 2, Box 191, Tiger Bend Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A. Proposed by Miss K. Bonner. Harry Horswell, Sladmore Farm, Great Kingshill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Proposed by J. J. Yealland. W. J. Howard, Ki'ln Lodge, Prestwood, Great Missenden, Bucks. Proposed by Mrs. W. Duggans. A. D. Irvin, 15 Jenkinson Road, Towcester, Northants. Proposed by L. W. Hill. J. R. McTurk, 15 Knock Road, Belfast 5, Northern Ireland. Proposed by A. R. M. McTurk. Ivor W. Rymer, Memories, Narcot Lane, Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks. Proposed by L. W. Hill. Walter Wagner, 422 North Huron, Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S.A. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. NEW MEMBERS The thirteen Candidates for Election in the July-August, 1964, number of the Avicultural Magazine were duly elected members of the Society. CHANGES OF ADDRESS Homer M. Ball, to 3448 Percy Street, Los Angeles 90023, California, U..S.A. David W. Dunham, to c/o Zoologisch Laboratorium, Kaiserstraat 63, Leiden, Holland. Yngve Ejdfors, to Nyhemsgatan 26, Hisings Backa, Sweden. H. A. Gerrits, to Herenstraat 5, Rijswijk, Z. H., Holland. Keith Holdsworth, to Royal Oak Hotel, Chester Street, Market Drayton, Salop. John Moir, to i i Milbanke Avenue, Kirkham, Lancs. H. Smyth, to 24 Augusta Road, Manly, New South Wales, Australia. Chr. Walraven, to Bilderdijklaan 65, Bilthoven, Holland. John T. Walton, to 13 Tittensor Road, Clayton, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffs. Peter O. Williams, to Higher Aunemouth Farm, Bantham, Kingsbridge, Devon. CORRECTED ADDRESS Michael W. Clifford, Edford, Brook Street, West Bromwich, Staffs. Michael Kendall, 34 South Meadows, Wrington, Nr. Bristol, North Somerset. Mrs. Grace Wheatley, Church View, Thakeham Street, Nr. Pulborough, Sussex. DONATIONS (Coloured Plate Fund) £ *• d. Newton C. Gapron D. R. Moore Miss I. Stoney 3 io o io o 200 'A MEMBERS’ ADVERTISEMENTS The charge for Members' advertisements is threepence per word. Payment must accompany the advertisement , which must be sent on or before the 15 th of the month to A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood, Edenbridge, Kent. All members of the Society are entitled to use this column , but the Council reserves the right to refuse any advertisements they consider unsuitable. For rare birds contact Baidyanath Acooli. Exporter of rare Indian Animals. — Post Box 12008, Calcutta 2, India. STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, HERTFORD. AVICULTURAL H 1 MAGAZINE CONTENTS PAGE Breeding the Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus ) ( with plates) , by Frank Meaden . 1 9 1 Breeding the Magpie Starling ( Speculipastor bicolor) ( with plate), by W. R. Partridge . . . . . • • • • • • ^ The Breeding of Shelley’s Starling ( Spreo shelleyi), by Mrs. K. M. Scamell . 198 The Parrots of Australia : 9. The Red-capped Parrot ( Purpureicephalus spurius) ( with plates), by Joseph M. Forshaw . 201 Breeding of the Loo Choo or Lidth’s Jay ( Lalocitta lidthi), by Thomas G. Oliver . . . . • • . • • • • .212 Breeding of the Port Lincoln Parrakeet, by J. A. Cutler . . . .212 Breeding the Red-eyed Bulbul, by Charles Everitt . 214 Breeding the Golden-crested Myna, by Charles Everitt . . . .216 The First Success in Zoo-breeding Great Bustards (Otis tarda )(with plates), by Dr. Wolfgang Gewalt . . . . . . . . .218 News from the Berlin Zoological Gardens, by Dr. Heinz -Georg Klos . .219 Some Notes on the Breeding of the African Cattle Egret ( with plate), by Wolfgang Grummt . . . . . . . . • • 222 British Aviculturists’ Club . . . . . . • • *223 Council Meeting ........... 224 London Zoo Notes, by J. J. Yealland ....... 225 News and Views . . • • • • • • • • 225 Reviews . . • • • • • • • • • • 22^ Notes ............. 229 Correspondence . . ... . . . . . • 229 Index . 23i VOL. 70 No. 6 PRICE 7/6 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1964 THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Founded 1894 President : Miss £. Maud Knob el. Hon. Secretary and Treasurer : A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood, Nr. Edenbridge, Kent. Assistant Secretary : Miss Kay Bonner. Membership Subscription is £2 per annum, due on 1st January each year, and payable in advance. Life Membership £25. Subscriptions, Change of Address, Names of Candidates for Membership, etc., should be sent to the Hon. Secretary. THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Hon. President : Mr. Jean Delacour. President : Mr. A. N. Lopez. Secretary : Mr. David West, 209 N. 18th Street, Montebello, California, U.S.A. The annual dues of the Society are $4.00 per year, payable in advance. The Society year begins 1st January, but new members may be admitted at any time. Members receive a monthly bulletin. Correspondence regarding membership, etc., should be directed to the Secretary. THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE The Magazine is published bi-monthly, and sent free to all members of the Avicultural Society. Members joining at any time during the year are entitled to the back numbers for the current year on the payment of subscription. All matter for publication in the Magazine should be addressed to : — The Editor : Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, M.B.E., 51 Warwick Avenue, London, W. 9. Telephone : Cunningham 3006. The price of the Magazine to non-members is 7 s. 6d., post free, per copy, or £ 2 5*. for the year. Orders for the Magazine, extra copies and back numbers (from 1917) should be sent to the publishers, Stephen Austin & Sons, Ltd., Caxton Hill, Ware Road, Hertford, England. Telephone : Hertford 2352/3/4. Avicult. Mag. Copyright ] [F. Meaden I A Waxwing Pair at a Feeding Tray, One Bird Fluffed in Partial Display While the Other Looks Expectantly for an Offering. [ Frontispiece 8 Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 70, — No. 6. — All rights reserved. N O VEMBER-DE CEMBER , 1964 BREEDING THE WAXWING ( Bombycilla garrulus) By Frank Meaden (Slough, Bucks., England) When first obtained for research from the wild, the Waxwings have little, if any, fear of humans. Immediately upon being liberated into a roomy aviary they settle down almost to the point of a domesticated creature, feeding within a few inches of one’s person with no encourage¬ ment other than a supply of fruit being available to them. When handled initially, the plumage strikes one as resembling an extra fine fur-like texture, far different to the touch than feathers of most small birds we find here ; the voice, for it can hardly be called a song, consists of a continuous, fairly quiet, halting, and rather melan¬ choly Tsee-ee-ee tsee-ee-ee. When very active during early morning and just prior to dusk this call becomes incessant ; during the breeding season and when feeding young in particular, both sexes utter a low Chup-chup , which is only audible from about 4 feet away. The song proper is seldom heard, and is a series of different notes uttered on various levels, the throat movement catching one’s eye often before the exceedingly quiet sound is noticed. The only other vocal manifesta¬ tion noted to date is a nest-site call, practised by the male and audible only within a 2-ft. radius. However, it may possibly be used by females when sitting, as at these times I have had difficulty in tracing its source ; it is perhaps also a request for feeding. This species is easily catered for, but obesity must be guarded against. Waxwings appear to be prone to nephritis, crystallising of uric acid, brought on by an over-rich diet or severe chill ; the latter need never be encountered if the birds are housed wisely under natural conditions such as an outdoor aviary with merely a dry sheltered portion for roosting. It is the artificially-heated shelter, more than any normal winter drop in temperature, which appears to cause chills. The food during winter months should for safety sake be kept frost-free and consist of a little insectivorous mixture, diced figs and dates, small quantities of grated carrot or other root crop, finely chopped greenfood, any of the cabbage family or dandelion, spinach, cress, etc., 16 92 F. ME ADEN - BREEDING THE WAXWING a second dish containing wholemeal bread sop, of which they are fond, will provide a little animal protein ; sweet apple should always be available, also soaked household currants, and it is truly amazing how much of these foods can be taken daily. Pear can be given occasionally but is too loosening in any large or daily quantity. With the spring a greater amount of greenfood will be taken in addition to the above-mentioned diet ; the seeding heads of sow thistle is a favourite, the head complete, being pulled off the plant and swallowed whole ; with the longer hours of daylight comes a taste for live food which is invariably ignored during the winter. Maggots and fresh Wood Ants’ “ eggs ” are taken freely and in ever-increasing quantity until the birds come into breeding condition in late May or June. The courtship display is a fascinating study but is being dealt with in detail (C. J. O. Harrison and F. Meaden) elsewhere, and a briefer version will be described here. The male hops towards a female and displays a few inches from her, he depresses the tail and erects the feathers of the lower back, rump and upper tail-coverts, thus forming an exaggerated hump on the lower back, and at the same time belly and under-coverts are raised. The crest is also raised to its limit and the head turned slightly from the female ; there is a slight swagger and with a response from the hen a gift-passing ceremony takes place ; the latter may not entail actual food, in fact this is not a true courtship feeding. Some small object, even inedible, may be passed from one to the other for a number of times, there will frequently be a hop away from the partner, a slight turning away of the head and then a repeat — up to fourteen actual exchanges of gift have been noted. From the side view this puffed-out stance gives the bird displaying an extreme rotund appearance, tail and head vertical and yet from the rear it is noted the wings are compressed tightly to the sides (see sketch and photographs). With true courtship feeding there is no display, just the offering of food from beak tip. This may be a bud from blackcurrant or the actual fruit, an ant’s “ egg ”, seeding head com¬ plete with feathery portion, or any other small edible titbit. However, it is never regurgitated but just passed from the male to female, beak- tip to beak-tip, the former stretching himself taller and the female adopting a slightly crouching position. Since these birds are colony breeders in the wild, we provide them with one large aviary. Until a hen has actually built there is no sign of aggressive behaviour between the males ; at this stage, however, there may be a certain amount of threatening, beak snapping, but no damage resulting from it. Once a male has selected a mate, it would appear that he objects to the close proximity of another male and by this it is a matter of inches and not feet. When nest building is com¬ menced in earnest almost any site may be chosen. I have had two hens F. ME ADEN - BREEDING THE WAXWING 193 Sketch illustrating the mating display, male and female take up this posture, perhaps the female’s is slightly less exaggerated. sitting within 8 or 9 inches of each other, both in full view of all visitors on a shelf of fir branches we fabricated for them. Some have used 7-in. diameter nest-baskets, others built using the base afforded by the tops of a dozen unused aviary partitions, approximately 5 feet from the ground ; the lowest nest was some 3 ft. 6 in. above the aviary floor, the highest about 6 feet, this even though similar sites existed up to 8 feet high. The nest itself is built from twigs of heather or birch, some birds using dry vegetation such as the stalks of shepherd’s purse, quite a lot of grass is used with relatively little moss ; coconut fibre seems popular and for all their appearance of untidiness the nests are lined beautifully with cow hair, cotton wool, and vegetable down from seeding heads. We have made a point of providing every possible type of material ; the inside diameter ranges from 3 to 3J inches, never above this when first constructed, even though the outer dimensions have a far wider range, at times larger than a Blackbird’s nest. On the one occasion when young were reared to maturity the nest expanded very con¬ siderably. Waxwings’ eggs appear to vary little in either size, shape, or 94 F. ME ADEN - BREEDING THE WAXWING colouring. I can of course only speak of those kept under controlled conditions ; the eggs are darkish blue-grey with black spotted and streaked markings ; four has been the normal clutch and fourteen days incubation, invariably by the hen, although males do seem to take their turn when a female is feeding. Were I to hazard a guess about our success in breeding these birds I would suggest that it was brought about by their extreme tameness. A sitting hen would fearlessly take food from the fingers of anyone ; it being normal for her to offer her young whatever she was given by her mate, I presume we in this way guaranteed the chicks receiving their first feed. We made certain of this on this occasion (in previous years the birds had not reared and we put this down to their wild habit of hawking flying insects for feeding young) by offering the hen food when we knew young had hatched. She accepted a number of ants’ eggs and swallowed them and, a moment later, whilst still being watched, she raised herself slightly and lowered her head into the nest. The food came up with a lot of slimy liquid, in no way digested, but coated with this liquid which for a better name I will call “ milk ”. Whether this “ milk ” is a food of high nutritional value or merely a means of assisting the chick to take other food I am uncertain. From then on the hen fed ants’ eggs and bread sop to the nestlings whenever I or any member of my family offered them to her, and from here on we placed a small dish of ants’ eggs within her reach as she sat on the nest, this supply being replenished morning, noon, and about four in the afternoon. On the aviary feeding tray we kept a continuous supply of ant larvae. No maggots were taken for the chicks, although daily supplies were given, until around the eighth day. We offered no mealworms at all during this period for fear that the shell-like skin might prove harmful. I should mention here that every youngster which was close-ringed, was lost. It was the same old story, despite each and every trick I tried, always nest cleaning meant another chick thrown out ; we breathed warmth back into two but it proved only a temporary reprieve for them. The food during summer months can be varied considerably, so many seeding heads are taken, even the ripe pods of the brassicas are torn open and the seeds greedily devoured. Every form of soft fruit is taken in the ripe stage, strawberry, blackcurrant, redcurrant, raspberry, being favourites ; by shaking hedgerow branches over a large opened sheet of brown paper we were also able to provide a wide variety of insect life for feeding the young. With the arrival of the fall and its abundance of wild fruit, we were able to obtain rowan berries by the sackful, as many as eleven of these large berries were seen to be taken at one feeding, the crop of the bird showing in an extended manner. Always rather heavy drinkers, the Waxwing constantly visits the water I Avicult. Mag. Copyright ] [F. Meaden Here one Member of a Pair Approaches Another with an Object For the Gift-passing Ceremony. Copyright] [F. Meaden Waxwing on the Left is in the Inflated Display Posture with Head Turned Away. [To face p. 194 F. ME ADEN - BREEDING THE WAXWING 95 trough when eating this fruit and that of hawthorn, whether assisting the digestion or providing the required liquid for passing waste skins, seeds, etc., I do not know, but they certainly do not bring up pellets. We have found upon sieving and washing the droppings beneath a running tap, that seeds do pass through the bird. Not knowing the complete intake I cannot say whether some are ground to be powdered waste or if the whole is passed, but an interesting point is that they do eat large amounts of cuttlefish. At the request of a noted ornithologist we studied this over a fairly lengthy period and found that where sea grit was ignored, visits to the next dish which contained broken and powdered cuttlefish, were quite frequent. They also nibble this from a large piece in the same manner as a hardbill : presumably this must assist in breaking up waste food particles such as hard fruit seeds or passing them through. At one time, in the hope that a number of ornithologists would be able to observe this species nesting in the wild, we approached the B.T.O. with a request that suitable habitat could be recommended so that we could release two pairs during their breeding season (May, June, or July). However, through lack of co-operation the idea was discarded. Being a firm believer in providing natural foods, our Waxwings get regular supplies of Wood Ant larvae during summer months. With these we collect large quantities of ants, in fact we have a complete nest in one aviary. The point which I wish to make is that never in the ten years or so in which we have kept these birds have I ever seen any sign of anting behaviour ; so many species show an interest in this insect yet the Waxwing will eat the occasional one or often use it in gift- passing ceremony, but that is all. Something which I have not noticed with other young birds struck me when hand-rearing Waxwings — inside the bill are two fluorescent and rather brilliant mauve patches. These appear to be directly under the eye ball, though did not seem to be the colour of the eye showing through the roof of the mouth, but I could well be wrong on this point. 196 W. R. PARTRIDGE - BREEDING THE MAGPIE STARLING BREEDING THE MAGPIE STARLING {Speculipastor bicolor) By W. R. Partridge (Evesham, Worcs. England) In October last year (1963) Mr. David Roberts brought to this country from Kenya a fine collection of birds, which included some Magpie Starlings, Speculipastor bicolor , and I secured from him a cock and three hens. Shortly after this I obtained another pair which had been part of the same importation. The sexes of this fine starling are easily recognizable, as they differ in colour. The adult male has a glossy blue-black head and neck to chest, back, tail, and wings. The base half of the primaries and under wing-coverts, however, are creamy white, as are the breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts. Bill and legs black. The eye is a brilliant red. The female has a slate-grey head and neck which extends to a black band across the chest, back darker grey, wings and tail dull black and underparts creamy- white. Bill and legs black. Eye more orange than in the male. When I got these birds home they were put into 4-ft. long cages in a heated bird room, the original four birds in one and the pair in another. Later the four were transferred into an indoor flight in the same room from which they could be allowed into an outside flight for short periods when the weather was warm enough. At the end of April, when the weather started to improve, the birds were moved into planted aviaries, the four into one and the pair into another. Shortly after they had been put out three of the four birds were sold and the remaining hen was put into the aviary with the pair, giving the cock the choice of two hens. The aviary flight measures 2 1 by 8 feet and at the back is an indoor compartment 8 by 7 feet and about 8 feet high at the back, which is lighted by a roof light and front windows. The birds are fed in this shelter. The vegetation in the flight consists of a few small Lonicera nitida and Snowberry bushes and one large nut bush. This is one of a range of twelve similar aviaries which house principally doves and other softbills. Also occupying this aviary when the Magpie Starlings were first put in were a pair of Fairy Bluebirds, a pair of Dwarf Ruddy Doves, hens of Blue-headed and Red Ground Doves. The doves were never any trouble to any of the birds, but the starlings and Bluebirds after settling down quite peaceably at the start soon became enemies. The cause of the trouble was the cock Fairy Bluebird as he would tolerate the hen starlings but not the cock, particularly when there were any mealworms about, so they were removed from the flight. The cock Magpie Starling soon became very fit and would literally spend all day singing with his brilliant red eyes shining fiercely. For nesting the birds were given the choice of two old boxes that mealworms Avicult. Mag. [To face p. 196 W. R. PARTRIDGE - BREEDING THE MAGPIE STARLING 197 had come in and a hollow log. A box and the log were hung in the flight and the other box was hung on the back wall of the shelter about 6 feet from the ground, and quantities of hay and straw were scattered about the aviary. The first sign of any interest in nesting was a piece of hay that was found hanging out of the box in the shelter. This piece kept being moved about and disappearing and then appearing again for several days. Now whenever anyone went through the shelter to feed, one of the hens would appear from the nest and on 12th June the nest was inspected and on top of a few criss-crossed pieces of grass, a very flimsy nest for a starling, four eggs were found. They were bluish-green, lightly spotted all over with russet brown and about 27 by 20 mm. Shortly after the hen started to incubate, the cock became very aggressive towards the other hen so she, along with the two Ground Doves, were removed to the adjoining aviary, leaving only the Dwarf Ruddy Doves which were sitting at the time. The hen alone incubated, and she sat very tightly, often not leaving the nest-box when anyone walked through the shelter feeding. The first sign of a hatch was on 30th June, when squeaking was heard to come from the box. There were two distinct notes, one stronger than the other, so at least two chicks had hatched. A few days later when it was thought to be safe to look in the box, three chicks were found. Apart from their normal diet of Sluis Universal and minced raw meat, the parent birds were given ad lib mealworms and maggots every night and morning. They also consumed large quantities of sweet apple. Both parents fed the youngsters and would often do so whilst someone was in the shelter feeding and showed little fear. After about a week one chick, that had been dead two or three days was thrown out of the nest. On 22nd July both the remaining young left the nest for the first time. They were quite intelligent from the start and found no difficulty in finding their perches or the way in and out of the shelter. The head, neck, back, wings, and tail of the young birds are a uniform grey tinged with brown and the underparts are creamy white, as in the adults. The eyes of the youngsters were dark brown, but now as I write this in September they are beginning to turn red. Within a few days of the youngsters leaving the nest, the old birds were again carrying nesting material into the same box and had laid by 1st August. Again three young were hatched, one of which was thrown out of the nest when still very young. The other two continued to grow until we had a very hot spell for a few days and the shelter became very hot. This proved too much for one of the youngsters who would sit in the entrance to the nest-box to get as much air as possible and in doing this fell out of the box on three occasions on to the floor and eventually died. The remaining youngster left the nest on 6th September. 198 K. M. SCAMELL - BREEDING THE SHELLEY’S STARLING On 1 1 th September the parent birds were again carrying bits of hay into the same box, which is i feet long by 4 inches wide and 7 inches high. To-day, 15th September, they again have four eggs and one of the first two youngsters is beginning to warble ; I can hardly describe it as singing. Mackworth-Praed and Grant in Birds of Eastern and North-Eastern Africa , Vol. II, page 693, say this species comes from Southern Abyssinia, Southern Italian Somaliland, and Kenya (where my birds came from), and are of irregular appearance in most localities and given to very wide wanderings. Generally noticed in small flocks at some height which can be identified by their shrill whistling cry, but is sometimes abundant when figs or other fruits are ripe. According to the same authors, the nests as a rule are in holes in anthills, made of green leaves and grass in chambers at the end of tunnels, and there are three or four eggs which are bluish-green, heavily speckled and spotted with rufus colouring. As described, W. R. Partridge has bred the Magpie Starling Speculipastor bicolor. It is believed that this may be a first success. Any member or reader knowing of a previous breeding of this species in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is requested to communicate at once with the Hon. Secretary. * * * THE BREEDING OF THE SHELLEY’S STARLING ( Spreo shelleyi Sharpe) By Mrs. K. M. Scamell (Newdigate, Surrey) The Shelley’s Starling is found in an area of East Africa which ; includes Southern Abyssinia, South-eastern Sudan west of Lake Rudolf, and the eastern half of Kenya. We have found it a shy bird in an aviary though it steadies down in a cage. In size the Shelley’s Starling is like the Superb Spreo, about 8 inches j long but it has a slightly shorter wing. In colour it is deep violet blue above and from chin to chest ; breast to under tail-coverts, unbroken dark chestnut. There is a green collar behind the neck and the wings are glossy green with black spots at the ends of the wing-coverts. There is some similarity in the general colouring to the Hildebrandt’s j1 Starling which is, however, less richly coloured and has a distinct light chestnut colour on the breast contrasting with the deeper chestnut on the belly. We purchased three freshly imported Shelley’s Starlings from Mr. Dineen, then of Collier’s Wood, about two-and-half years ago and last summer turned them out into a planted aviary in which they were the only occupants. The aviary flight measured 15 ft. by 4 ft. 6 in. wide by K. M. SCAMELL - BREEDING THE SHELLEY’S STARLING 199 7 feet high with a shelter at one end. High up in the flight, and with the aperture facing west, we fixed a Cockatiel nest-box 10 inches square by 2 feet high with a hole near the top. It was half filled with peat and some grass placed on top of the peat. At other places in the flight was a smaller edition of the nest-box described above and another one with a half-open front. The birds soon settled down and agreed with each other, but as far as I was aware, showed no inclination to breed. During the winter we showed them once or twice, either singly or two of them as a pair. They were kept together in a large cage in which they agreed. In early May of this year (1964) they were returned to the same aviary. On 17th May I picked up one of the Starlings, dead, in the flight. It was unmarked and there was no apparent cause of death. The bird was quite plump and did not have the appearance of having been driven off its food by either of the other Starlings. As I mentioned earlier, the birds are very shy and as their aviary is in a wood some way from the house, they could always hear me coming, and I could never find out how they were behaving. On 8th June, I saw one bird only as I approached the flight, then I saw the second bird emerging from the nest-box, so it seemed at last they might be nesting. I decided to leave them alone, but increased their mealworm ration. Unlike Superb Spreos, they wouldn’t touch gentles. Once or twice during that week I saw one bird only so I was pretty sure that the hen was incubating. The cock sang continuously from a nearby perch. On Sunday, 14th June, at about 5 p.m., my husband stood on a short step-ladder and had a quick look in the nest- box as both birds were in flight at the time. At first glance nothing could be seen, but after a moment he saw a small naked chick on top of the peat. It was probably only an hour or two old and was almost cold. In the right-hand front corner was a scooped-out cup-shaped nest lined with feathers. In it were two other chicks, larger and probably hatched the previous day. He hastily returned the almost dead chick to the nest, closed the hinged front and came out at once. I then replenished the mealworm pot which was empty. There was no trace of eggshells anywhere ; it is possible they are somewhere in the long grass. I supplied the usual fruit soft food, also mealworms, from then on. I also added gentles to ease the pressure on the mealworms which are not only most expensive but seem to get in short supply most summers when the breeding season is at its height. This is probably due almost as much to the heat as to the demand. Once mealworms get overheated either in transit or in store, they die off and blacken quickly. This summer has been the hottest for three years and the only way I have saved mealworms which have arrived in good condition is to spread them out in containers in bran and also keep a supply in an old fridge which I keep in the garage especially for storing soaked sultanas, figs, 200 K. M. SCAMELL - BREEDING THE SHELLEY’S STARLING pulped carrots, and my stock of gentles. On the occasions when mealworms have arrived in bad condition, nothing much can be done. On 1 6th June the Shelley’s threw out one of the chicks — from its size I would say it was the one put back in the nest two days earlier. A cold wet spell was now with us, but the parents were far less shy than usual and I was able to see them feed mealworms and gentles to the two remaining chicks. I did not expect them to take to gentles seeing that they would not eat any themselves, but with the mealworm shortage they had to feed both ! The first Shelley’s left the nest on 4th July — it was a fine bird and was flying strongly. All the markings were dull, not glossy, the head and back being an ashy-brown. I would reckon the bird was about twenty- two days old. The second youngster left the nest the next day and also flew high and strong. I don’t think I have ever seen two youngsters so fit at such an early age. They were almost as large as their parents. There were no problems, feeding was normal, and all four birds were generally very close together on high perches. On 19th July I decided to remove the young birds from their parents as I had seen them feeding themselves even though they gaped when near their parents. It was about 6 p.m. when they were caught up and placed in a flight in a birdroom where I could observe them. They made no attempt to feed that evening nor had they fed by 8 a.m. next morning so I returned them to their parents and left them there for another fortnight, finally caging them on 3rd August. The parents were then in fine condition and carrying nesting material, but I think that I left the young with them too long as up to last Sunday, 23rd August, when we had a look in the nest-box, it only contained grass and feathers on top of the peat — no clear cup. I had hoped we would have had another round and I particularly wanted to see the eggs. We have had two clutches from two pairs of Superb Spreos this year, though none of the young have been up to the standard of the Shelley’s which are excep¬ tional birds and though a little wild, are meated off on to soft food containing fruit, gentles once a day, and a few mealworms. In colour to-day they are showing some glossy blue on the lesser wing-coverts and tail. The throat, head, and back are ashy brown, the chest and belly deep chestnut. The eyes are dark grey-blue and not red as in the adult bird. As described, Mrs. K. M. Scamell has bred the Shelley’s Starling, Spreo shelleyi. It is believed that this may be a first success. Any member or reader knowing of a previous breeding of this species in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is requested to com¬ municate at once with the Hon. Secretary. J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 201 THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA By Joseph M. Forshaw, (Canberra, Australia) ( Continued from Vol. yo, No. 4. p. 145.) g. The Red-Capped Parrot. (. Purpureicephalus spurius) Undoubtedly one of the most brilliant of all parrots, the Red-capped Parrot was originally described from an immature bird in the Paris Museum by Kuhl in 1820. It is generally believed that this specimen was collected by Peron in the vicinity of King George’s Sound, Western Australia. When describing the bird Kuhl remarked that it was doubt¬ ful if an adult specimen had ever been observed. Described under the name of Psittacus spurius this species was subsequently subjected to a variety of new scientific names until 1854 when Bonaparte introduced the genus Purpureicephalus with pileatus the type. This specific name had been previously introduced by Vigors in 1831 and was widely accepted until the validity of spurius was established. Finally the correct combination of the works of Kuhl and Bonaparte was universally recognized and the name Purpureicephalus spurius came into existence. An effective combination of bright colours renders the plumage of the adult male very distinctive. Bright deep green is the colour of the back and wings, while ultramarine blue is found on the outer edges of the wing primaries, the inner edges of which are dark brownish- black. The central tail feathers are deep green and this is offset by blue on the secondary feathers, which are tipped with white. The forehead, crown and upper nape are a deep crimson. Bright yellow- green is found on the cheek patches, rump and upper tail-coverts. This colour on the cheek patches merges into pea green on the throat. The underparts are deep blue-violet, while the flanks and under tail- coverts are red intermixed with some bright green. The oddly-shaped bill is bluish-grey, the iris dark brown, and the feet light brown. The adult female resembles the male. Individual birds may differ in having the red cap marked with a sprinkling of green feathers and the breast a dull greyish-mauve with the violet-blue restricted to the lower abdomen. However, the flanks and under tail-coverts of all females have a much stronger diffusion of green feathers. Immatures have the crown dark green uniform with the back and wings. The blue on the wings and tail and the yellow-green on the cheeks and sides of the neck are noticeably reduced in both extent and intensity. The red cap is represented by a rust-coloured frontal band. Dull cinnabar-brown is the colour of the underparts, the lower portions of which are washed with violet-blue. The flanks and under tail-coverts are strongly diffused with pale green. It is a medium-sized, slim bird as indicated by the 202 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA following measurements obtained from specimens collected by the author at Busselton, Western Australia, on 14th March, 1963. Total length. Wingspan. Wing. Tail. Culmen. Tarsus. in. in. in. in. in. in. Adult male 14*75 19-1 6- 1 7‘35 1 *0 o-75 Adult female . H-45 19-0 6-o 7-o 1 -o o-75 Immature male i5-i 19-5 6-3 7*9 1 *o o-75 Immature female 14-0 i8-5 6-o 7-25 0-87 o-75 Bill bluish-grey, iris dark brown, feet greyish-brown. Systematic Discussion Many theories have been advanced to explain the development of the Red-capped Parrot, but of these, three have become established as the most worthy of serious consideration. However, before examining each in detail it would be well to study the relationship between this unique genus and the other members of the Platycercinae. Similarities exist in the osteology with the incompleteness of the orbital ring and in the articulation of the quadrate being unobscured. However, by the same token the pre-orbital process is larger than in the other genera and the post-frontal process is noticeably reduced, while the whole cranium appears more slender than in allied forms. Externally, the scalloping of the second to fifth primaries is typical of the broadtails. The overall picture thus presented is that this bird occupies an isolated position within the Platycercinae. Mathews (1918) presented his evolutionary theory on the evidence of colour change in the plumage, stating that the bill was the only structural difference between this and the other genera. The essence of this particular theory may be stated in saying that Purpureicephalus is a specialized form developed from Barnardius. The main difference j lies in the survival of the erythristic element in this species as shown by the red crown and under tail-coverts, whereas Barnardius shows only a red frontal band. Mathews used the plumage development from immature to adult phase as an indication of the species’ affinities to the broadtails. As well as admitting to a major difference between the two genera concerned, he failed to promote conclusively any colour- change arguments supporting his findings. The author cannot support this theory and must agree with Condon (1941) in using the unique colour pattern and lack of blue cheek patches as arguments for the separation, rather than combination, of Purpureicephalus and Barnardius. The grouping with another genus was carried even further by Cain(i955) who set about establishing affinities with Eunymphicus cornutus of New Caledonia and the Loyalty Isles. The colour scheme of this bird was stated to be that of Purpureicephalus with a great intensi¬ fication of green and black, loss of blue on the underparts and restric¬ tion of red on the head to a forehead band with a flush of yellow on the J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 203 crown. The main differences were that the bill was not elongated and there was a small crest of two or three elongated feathers. It appears to be a contradiction in terms to say that the plumage colours are similar after dismissing the most conspicuous markings such as red cap and blue underparts. Gain proposed incorporating E. cornutus into Purpureicephalus stating that one was to the other what Platycercus elegans is to Platycercus caledonicus or the genus Cyanoramphus is to Platycercus . Such a statement demands close examination. If this were true Cyanoramphus should be incorporated into Platycercus in spite of con¬ spicuous anatomical differences. P. caledonicus and P. elegans are certainly closely related as they show similar colour patterns and common characteristics such as immature plumage and transition periods in the development of adult colouration. Such obvious closeness of rela¬ tionship is not evident with Cyanoramphus or with the two genera in question. Geographically the two rosellas may be combined in the one genus, but this is certainly not possible with the New Zealand parrot or with Eunymphicus and Purpureicephalus. The author is not in favour of the combination of these two genera. Serventy (1938) outlined the theory of a relict form which once had an eastern representative. This bird could have disappeared from the eastern areas because of the over-specialization of the bill. Instead of being derived from Barnardius it seems to have evolved separately from the platycercine ancestral form. Using the colour pattern as a guide, Serventy stated that Purpureicephalus could be more easily related to Platycercus caledonicus than to Barnardius. This is most interesting because the Green Rosella is regarded by many ornithologists as having altered least from the common ancestors. Condon (1941) discussed the above theory at length and modified certain aspects of the bird’s evolutionary history. Rejecting its affinities with Barnardius he regarded it as an independent development from the ancient prototype of the larger broadtails. The unique colour pattern, the absence of blue cheek patches and the unusual cranial structure adds considerable weight to this conclusion. Summing up, Condon dismissed the south-western Australian origin of the Red- capped Parrot and substituted its being the sole surviving member of an assemblage of parrot forms which disappeared probably in the Pleistocene. These forms could have been more widely dispersed than at present. Most existing evidence supports the theory of the Red-capped Parrot being a relict species surviving in a restricted stronghold in the forests of south-western Australia. However, the specialization of the bill does not appear to be the main reason for the extinction of the eastern representatives, although it may have been a contributing factor. Observations have shown that Purpureicephalus uses its beak to extract seeds from the fruit of other eucalypts besides Marri ( Eucalyptus 204 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA calophylla ) the species most closely associated with this parrot. It would appear that related eastern forms could have adjusted to accommodate the development of fruits of the eastern eucalypts. A combination of changing forces undoubtedly prevented this happening in the eastern regions. Whatever these factors were they were not as prevalent in the south-western corner of the continent and the adjustments made over a long period by the bird have resulted in the existence of Purpureicephalus spurius in that region. From a speciman collected by T. Carter at Broome Hill, Western Australia, Mathews described Purpureicephalus spurius carteri in 1915. This race was reported to differ from the typical subspecies in being 1 darker above and in having the cheek patches greener and the under¬ parts dark purple. Subsequent examination of skins has failed to support these differences and this race has been dismissed as invalid by subsequent authorities. Avicult. Mag. Copyright ] [ Joseph M. Forshaw A Stand of Marri ( Eucalyptus calophylla ) in Cultivated Farmland Near Busselton, Western Australia : Haunt of the Red-capped Parrot. [To facep. 204 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 205 General Discussion The Red-capped Parrot is restricted to the forested areas of south¬ western Australia, north to the Moore River and generally east to the Great Southern Railway. In the south it occurs as far as Esperance and rarely to Lake Grace. Vagrants are often observed east of the Southern Railway as was the case with Garter’s observations at Broome Hill. Within this restricted range Purpureicephalus is quite abundant and is frequently observed even in the suburbs of Perth. They are usually seen in pairs or small family parties feeding on the ground or flying through the Marri forests. The rich gaudy colours of the adult birds never fail to impress the observer. The brilliant blue of the primaries, shoulders and undersides of the wings blending with the blue-violet of the underparts renders the bird most conspicuous, while the contrast of the red cap against the green back makes recognition easy. When in flight the light yellow-green rump is displayed and this is the most valuable aid to positive field identification. During the day the birds frequent the Marri and other eucalypts where they are most difficult to observe in spite of their bright plumage. They are particularly quiet and the falling nuts and leaves are often the only indication of their presence. As the intruder moves through the timbered country the birds silently fly from tree to tree ahead of the observer. It requires a strong disturbance to cause them to take to the wing in alarm. The flight is quite rapid with a little undulation. The short wings are moved rapidly and this gives a somewhat buoyant effect when inter¬ spersed with short periods of motionless glide. The flight is silent and differs from that of the Platycercus sp. in being direct and in lacking the overall curve towards the ground with the characteristic upward glide before alighting. The tail is only slightly fanned before landing. While in flight the peculiar call is usually emitted. The call is a harsh, hollow, grating-like note uttered several times in quick succession. This call is in addition to the shrieking alarm notes given when disturbed. An analysis of the call notes of this species reveals affinities to those of the Platycercus spp. of the eastern regions, but the similarities are far outnumbered by the overall distinctiveness of the voice of this unique species. Unlike most of the broadtails it appears to lack any chattering call associated with feeding. Early in the morning Red-capped Parrots may often be flushed from the roadside where they have been feeding on green wild oats (. Avena fatua) or from dams and tanks in the farm paddocks. Vagrants in the semi-arid eastern areas are generally observed feeding on the ground under the Mallee ( Eucalyptus occidentalis) and Marlock scrub. However, the major source of food lies in the seeds of eucalypts and various trees and shrubs. Birds from Bremer Bay were recorded feeding on the seeds 206 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA Fig. I Figs, i, 2, and 3. Fig. 2 Fig. 3 [L. S. Hall -For explanation see text. of Eucalyptus cornuta and Agonis flexuosa, the only trees in the area. The specialized bill, which is illustrated in Fig. 1, is most useful in removing the seeds from Jarrah ( Eucalyptus marginata ), Grevillea, Flakea , Casuarina spp. and the Native Pear ( Xylomelum sp.). The fruit of the Native Pear opens under the summer sun thus exposing the kernels which are consumed in large quantities by the Red-capped Parrot. Blossoms of j the Marri, Jarrah, Melaleuca and other trees and shrubs such as the introduced Silky Oak ( Grevillea robusta ) are another source of food, while apples, pears and citrus fruits are receiving more attention much ! to the orchardists’ dismay. Nevertheless, it is the Marri ( Eucalyptus calophylla) that is the most important item in the source of food and ) this association must be carefully examined. The peculiar development of the bill of Purp. spurius has generally been considered by most authorities as a specialization enabling the bird to feed on the seeds of the Marri. Serventy (1938) following \ information provided by Carter (1924) and Alexander (1930) rejected I this hypothesis because the bird is found outside the range of the Marri. ; A specimen reported by Gould to have been collected at Port Essington (see Salvadori, 1891) gave rise to an early belief that the species enjoyed t quite a widespread distribution in the west. This, undoubtedly, was : an error arising from incorrect labelling and the range was soon reduced to the south-western corner of Australia, where the Marri is found. Serventy is correct in saying that the parrot is found outside the range of the Marri, but it is the author’s belief that the observations used in i forming this opinion were sightings of vagrants in areas where the bird is quite rare. The Marri is a large eucalypt with a dense foliage of large leaves thus rendering it very useful as a shade tree on farms. The fruit as j J. M. FORSHAW THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 20 7 shown in Fig. 2 is large, thick and woody with average measurements of 1 • 5 by i*2 inches, although specimens as large as 2 • o by 1-5 inches, are not uncommon. The seeds within this bowl ripen over an extended period and this means that many trees have an almost continuous supply of fruits at all stages of development. Robinson (i960) has given a full account of the Marri fruit as a source of food to south-western Australian birds and the Red-capped Parrot figures most prominently in this report. As soon as seeds have developed within the fruit it is attacked by Purp. spurius. Preliminary tests on the fruit are made by inserting the upper mandible into the bowl and when a tree with suitable fruit is located the birds concentrate on that tree. The young birds remove the fruit and while holding it by the stem peel off the green skin by passing it through the bill. The older birds pick a fruit and test it by the method described above and if unsatisfactory drop it and move to another. If the fruit is acceptable the bird chops its way into the bowl removing the seeds in the minimum time and with maximum proficiency. It is with the mature fruit, however, that the bird shows remarkable efficiency in the use of the elongated upper mandible. The bowl holding the seeds is extremely hard and almost impenetrable thus granting access to the seeds only through the lip of the capsule. The adult bird revolves the fruit while holding it by the stem and removes the seeds by inserting the upper mandible as shown in Fig. 3. As well as feeding in the tree they often attack fallen nuts on the ground. In this case the fruit will be merely steadied by the foot and the bird will circle it removing the seeds in the same manner. The whole procedure is performed swiftly and efficiently without marking the lip. On the other hand young birds are comparatively clumsy in extracting the seeds, indicating that experience improves the tech¬ niques. This may or may not demonstrate that the extraction of these mature seeds is the cause for the adaptation of the bill. Young birds generally are not as agile in most facets of life as their parents. Even if the elongation of the bill was originally brought about by factors no longer present, it is evident that the substitution of this usage has been to the advantage of the species. In spite of this anatomical peculiarity the parrot is able to benefit from the ability of its kind to exploit new sources of food such as seeds of shrubs and cultivated fruits. This enables the species to live outside the Marri area without adverse effects even though it is adapted to a close association with the tree. In spite of its increasing diversity of feeding habits it appears to be quite correct to assume that the shape of the upper mandible is a modification to enable the extraction of seeds from the fruit of Marri. Known throughout Western Australia as the King Parrot, Purp. spurius is a resident species in the south-west. The numbers in a par¬ ticular locality may fluctuate with the availability of food, but it generally remains in each area throughout the year. 17 208 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA Sexing with this species is comparatively easy with adult birds, but immatures present a little difficulty. Some people are under the impres¬ sion that adult females resemble the immature bird, but this is not correct. All immatures show a white “ wing-stripe ” which is retained by the females and lost by the males with the first moult at about twelve months. Immatures may be sexed by the difference in the head. The male has a large flat head, while that of the female is small and rounded. The mature plumage is attained over a period of approxi¬ mately fifteen months. The author was fortunate in obtaining an immature male of known age in March, 1963, and the process of obtaining adult plumage was carefully noted. This is given here with the admission that it applies to one bird only, but it should, neverthe¬ less, be accepted as a valuable guide to the general procedure applicable to the species. The bird was removed from the nest in December, 1962, and no noticeable change took place until April, 1963, when the lower underparts acquired a light violet-blue colouration. One month later red feathers appeared on the crown and nape, the red on the vent and under tail-coverts increased in both intensity and extent, the underparts became noticeably violet-blue and the ear-coverts began to show signs of moulting. It is interesting to note that the red cap feathers began to appear in an uneven general pattern not from the j forehead as may be expected. The cap rapidly established itself and in a fortnight it was clearly defined even though a considerable quantity of green feathers were still present. There was little alteration during the winter months with the most noticeable change being an increase in the intensity of the colours, particularly the violet-blue underparts. The ear-coverts were still quite patchy. September and the beginning of spring brought noticeable changes. The red feathers in the cap began to increase rapidly, while the bright yellow ear-coverts became established. The red on the vent and under tail-coverts spread to the flanks and increased in intensity, as did the violet-blue of the abdo¬ men and lower breast. The wings entered into a moult which was to continue during the next six weeks. Little change in the plumage was noticed until late summer, when the back took on a bright dark green and the striking red of the vent and under tail-coverts was acquired. Few green feathers remained in the cap by February, 1964, and the ! rich dark blue of the shoulders and undersides of the wings was attained. By March, 1964, the glorious plumage of the adult male was exhibited i by the bird. The mating display differs markedly from that of the other broadtails ; and further illustrates the isolated position of this bird. The male takes up a position opposite or next to the female. This may be on the 1 same or a parallel branch of a tree or shrub. The red crown feathers are erected and the wings drooped, thus exposing the bright yellow- j green rump, the feathers of which are fluffed. The outspread tail is Avicult. Mag. Copyright] [M. Morcombe Adult Red-capped Parrot Approaches the Nesting Hollow. [To face p. 208 Avicult. Mag. Copyright ] [M. Morcombe Adult Male Purpureicephalus spurius Leaves the Nest. [To face p. 209 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 209 then slowly raised towards the back. The typical tail- wagging and squaring of the shoulders is entirely absent from the display. The commencement of spring brings on a marked increase of activity as pairs of birds investigate holes and hollow limbs in trees, generally Marris, as nesting sites. Upon selection of a suitable hollow the bottom is lined with decayed wood already present or formed by the birds’ scratching on the surface. Four to seven, usually five, pure white eggs are laid. The eggs are rounded in form with a close-grained, slightly glossy shell with average measurements of 1 *04 by 0*89 inches. Up to nine eggs have been found but this is an unusually large clutch. After incubation of three weeks the young are hatched naked and helpless, but soon acquire greyish down. The sitting female is fed regurgitated food by her mate. When she leaves the nest and alights near the male he immediately erects the red crown feathers, droops the wings and fluffs up the exposed rump feathers. At first only the female feeds regurgitated food to the newly hatched nestlings, but as they progress both parents assume domestic duties. The nestlings leave the nest after approximately five weeks and remain with their parents for some time thus accounting for the family parties often observed. Unfortunately, the Red-capped Parrot is more difficult than most Australian species to keep in captivity. Because of its magnificent colouring it is very desirable as an avairy bird, but disappointments and setbacks are often experienced before they became established. Newly trapped birds are wild and frightened. Adults should not be purchased as they rarely settle down. Aviculturists have different methods of treatment for young birds just incorporated into a collection, but the author has confidence in the following procedure. Upon arrival the birds should be placed in small cages about 3 by 3 by 3 feet. If practicable each bird should be given a cage to itself. During this time the flight aviaries should be prepared in the following way. Branches with dense foliage should be introduced thus absorbing most of the space in the aviary. Fish netting or similar material should be erected about 6 inches inside the wire of the flight. This prevents the birds injuring themselves by flying into the wire. After two months confinement under supervision in the cages the birds may be placed in the prepared avairies. During the next six months the branches and foliage may be slowly removed from the flights as the parrots settle down. Finally the netting may be removed and the birds left to com¬ plete their adjustment to captivity. Red-capped Parrots always remain very timid and their aviaries should have well secluded shelters into which they are able to retreat. Considering the feeding habits of this parrot in its natural state, the special attention given to the diet of captive birds will be well appre¬ ciated. Variety is the key to success in this sphere and experimentation 210 J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA will assist in the maintaining of health of the birds. A well balanced diet of seeds, fruits and green food is necessary. A mixture of plain canary seed, sunflower seed and oats in the proportions of 2:1:1 is most satisfactory. This should be supplemented by a daily supply of apples, oranges and other fruits, lettuce, chickweed, or spinach and cuttlefish or grit. Berries such as Hawthorn or Pyracantha are relished by the birds and should be given as frequently as possible. Plain cake soaked in milk is very beneficial when there are young in the nest. Finally a branch of Eucalyptus or another suitable tree should be always available. This enables the birds to chew the leaves and stems thus providing much nourishment as well as combating boredom. If successful breeding is to be accomplished each pair of Red-capped Parrots should be placed in a separate flight aviary not in close proxi¬ mity to aviaries containing other pairs or non-breeding individuals. Two or three nesting logs or boxes should be provided thus allowing the birds to choose their own nesting site. As soon as nesting has com¬ menced disturbance should be kept to an absolute minimum. Second broods should not be encouraged because this could detract from the care given to the newly fledged young by the parents and may jeopardize a successful breeding of this difficult species. As is to be expected no records of naturally occurring hybrids involving Purpureicephalus spurius exist. However, reliable accounts of hybrids in captivity have been published. A Red-capped Parrot mated to a Western Rosella ( Platycercus icterotis) reared two young in the U.S.A. in 1929. The young produced by mating with a female Crimson Rosella (. Platycercus elegans ) were hand reared in 1958. The plumage of these offspring was predominently green on the back with red markings on the head and rump, blue segments on the flight primaries and the typical blue ear-coverts of P. elegans. The breast was dull violet-grey with a red spot on the abdomen, while the bill was that of a typical Purpureicephalus . Undoubtedly one of the most rewarding sights for the ornithologist visiting the timbered areas of south-western Australia is provided by the Red-capped Parrots as they fly through the tree tops displaying their brilliant plumage. As the birds are observed feeding on the seeds of the Marri or drinking at the tanks and stock watering troughs, the good fortune of the inhabitants of the region in having in their midst this, one of the beautiful parrots of the world, is fully appreciated. Purpureicephalus spurius is truly a magnificent member of an ancient and regal group of birds. Acknowledgments The author wishes to thank Mr. L. S. Hall of Canberra for the line drawings used to illustrate this paper. Gratitude is also extended to Mr. R. Breeden of Busselton, W.A. for the provision of the specimens used in compiling data on plumage transitions. J. M. FORSHAW - THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA 21 I BIBLIOGRAPHY Alexander, W. B. The Food of the Red-capped Parrot, Purpureicephalus spurius, The Emu, Vol. 29, No. 4, 1930. Astley, H. D. The Red-capped Parrakeet, Avicult. Mag., 3rd. Series, Vol. 11, No. 10, 1 91 1. Bonaparte, C. L. Tableau des Perroquets, Revue et Magasin de ^oologie, 2nd Series No. 6, 1854. Cain, A. J. A Revision of Trichoglossus haematodus and of the Australian Platycercine Parrots, The Ibis, Vol. 97, N0.3, 1955. Campbell, A. J. Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, Part II, 1901. Carter, T. Birds of the Broome Hill District, Part 2, The Emu, Vol. 23, No. 3, 1924. Commonwealth Forestry and Timber Bureau. Forest Trees of Australia, 1957. Condon, H. T. The Australian Broadtailed Parrots, Records of the South Australian Museum, Vol. 7, No. 1, 1941. Kuhl, H. e{ Conspectus Psittacorum ”, Nova Acta Physico-Medica, Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino Carolinae, Naturae Curiosorum, Vol. 10, Part 1, 1820. Lendon, A. H. The “ Wing-Stripe ” as an Indication of Sex and Maturity in the Australian Broad-tailed Parrots, Avicult. Mag., 5th Series, Vol.6, No. 5, I94I- Lendon, A. H. Australian Parrots in Captivity, 1951. McGilp, J. N. Food of the Red-capped Parrot, The Emu, Vol. 31, No. 1, 1931. Mathews, G. M. The Platycercine Parrots of Australia : A Study in Colour Change, The Ibis, 10th Series. Vol. 6, No. 1, 1918. — — The Birds of Australia, Vol. VI, 1917. - Additions and Corrections to My List of the Birds of Australia, The Austral Avian Record, Vol. 2, No. 7, 1915. North, A. J. Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania, Vol. IV, 1914- Pollard, J. Our King Parrot, Our Rural Magazine , Western Australian Department of Education, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1937. Prestwich, A. A. Aviculture in America, Avicult. Mag., 4th Series, Vol. 8, No.i, 1930- Robinson, A. The Importance of the Marri as a Food Source to South-western Australian Birds, The Western Australian Naturalist, Vol. 7, No. 5, i960. Salvadori, T. Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum, Vol. XX, 1891. Serventy, D. L. The King Parrot of Western Australia — Purpureicephalus spurius (Kuhl 1820), The Emu, Vol, 37, No. 3, 1938. — — and Whittell, H. M. The Birds of Western Australia, 3rd Edition, 1962. Tavistock, Marquess of, and Delacour, J. Australian Parrakeets — II, The Platycercinae, Avicult. Mag., 4th Series, Vol. 5, No. 3, 1927. Van Heyst, H. P. Pileated Parrakeet X Crimson Rosella Hybrid, Avicult. Mag., Vol. 64, No. 2, 1958. Vigors, N. A. Notice on Some New Species of Birds, The Zoological Journal, Vol. 5, No. 18, Article 37, 1831. Whittel, H. M. and Serventy, D. L. A Systematic List of the Birds of Western Australia, 1948. 212 T. C. OLIVER - BREEDING THE LOO CHOO OR LIDTH’s JAY BREEDING OF THE LOO CHOO OR LIDTH’S JAY Lalocitta lidthi (Bonaparte) By Thomas C. Oliver (Head Keeper of Birds, Paignton Zoological and Botanical Gardens) A Loo Choo Jay (. Lalocitta lidthi ) was hatched on 24th April, 1964, in the Paignton Zoological Gardens. Its parents were part of a lot of four imported from dealers in Kobe, Japan, on 28th August, 1962. It was hatched in an aviary approximately 12x12x12 feet high with an inside flight of about 9x6x12 feet high. The parents chose to nest in a recess in the outside flight. The nest was built of small sticks, lined with dried moss and camel hair. We also gave them mud, but they did not use it. Both the cock and hen helped to build the nest. When the nest was finished the cock became very fierce, and the hen very timid. Up till this time they were quite tame. We do not know the exact incubation period. The only foods observed being given to the young Jay by the adults while in the nest were live foods, i.e. maggots, mealworms, and an occasional small spider. At the age of four weeks the young bird left the nest. Its head and breast were a dull grey-blue in colour. Back, flanks, and belly a dull brown, and wings blue. Because of the uncertain weather conditions, plus the fact that the nest was in a difficult position relating to perches, we separated the youngster from its parents and hand-reared it. At six weeks of age it started feeding itself first only on live food and after a few days on fine chopped meat, hard-boiled eggs, and finely- chopped mixed fruit, and Sluis with one or two mealworms per day. At about ten weeks old it started to gain its mature plumage. As described above, the Loo Choo or Lidth’s Jay ( Lalocitta lidthi (Bonaparte)) has been bred at the Paignton Zoological Gardens. It is believed that this may be a first success. Any member or reader knowing of a previous breeding of this species in Great Britain or Northern Ireland is requested to communi¬ cate at once with the Hon. Secretary. * * * BREEDING OF THE PORT LINCOLN PARRAKEET By J. A. Cutler (Rainhill, Lancs., England) October, 1958, saw the introduction of a pair(?) of Port Lincoln Parrakeets into my aviary. After the initial settling down of the birds close observation convinced me that the larger one was the cock and the J. A. CUTLER— BREEDING THE PORT LINCOLN PARRAKEET 213 smaller one was to be the hen. However, the following records will clarify this subject. 1961. In 1961 the larger bird laid four eggs and incubated them for the complete three weeks, but alas no results. “ Well done cock P.L.” 1962. This year to my amazement both birds laid four eggs each in the same nest-box and during the incubation period no bickering was noted, although these birds were sharing the box, side by side. 1963- The 1963 procedure was the same as for 1962 for the parrakeets, but this time a certain amount of jealousy arose as to who should have the nest-box. 1964. In March this year, I managed to obtain a cock ; this was paired to the large hen, the other being moved to the adjoining aviary. On 6th April, the first egg was laid and by the 1 2th three more had been added. After fourteen days these were found to be clear, but complete incubation time was allowed for the hen. On 24th May, I decided to remove the nest-box from the pen and I was surprised to find five eggs, one of which seemed to be newly laid. Two old eggs were removed and the nest-box replaced. On 26th May another egg was laid and the remaining two old eggs were also removed. On 28th May, the nest consisted of three eggs and from this date the hen incubated with severe loyalty and was only seen on very rare occasions. On 1 8th June two young were seen and these had a smoky grey- green down, a colour difficult to describe. Inspection was carried out from time to time, but still only the two youngsters were seen, which by 26th July had left the nest in perfect plumage, with another bird to my joy in the same condition, on 28th July. These young were very sturdy and fully coloured, identical to the mother, in fact to distinguish them is a very difficult task. They are now progressing soundly and feeding on their own. Interesting points noted are as follows: — (1) Either before or just after the first egg was laid, pebbles were carried into the next-box, the routine being one egg, one pebble, two eggs, two pebbles, but after the third egg was laid the pebbles could not be found ; this happened consistently also, during the previous years. 214 C. EVERITT - BREEDING THE RED-EYED BULBUL (2) The down of the young birds was of the odd colour described and not white. (3) This pairing was hen Barnardius zonarius to a cock Barnardius zonarius semi-tor quatus . (4) All young resemble the hen, i.e. colouring and size ; all divi¬ sions of colour are quite distinct, unlike the cock. My other successes for 1964 are Redrumps, ten consisting of Yellow and normals, seventeen Turquosines, twenty-one Bourke’s. My two 1963 pairs of Stanleys made no attempt at all of going to nest, also an additional pair of Turquosines showed the same disinterest and my Blue-bonnets once again bobbed but got no further. Altogether, this season has given me great pleasure and satisfaction. Note. — 27th October, 1964. These Port Lincolns are in perfect health and condition and have turned out to be one cock and two hens. Sexing is much easier when young of both sexes are together. * * * BREEDING THE RED-EYED BULBUL By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N.J., U.S.A.) It was in August i960 that a pair of Bulbuls was received by Mr. Boehm from one of his East African contacts. They were not too large, about 8 inches in total length, and were soon identified as the Red-eyed Bulbul — Pycnonotus nigricans. They have a fairly extensive range in their native land, selecting the dry inland areas from the eastern parts of South Africa, Cape Province, and Transvaal, through Bechuanaland into great Namaqualand, Damaraland, and Ovampo- land, all in South West Africa, to as far north as the Cubango and Cuando districts of Angola, their line of habitat apparently following the Kalahari Desert up to the Kaukau Veldt. So far as general coloration is concerned, the sexes are alike, but the female is slightly smaller. Another sex difference is in the song, both having clear, cheerful, liquid notes, those of the male having a slightly wider range. Their distinctive feature is a red wattle around the eye, their feather colouring being rather on the sombre side. The upper plumage, from the nape of the neck through to the tail, is a dark greenish-brown. The head, face, neck, and throat are dark brown. The upper chest is of the same colour as the upper parts, this blending in with the dark brown of the throat. The abdomen is greyish-white, flecked with brown, the under tail-coverts and vent feathers being yellow. The iris is orange to reddish-brown, the bill, legs, and feet being black. C. EVERITT - BREEDING THE RED-EYED BULBUL 215 After the customary time for new arrivals in the cage room, they were released into a planted aviary of some 60 by 20 feet, late in September i960. Here they settled down well with the other inmates which included Spreo and Royal Starlings, Scarlet Cocks of the Rock, Olive-flanked Robin Chats and Variegated Tits. Although there were nestings by other species, the Bulbuls made no such move during the following season. However, on 27th June, 1962, we were surprised by the sight of two fledglings, obviously Red-eyed Bulbuls. They were perching in a clump of cultivated honeysuckle and the parent birds did not appear to be at all perturbed at our study of the young birds. Although an extensive search was made of the trees, shrubs, and bushes, no trace of their nest was found. Unfortunately, they were not to be reared to independence for one was killed five days later, and the other the next day. It is not known who was, or were as the case may be, the killer, as there had been no signs of belligerence among the birds and such a state of content appears to continue to exist, even though new species in the form of Joyful Bulbuls, Hume’s Mynas, and Plumbeous Redstarts have since been introduced. The fact that the adult Red-eyed Bulbuls, now known to be a true pair, were still with us was some consolation, but no further broods were raised that year. It was in April, 1963, that they were seen to be constructing a nest of Spanish moss, grasses, and fibres in one of the topmost branches of a crab-apple tree. It was only about 9 inches below the curved wire roof which, at that time, was still covered with visqueen, a clear plastic sheeting. As this most probably had deterior¬ ated during the winter and was liable to let in the rain, a plywood cover was fitted above the nest after the first egg had been laid. The nest itself was an open cup, circular, with a central depression of about 2 inches and both birds had participated in the building of it. The first egg, pinkish-white, copiously marked with reddish-brown spots and flecks, and measuring about 21 by 15 mm., was laid on 20th April, with a second the following day. The incubation, which was shared, lasted for twelve to thirteen days and appeared to commence with the laying of the first egg. I use the term appeared for, on the morning inspection of the nest on 3rd May, two nestlings were found. One obviously had just hatched as it was smaller than the other and there was still a piece of eggshell in the nest. It was customary to look into the nest only once each day for, not only did it entail climbing the tree, a delicate task in itself, but also we did not wish to disturb the sitting birds more than necessary for general observation purposes. The nestlings were devoid of all body covering and had bright pink gapes. Their eyes were open at five days old and quills were showing in their wings. By a further five days they were almost fully feathered, being dark greenish-brown above with darker heads. On 15th May, at twelve to thirteen days old, they vacated the nest and were exact 2l6 C. EVERITT - BREEDING THE GOLDEN-CRESTED MYNA replicas of the two fledglings seen the previous year. The upper plumage was dark greenish-brown, as with the adults, the head, face, and neck being darker. The under-parts were a composite of clear yellowish-greyish-white with no fleckings. There was complete absence of any coloured eye-ring. Two weeks after vacating the nest they were feeding themselves although still not averse to accepting anything offered to them by their parents. Four days later they were caught up and placed on their own so as to avoid any repetition of the prior loss. By ist July, yellowish-white eye-rings were discernible, these gradually changing to pink by the end of the month. Now at eight months old, they have the same colouring throughout as the adult birds and, judging by their song and behaviour, it may well be that they are a natural pair. The parents reared a second round in July but, in this instance, only one left the nest and was reared to maturity. They had selected a fresh site for this nesting, at the extreme top of a tree on the other side of the aviary. It was completely inaccessible to us from the ground, or from above, so no knowledge could be gained as to the number of eggs etc. This third young Red-eyed Bulbul followed the same development pattern as the older two up to the time it was donated to the Chicago Zoo in November, 1963. One of the parent birds has since been killed, but it is hoped to be able to make up a true pair, for the 1964 breeding season, out of the two yearling birds and the surviving adult, which is, we think, the female. I have not been able to find any previous detailed report of the breeding of this species and any information on this would be most welcome. * * * BREEDING THE GOLDEN-CRESTED MYNA By Charles Everitt (Trenton, N.J., U.S.A.) One of the less frequently imported, and yet one of the most striking in appearance, the Golden-crested Myna — Mino coronatus, also classi¬ fied by authorities in the genus Ampeliceps — is fairly common in northern Thailand, is a resident of the Tenasserim district of Burma, and may also be found, in smaller numbers, in Laos, Vietnam, and the Malay Peninsula. About 8^ inches in total length, the adult male has clear yellow feathering on the crown of the head, the face, chin, throat, and in a broad wing patch. The long crest, lying flat on the head, also is yellow. Further, there is a bare patch of yellow skin around the eye. The bill is bright orange, the legs and feet being of the same colour, but duller. The remainder of the plumage is glossy black. The female is very similar, except that the crest is not as long, and the yellow of the C. EVERITT - BREEDING THE GOLDEN-CRESTED MYNA 217 under parts is confined to the chin, the throat being black. In addition, the group of yellow bristly feathers at the base of the upper mandible is not as distinct as that of the male. A pair of these birds were received by Mr. Boehm from Burma in April, 1962, and, after an adequate time in a reception pen for acclimatisation, were released into a planted aviary in August of the same year. Sharing this accommodation with a pair each of Striped Kingfishers and Natal Robins, they settled down well in their new surroundings, their diet consisting of chopped, mixed fruits, a soft-food mixture, and ground raw beef. To this was added a liberal supply daily of mealworms for, like all Grackles, they are avid insect eaters. Although tree stumps with natural nesting holes were positioned in the aviary, as an additional inducement to nest, a covered box, 18 inches high by 9 inches square, with a 2^-inch entrance hole in the front, near the top, was secured in there also at about 8 feet above ground level. It was in May, 1963, that the female was seen to be taking pieces of twig, coarse grass, and fresh leaves into this box. Three eggs were laid, the first on 10th May, but they all proved to be clear so were used to obtain the following data. Averaging in measure¬ ment 32 by 19 mm., they were pale blue with, on two of them, a few fine, brown markings, mainly at the thicker end, the third being a perfectly clear pale blue. On 24th June, she laid again, once more a clutch of three, of which one was completely unmarked. Although the incubation, lasting for fourteen days, appeared to have been by the female only, I cannot be sure on this point as the sitting bird vacated the nest at the first sound of any approaching footsteps. However, I do assume it was a feminine task entirely for, whilst in an adjoining aviary, the only bird I ever saw to enter or leave the nest-box during the incubation period was the female. One egg fully hatched on 8th July, but, although the other eggs were fertile, and contained live chicks that started to cut their way out, the female discarded these eggs from the nest and concentrated on rearing the one solitary nestling. It was completely devoid of any body fluff, had a bright pink, bare skin, with a yellow gape, margined in orange-yellow. The male now began to enter the nest, for the rearing, mainly with live-food for the first seven days or so, was shared. Although the eyes were open at six days, only dark markings could be seen under the skin and it was not until about the eleventh day that quill feathers were visible. It has been said that the young of Golden-crested Mynas have all-black heads, but such was not the case with this particular nestling for, at eighteen days old, yellow feathering was showing on the brow. Vacating the nest at twenty-three days, it had the beginnings of a distinct yellow cap, a yellow chin patch, and pale yellow barrings in the wings. Independence was gained at five weeks old and all three birds lived 218 W. GEWALT - FIRST SUCCESS IN ZOO-BREEDING GREAT BUSTARDS congenially together for a further six months. By that time it was apparent that the young bird was a male, and as the adult of the same sex began to chase it away from the feeding stand, it was removed to one of the stock pens. Within a further two weeks the female had laid again, two eggs only this time, both clear. As this first breeding has turned out to be a male, careful observation will be kept on any future young so as to determine if there is any difference in the fledgling feathering of the sexes, that is, of course, if we are fortunate enough to produce a female. Note. — Six young, three of each sex, were raised in 1964. * * * THE FIRST SUCCESS IN ZOO-BREEDING GREAT BUSTARDS (Otis tarda) By Dr. Wolfgang Gewalt (West Berlin Zoo, Germany) In Vol. 68, No. 5, of this Magazine we recorded our efforts in breeding Great Bustards in captivity. We had three chicks in the 1962 and five chicks in the 1963 breeding season which hatched out from some eggs laid in the West Berlin Zoo Bustard enclosure, but it was impossible to keep them alive for more than five days. Whether the young ones were hand-reared or fed by their natural mother, the unsatisfying result was the same. In 1964 our flock of Great Bustards consisted of three males (8, 2, and 1 years old) and of eight females (12, 10, 8, 4, 4, 1, 1, and 1 years old). Most of them were hand-reared from eggs found in the wild. The birds live in a grassy enclosure measuring 1,000 square metres in which are some trees and bushes. On the visitors’ side, the paddock is protected by a hedge. During cold or rainy weather the Bustards can be driven into a stable divided into single boxes. Unfortunately at the beginning of the 1964 laying period a mature female was killed by a cock and a second female we lost due to indiges¬ tion. Only eight eggs were laid in the shallow sandy nests, and as usual, ! put under sitting domestic hens. The chief cock carried out a wonderful j display all the time and was extraordinarily aggressive. After an incubation period of between twenty-two and twenty-three days only three chicks hatched out. In one egg the embryo died, the others were ! infertile. The chicks weighed 75 to 80 grammes, rather less than free-born young which weigh up to 100 grammes and more. The first chick hatched died at seven days old from gut blockage and stomach over- loading. Like young Cranes, the Bustard chicks do not eat inde- | — Avigult. Mag, [To face p. 218 Great Bustard Cock in Full Display in the West Berlin Zoo. Avicult. Mag. Copyright \ [ Wolfgang Gewalt A Great Bustard Chick, Born in the West Berlin Zoo, Three Weeks Old. [To face p. 219 HEINZ-GEORG KLOS - NEWS FROM BERLIN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS 2ig pendently during the first weeks of their life, and have to be fed by means of forceps with grasshoppers and other live insects, small pieces of meat, boiled potatoes, and chickweed leaves. The remaining two chicks, born on 7th and 8th June, 1964, did well. Surviving the first ten critical days in an infra-red-heated box, as usual carefully supplied with vitamins and the important manganese (manganese prevents the deforming leg weakness/slipped tendon), they progressed well right up to now. On 20th July, 1 964, their weight was 1,850 and 1,100 grammes. As far as we know this should be the first complete success in zoo¬ breeding Great Bustards in the world. REFERENCES Gewalt, W., 1958. t)ber Wachstumstorungen und einem Fall vermutlicher Perosis bei der Aufzucht eines GroBtrappenhahns ( Otis tarda L.). Zool. Garten (NF) 24. - 1959* Die GroBtrappe. Wittenberg. - 1962a. New efforts in Breeding the Great Bustards (Otis tarda L.). Avicult. Mag., 68/5. - - 1962 b. Zuchtversucher mit der GroBtrappe. Gef. Welt 11. - 1963a. Neue Beitr&ge z. Brutbiologie d. GroBtrappe ( Otis t. tarda L .) Beitr. z. Vogelkde. 9. - 1963&. GroBtrappen-Zuchtversuche im Berliner Zoologischen Garten. Kolner Zoo-Ztschr. 6/3. - 1963c. Breeding the Great Bustard ( Otis tarda) in Captivity. Intern. £oo- Year¬ book, 4. - -1964. Die GroBtrappe — Zuchtversuche mit Europas groBtem Wildvogel. Vogelkosmos 1 /^. * * * NEWS FROM THE BERLIN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS By Dr. Heinz-Georg Klos, Director The 1964 breeding season at the West Berlin Zoo has again been a very successful one. The most remarkable results were achieved in our Pelican breeding colony. As in former years some birds built nests and made breeding attempts in late April, but this time an egg was discovered in May in the nest of our pair of American White Pelicans ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchus) . Brooding in turn both birds defended their nest violently against other Pelicans making nesting attempts in the colony. The nest was situated on a platform about 10 inches above the water level, on a small island in the neighbourhood of a cormorant breeding colony, at a distance of about 30 feet from the visitors. On 19th June the young one hatched. Compared with its swan-sized parents it was amazingly small, but during the next weeks it grew up very rapidly. After a few days it was covered with snowy-white down plumage, and on 1 8th June the black pinions appeared. After six weeks the young had nearly reached the 220 HEINZ-GEORG KLOS - NEWS FROM BERLIN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS size of a goose and was leaving the nest for greater excursions, still jealously protected by its parents. On 6th August it went into the water for the first time, swimming perfectly. Now at an age of three months, the young one is hardly distinguishable from the adults. Only the bill is smaller and bill and feet are paler than those of the parents. At the beginning of July other Pelican species (P. onocrotalus , P. cris- pus, P. rufescens) also built their nests on the platform and were sitting on eggs. They were partly mixed pairs, e.g. P. onocrotalus X P. rufescens and P. crispus X P. rufescens. At the same time two young cormorants hatched. On ioth August a young one was discovered in the nest of a pair of European White Pelicans (P. onocrotalus) being of the same size as the young P. erythrorhynchus was. It grew up in the same way, but was covered with a blackish down plumage and was quite different in its appearance. It is still doing well. All the other Pelican eggs did not develop and were lost after some time. Breeding Pelicans in captivity is still a rare event. While European White Pelicans had been bred at the zoo of Rotterdam by the end of the last century, at the Basle Zoo in 1930, and four times at the Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde in 1961-63, this is to the best of our knowledge the first rearing of an American White Pelican in a European zoo. At the National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C., American White Pelicans hatched in 1914, 1928, 1930, and 1931, and a P. erythrorhyn¬ chus X occidentalis hybrid, hatched in 1934 and lived in the Zoo until 1943. To our knowledge pelicans have also been bred at the San Antonio Zoo, Texas, but we have no records of it. In our Flamingo colony, 1963 the first young flamingo in Germany, a Phoenicopterus ruber roseus, had been reared (see Avicult. Mag., Vol. 69, 6, 1963), between 30th April and 6th June, 1964, altogether twelve Chilean and eight European Flamingo eggs had been laid. At most eighteen birds were sitting on eggs at the same time. There were three main parts of the colony, two of them consisting of Chileans and one of Europeans. Flowever, all the eggs did not develop. Some of them disappeared after some time, but most were secured after being- incubated for too long, and proved to be infertile. On 31st July one chilensis and two roseus eggs were laid and two other eggs were found in the water. At the beginning of August three pairs of roseus and one pair of chilensis were again sitting persistently on eggs. On 28th August, the first European Flamingo chicken hatched and on 7th September the second. Both chicks are doing well, being now three and two weeks old, but on account of the very cold and rainy autumn weather it must be feared that they will not survive. A lot of interesting birds have hatched in our incubators and were reared artificially by our head-keeper, Mrs. Johst, among them six Rheas, one Paradise Crane, one Black-backed Radjah Shelduck (to our HEINZ-GEORG KLOS — NEWS FROM BERLIN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS 22 I knowledge the first ever bred in captivity), ten Ocellated Turkeys, and one Black Vulture, which had to be fed on predigested meat and fish. Furthermore : five Chilean Pintails, three European Wigeons, 330 Mallards, fifteen Australian Black Ducks, thirty-two Spot-billed Ducks, twenty Red-crested Pochards, eight Rosy-billed Pochards, four Eiders, seven Tufted Ducks, one European Golden-eye, eighteen Wood Ducks, five Mandarin Ducks, one Canada Goose, two Cackling Canada Geese, one Common Shelduck, five Ruddy Shelducks, three Snow Geese, three Bar-headed Geese, two Emperor Geese, one Magellan Goose, four Rock Bush Quails, two painted Quails, eight Common Impeyans, seventy-four Wild Turkeys, thirty- three Korean Ring- necked Pheasants six Reeves’s Pheasants, eight California Quails, and two Australian Crested Pigeons. Our successful breeding pair of Snowy Owls, which have been in the Zoo since 1958 and 1959, again reared four young ones. A report on the first successful breeding of Great Bustards in captivity is published in this issue of the Avicultural Magazine. In the large walk-through aviary of our Bird House the Rufous-winged Kiskadees (. Pitangus sulfuratus) successfully reared two young ones. A Red-eared Bulbul hatched on 28th June, but was killed by other birds, probably by the Drongos or Kiskadees. The great Crowned Pigeons, which had reared a young one in March, 1964, in the walk-through aviary, were sitting on an egg again in August. The young one hatched on 30th August, but unfortunately died one day later by falling out of the nest. In the Pheasantry the first young Brush Turkey in the Berlin Zoo since the war came out of the large breeding mound, erected by the cock. It was self-supporting and able to flutter about from the first moment of its life. Among the many new arrivals the following may be worth men¬ tioning : one Brown Pelican, four Blue- winged Teals, ten Brent Geese, two Common Sun Bitterns, two Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, one Great Bustard (an adult male, found at night in a stadium in the centre of the city), seven American Flamingos, one Bittern, two Squacco Herons, two Black-headed Herons, one Great White Heron, four Little Egrets, two Spoonbills, one American Wood Ibis, four Indian Painted Storks, two Crested Wood Partridges, four Palawan Peacock Pheasants, two Wonga-wonga Pigeons, two Plumed Pigeons, one Monkey-eating Eagle, two Malayan Scops Owls, one Red-crested Cockatoo, two Hyacinthine Macaws, two Senegal Parrots, one Violet-crested Turaco, two Green-billed Toucans, two Black Hornbills ( Anthracoceros malayanus) nine Hummingbirds of different species, one female Peruvian Cock of the Rock, two Rothschild’s Mynas, two Montezuma Oropendolas, three Bearded Tits, and two Orange-breasted Flower-peckers. 222 W. GRUMMT - BREEDING THE AFRICAN CATTLE EGRET SOME NOTES ON THE BREEDING OF THE AFRICAN CATTLE EGRET By Wolfgang Grummt (Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, Germany) Yealland has described the successful breeding of the African Cattle Egret (. Ardeolai . ibis) in Regents Park (Avicult. Mag., Vol. 70, 21-22). In 1958 the Berlin Tierpark received thirty- two Cattle Egrets, all young birds, from Cairo of which four died soon after arrival. In 1959 the birds were placed in the new heron aviary, the outside flight of which is 13 by 10 metres and 6 metres high and the smaller inside flight 6 • 20 by 3 • 85 metres and 3 • 6 metres high. In the outside flight there are three trees for nests and the ground is covered with grass with a small area of sand and a pool of water. In addition to the Cattle Egrets there were also the following species in the aviary : Chinese Pond Herons ( Ardeola bacchus ), Squacco Herons (A. ralloides ), Little Egrets ( Egretta garzetta), Snowy Egrets ( Leucophoyx thula ), Boat-bill Herons ( Cochlearius cochlearius) , Scarlet Ibis ( Eudocimus ruber) and Glossy Ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus) . In addition there were a few waders such as Curlew, Whimbrel, Grey and Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Ruffs, and Avocets. In winter only the Cattle, Little, and Snowy Egrets were left in the aviary while the other birds were placed elsewhere. A few pairs of Cattle Egrets already started building nests in the winter of 1959-60. In the relatively narrow aviary there were naturally continual disputes for nesting material and nesting sites. On 8th March, i960, the first pair laid and by the end of that month six pairs had full clutches of two to three eggs. At the beginning of April the first nests were built in the outer flight and there were soon some clutches here also. On 31st March the first egg hatched. So far as we could establish in i960 altogether forty- two Cattle Egrets hatched of which thirty- two youngsters were reared. By 1963, ninety-four Cattle Egrets had fledged and in February, 1964, there were already seven half-fledged birds in nests in addition to several brooding pairs. So far egg-laying has taken place from December to August, chiefly from January to June. Full clutches usually consist of three to four eggs and only once was there a clutch of two eggs, but possibly in this case an egg was broken or fell out of the nest. Of sixty-four clutches kept under observation, fifty-four contained three eggs each, nine, four eggs and in only one clutch was there two eggs. Laying took place at intervals of two days and as the adults began brooding after the laying of the first egg the young also hatched out at intervals of two days. Incubation lasted from twenty- three to twenty-four days and sometimes one or two eggs were infertile. It often happened that the young last hatched died during the first few days. In fifty-two successful broods kept under observation the number of young hatched amounted Avicult. Mag, [To face p. 222 Heron Aviary in Tierpark, Berlin. Avicult. Mag w ffi H O h (£5 w 05 Q ^ GO „ W E* W pH PQ W K H >* PQ W o . 1 s £ t 3 Pi o < o O-t & hJ < Pi £ 5 pi 3 S P o ^ H [To face p. 223 Left to right : Mr. W. R. Partridge, Miss E. M. Knobel (President), Mrs. Helen Boehm. BRITISH AVICULTURISTS’ CLUB 223 in twenty-nine cases to two young, sixteen times three young, twice four young, and five times one young. Four young in a nest never fledged. Once a young bird of four days old lay dead under the nest while the remaining three fledged. In the second nest with four young, one also died. Of 119 chicks hatched, a total of ninety-four fledged, that is 79 per cent. The observation of the nests was chiefly carried out by Keeper G. Graunke. In 1961 a male Snowy Egret paired with a female Little Egret and hatched two young which were successfully reared. In 1963 Little Egrets were also successfully reared. Glossy Ibis also bred for several years, but unfortunately the young died before they fledged. The Egrets were fed as follows : to the basic food which consists of soft Pheasant food crushed shrimps were added and in addition both raw and cooked meat were mixed in. Fish was either cut into small pieces or minced in the meat-mincer and mixed with the basic food. As soon as the young Cattle Egrets were hatched they were also fed with mealworms and ants5 eggs. In the warm period of the year the Cattle Egrets fed their young with many insects especially flies which they caught themselves. As at the beginning of winter these birds often show a Vitamin B deficiency so Vitamin B Complex is added to the food. African Cattle Egrets have also been regularly and successfully reared at the Biological Station Wilhelminenberg. According to infor¬ mation in the International Z00 Tear Book, Vols. II and III (i960, 1961), they have also been reared at the Jerez (Spain) and Paris zoos. Indian Cattle Egrets have been bred and reared several times in recent years in the Dresden Zoo. * * * BRITISH AVICULTURISTS’ CLUB The eighty-fifth meeting of the Club was held at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London, W. 2, on Monday, 14th September, 1964, following a dinner at 7 p.m. Chairman : Mr. K. A. Norris. Members of the Club : Mrs. D. Ashken, Miss P. Barclay-Smith, P. S. Bates, A. W. Bolton, Miss K. Bonner, M. K. Boorer, R. D. Chancellor, R. A. Chester, Lt.-Col. H. W. Clayden, J. E. Collins, R. A. Copley, J. H. B. Crofts, W. D. Cummings, E. A. Dracup, O. E. Dunmore, M. D. England, Miss R. Ezra, Mrs. R. Goodman, Dr. R. Gottlieb, J. Hancock, L. W. Hill, Dr. E. Hindle, F. E. B. Johnson, Dr. S. B. Kendall, A. E. King, Miss E. M. Knobel, J. Kuttner, C. Marler, R. F. Marshall, P. H. Maxwell, F. Mosford, S. Murray, Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt., J. A. Page, W. R. Partridge, A. A. Prestwich, D. M. Reid-Henry, R. L. Restall, B. E. Robinson, R. C. J. Sawyer, K. M. Scamell, Mrs. K. M. Scamell, E. O. Squire, N. R. Steel, A. J. Swain, Mrs. R. Upton, P. L. Wayre, J. J. Yealland. 18 224 COUNCIL MEETING Members of the Club, forty-nine ; guests, twenty-nine ; total seventy-eight. The President of the Avicultural Society, Miss E. Maud Knobel, presented the Society’s Medal to Mr. W. R. Partridge for the first breeding of the Greater Patagonian Conure and of the Cayenne Seedeater. The Club’s traditional birthday cakes were presented to Miss K. Bonner, Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt., and Mr. K. A. Norris. Mrs. Edward Marshall Boehm showed two colour films : “ The Wonder of the Birds ” and “ Boehm’s Birds The date of the next meeting is Monday, 9th November, 1964, Arthur A. Prestwigh, Hon. Secretary. * * * COUNCIL MEETING A Council Meeting was held on 14th September, 1964, at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London, W. 2. The following members were present : — Miss E. Maud Knobel, President, in the Chair. Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt., Vice-President. Miss P. Barclay-Smith, Miss K. Bonner, Mr. W. D. Cummings, Miss R. Ezra, Mr. L. W. Hill, Mr. F. E. B. Johnson, Mr. F. Mosford, Mr. E. O. Squire, Mr. N. R. Steel, Mr. J. J. Yealland, and Mr. A. A. Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. The Society’s Medal The Society’s Medal was awarded to : — Sir Richard Cotterell, Bt., for breeding the Vinaceous Firefinch, Lagonosticta vinacea , in 1963. W. R. Partridge, for breeding the Cayenne Seedeater, Sporophila frontalis , in 1962. W. R. Partridge, for breeding the Greater Patagonian Conure, Cyanoliseus byroni , in 1963. G. E. Whitmore, for breeding the Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Treron curvirostra, in 1964. Officers for 1965 There were the following retirements and appointments : — Council : Mr. A. Lamb, Mr. D. H. S. Risdon, and Mr. T. Spence retired by rotation. Mr. A. A. Prestwich retired on election as a Vice-President. Mr. F. T. Jones, Mr. W. R. Partridge, Mr. R. C. J. Sawyer, and Mr. P. L. Wayre were elected to fill the vacancies. Arthur A. Prestwich, Hon. Secretary. LONDON ZOO NOTES 225 LONDON ZOO NOTES By J. J. Yealland A second consignment of birds and mammals recently presented by Dr. K. G. Searle contained a specimen of the eastern race of Great White Heron or Egret (Egretta alba modesta), not previously in the col¬ lection. He also sent six Chinese Pond Herons, a Yellow-billed Egret, two Watercocks, and a Black-headed Oriole. A Pale-billed Grey Shrike ( Lanius excubitor pallidirostris) collected in Kuwait and also new to the collection, a female Painted Spurfowl bred by Mr. A. J. Swain, an Abyssinian Lovebird and a pair of Quail Finches ( Ortygospiza atricollis ) have been presented. A Great Black-backed Gull, two Herring Gulls, two more Mealy Rosella Parrakeets and a Barn Owl are among the birds bred in the Gardens. Two Aharoni’s Eagle Owls ( Bubo bubo interpositus) have died after being in the Gardens for twenty-six years. * * * NEWS AND VIEWS George Waterston has been appointed O.B.E. for services to ornithology in Scotland. * * * Ronald L. Blakely, former Curator of Birds, Chicago Zoological Park, is now Associate Director, Collection. * * * The Bronze Medal of the Avicultural Society of South Australia has been awarded to Robert R. Rymill, for breeding the Coot Fulica atra. * * * R. T. Bloom, formerly Curator of Mammals, Chester Zoo, is now Superintendent at the Flamingo Park Zoo. A. W. Fletcher has resigned his position as Curator of Birds, Chester Zoo. * * * R. T. Kyme writes : “ My breeding season has been only fair for I have been troubled with egg-binding. I have, however, reared one Pennant, two Mealies, seven Stanleys, four Golden-mantled Rosellas and one Red-rumped. My green/lutino Ringneck cock with lutino hen had three eggs but they were clear ”. 226 NEWS AND VIEWS Interesting breeding events. W. H. Rose, White-cheeked Touraco, one and two reared. B. E. Robinson, Rock Grass Parrakeet, one young one reared until it was just feathering up when the parents deserted it. A. V. Griffiths, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, one young one in the nest now six weeks old. A. J. Swain, Painted Spurfowl, three of a brood of four reared by the parents. * * * On 22nd September, Vice-President and Mrs. G. S. Mottershead left on a world tour of zoos, game parks and reserves. Their journey ings will take them to America, Canada, Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand, before returning via Mauritius, South Africa and Kenya. Whilst in Sydney Mr. Mottershead will preside at the annual conference of the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens. * * * Ralph Small, in charge of the parrots at the Chicago Zoological Park, writes : “A Red and Yellow Macaw paired with a female Blue and Yellow. I hand-raised one baby from the egg and it is now ninety days old. Three more babies were hatched in a later nest, and although the youngest one died the two others are now five weeks old and it looks as though they should be raised 55 . * * * Two Crested Screamers Chauna cristata have been hatched at the Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge. This is a somewhat uncommon breeding. It was bred at the London Zoo in 1904, for the first time in Europe. Three young were hatched ; one was trodden on and killed by one of its parents the same day that it was hatched, but the other two were fully reared. Four more were bred in 1905, two in 1906, and one in 1913. In the last year three were hatched but two were crushed by the parents. Jean Delacour reared one young one, of four hatched, in 1922. * * * J. D. Money, Agent, Leeds Castle, Maidstone, reports a cross between a White-headed Nun and a Chestnut-breasted Finch. He writes : “ The White-headed Nun appears to be the male parent. The pair laid two batches of eggs. From the first they hatched and reared three. The second lot of babies had to be brought up under Bengalese, and there are three of these. This was owing to the fact that we had to empty the aviary due to overcrowding ”. This would appear to be the first time this hybrid has been recorded for Great Britain. Page, Butler, and Neunzig all give the cross Chestnut Finch X Maja as having been bred both ways abroad. NEWS AND VIEWS 227 At the end of July three young Ospreys left the eyrie at Loch Garten. The Osprey family was watched from a hidden observation post by more than 21,000 visitors. * * * According to the Fifteenth Annual Report of the Wildfowl Trust , 1962-63. the world population of the Hawaiian Goose in January was between 380 and 430 : 250 to 300 in Hawaii, 84 in England, 22 in Europe, and 29 in North America. The results of the rearing programme at Slimbridge were disappointing ; from 120 eggs only twenty goslings were hatched, of which sixteen were reared. * * * The colony of Night Herons in the Scottish National Zoological Park, Edinburgh, continues to maintain its numbers at about forty birds. The Director-Secretary, G. D. Fisher, writes in the Report : “ Five nests were again occupied. ... So far as could be ascertained the broods of these nests were all successfully reared, adding approxi¬ mately fifteen young birds to the colony’s strength. As this appears to remain the same, it is indicated that the number of deaths among adult birds equals the number of young birds hatched and reared ; and as dead birds are not found within the Park it is assumed that the older herons succumb during their nocturnal visits to more distant feeding grounds in the surrounding countryside. ” * * * F. C. Astles who has spent a lifetime breeding British birds and their hybrids has after very many years’ endeavour succeeded in rearing Mealy X Lesser Redpolls. One young one was reared in the first nest. Concerning the second, Astles writes : “ Four glorious young reared in the second round. Average price, when you and I were young, 3 d. ! No king on his coronation felt prouder. Several more nests of hybrids, including five Linnet-Goldies. True species seem so simple now. ” * * * Newton Capron, Lake Worth, Florida, reports : “ This year was in some respects a poor year for breeding results, with a few exceptions. I raised three lovely blue Ringnecks to the age of three months, only to lose one of them from a broken neck. Australian Kings did quite well as far as eggs went, but neither of the hens would sit. So between three pairs and a single hen — all Princess of Wales — seven were hatched and six hand-raised. They are delightfully tame. Of the six, one has salmon, instead of red, under colouring (it looks now as if the salmon is being replaced by red), another had a very few red feathers on the forehead, and still another shows the light wing-bars as in the mature male ”. A. A. P. 228 REVIEWS REVIEWS THE WORLD OF BIRDS. A Comprehensive Guide to General Ornithology. By James Fisher and Roger Tory Peterson. Macdonald and Co. (Publishers), Ltd., London, 1964. Price 5 guineas net. This is certainly the most comprehensive guide to general ornithology that has yet been published and contains a wealth of information on every conceivable aspect of the subject. Both the authors are ornitho¬ logists of international repute and the amount of knowledge and industry that has gone into the production of this book is astounding. There are many original ideas and treatments such as the descriptions, diagrams, and illustrations on Distribution and Bird Variety ; Birds on the Tree of Life (including a family tree, and relationship) ; Distribution of Birds (including altitudinal zonation, population, and changing numbers), to mention only a few. The section entitled The Regiment of Birds, with maps of the families, is outstanding. Aviculture is dealt with in the chapter on Birds and Men and is confined to tracing the rise of aviculture from the time of ancient Egypt and references in general terms to present- day activities. A list of the oldest surviving zoos with the date of their foundation is included. Roger Tory Peterson’s superb illustrations have been very well reproduced and the set-out of the book is beautifully designed. The most difficult thing to understand is how the publishers were able to put this book on the market for the low price of 5 guineas ! P. B.-S. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUNG ORNITHOLOGISTS. BIRDS’ NESTS AND EGGS. By C. J. O. Harrison. Museum Press, Ltd., London, 1964. Price 15^. net. This is the fifth of a series of excellent books. In his preface Mr. Harrison says : “ We have come to realize that the egg is not merely a dry and empty shell that looks rather nice arranged on a layer of cotton wool. The egg is a living thing, produced by a living bird, cared for by it, and the thing from which, in a short time, a living bird will emerge.” This is the fundamental approach of this sympa¬ thetic and charmingly written book of six chapters — Why an Egg ; The Nest, its Evolution and Usefulness ; The Structure of the Egg ; The Egg in the Nest ; The Egg as a Living Thing ; Eggs and Man. Mr. Harrison imparts a great deal of information in a most readable way and the book is well illustrated with excellent photographs, the majority of them by Eric Hosking. Aviculturists, most of whose main object is to secure successful emergence from eggs, will want this book (even if they are not young ornithologists) which is written by a fellow aviculturist. P. B.-S. CORRESPONDENCE 229 NOTES Breeding the Red-billed Weaver ( Quelea quelea ). This year we have bred the Red-billed Weaver ( Quelea quelea ). The Weavers are kept in a long flight aviary with a shelter at one end. In this aviary we exhibit twenty-five species of birds, including five species of Weaver. The four Red-billed Weavers arrived in September, 1961, and many nests have been built by them and a few eggs laid, but these were usually destroyed by other birds. Following our usual practice the birds were disturbed as little as possible and a young Red-billed Weaver was first heard calling for food about 10th July, 1964. On 1 6th July one egg was removed from the nest — it was a bluish-green colour with small brown markings. Other species of weavers as well as both parents were seen to feed the young one, especially the Rufous-necked. In addition to the usual seed mixture and green food, live food was fed to the parents. This was regurgitated for the young bird, the adult clinging upside down onto the nest. The young Weaver called loudly while being fed. It resembles the female in colour and left the nest about 22nd July and has now settled down well with the others. M. F. Coupe, Section Officer — Chester <00. * * * CORRESPONDENCE THE PORT LINCOLN PARROT The weaknesses in the trend of subjugating acknowledged species to sub-species (especially those easily identified in the field by the most inexpert observer) is graphi¬ cally demonstrated in the otherwise excellent articles of Joseph M. Forshaw when, in the March-April, 1964, Avicultural Magazine, he attempts to describe in detail, two very different birds in one fell swoop. A feather by feather description of the bird so well known to ornithologists and aviculturists as the Port Lincoln Parrot just does not apply to the vastly bigger and quite differently coloured birds we know as Twenty-Eights, nor would an intelligent description of the latter apply to the Port Lincoln. From this emerges one of two things : any description of the black-headed members of the genus Barnardius is superfluous when applied en globo or two valid species exist. Culwulla Private Bay, Inverell, N.S.W., Australia. A. C. Hunt. .. INDEX Ardeola ibis, 21. Artamus per sonata, Note on, 186. Australia, Parrots, 59, 136, 201. Avicultural Magazine, Early volumes being reprinted, 75. Avicultural Society : — Accounts, 78. Certificate of merit award, 1 14. Council Meeting, 114, 224. Medal awards, 224. Officers for 1 964, 3 1 . _ „ „ 1965, 224. Avicultural Society of America, Officers elected, 32. Avicultural Society of S. Australia : — Medal awards, 32, 74, 225. Barnardius zonarius, Note on, 59. Berlin Zoo, News from, 29, 147, 219. Blue Bird, Fairy, Breeding the, 18. ,, ,, ,, Aviary, 19. ,, ,, ,, Classification, 19. „ „ „ Eggs, 20. ,, ,, ,, Hatched, 150. ,, ,, ,, Nestlings, 20. ,, ,, ,, Plumage, 18. Boaden, I., Awarded medal, 74. Bombycilla garrulus, Breeding of, 1 9 1 . Breeding notes : — Adelaide Zoo, 33. Fell, J. A., 151. Keston Bird Farm, 56. Lucas, C., 76. Miscellaneous, 32, 149, 150, 190, 225, 226, 227. Natal Zoo, 56. British Aviculturists’ Club, 31, 74, 114, 223. Bubulcus ibis, Breeding of, 21. Bulbul, Red-eyed, Breeding the, 214. ,, ,, ,, Aviary, 215. ,, ,, ,, Description, 214. ,, ,, ,, Distribution, 214. » „ „ Eggs, 215. ,, ,, ,, Nestlings, 215. Bustards, Great, Bred in W. Berlin Zoo, 218. ,, ,, ,, Chicks, 218. ,, ,, ,, ,, Feeding, 219. Butcher-bird, Grey, Medal awarded for breeding, 32. Cahill, L. W., New appointment, 189. California aviaries, 1 77. ,, ,, Francolins reared, 178. ,, ,, Partridges reared, 178. ,, ,, Quails reared, 1 79. ,, ,, Species kept, 179. Callipepla californica. Note on, 1 . Chaetopus adspersus, Breeding of, 72. Chalcomitra senegalensis gutturalis , A near miss at breeding, 166. Chat, Blue Snow, Note on, 79. Chester Zoo, Annual visit, 190. ,, ,, New Tropical House, 1 71. ,, ,, News from, 38. Chlorocichla l. latissima. Breeding of, 170. Cockatoos, Notes on, 26. Conure, Greater Patagonian, Probable first breeding, 109. ,, ,, ,, ,, Medal award, 224. ,, ,, ,, Description, 109. ,, ,, ,, Incubation, 1 10. ,, ,, ,, Nest, 109. ,, ,, ,, Young, no. Coot, Medal award for breeding, 225. Cordon-bleu, Increase of the cinnamon mutation, 115. Corncrakes bred, 1 50. Cossypha n. natalensis, Breeding of, 70. Cotterell, Sir Richard, Awarded medal, 224. ,, ,, Retiring, 190. Cranes, Whooping, Increase in number, ii5- Crax, alberti alberti, 124. ,, ,, daubentoni, 124. , , b lumenbachii ,125. ,, fasciolata fasciolata, 125. ,, ,, sclateri, 125. ,, globulosa, 125. ,, nigra, 124. ,, pinima, 125. ,, rubra griscomi, 124. ,, ,, rubra, 123. Curassows, Species ; The keeping and breeding of : — Banded, 125. Columbian. See Prince Albert’s. Cozumel, 124. Crested, 124. Daubenton’s 124. Flat-crested. See Nocturnal. Galeated, 126. Gilliard’s Galeated, 126. Globose. See Great Breasted and Crested. Globulose. See Yarrell’s. Greater Crested, 123. Greater Razor-billed, 126. Lesser Razor-billed, 126. Mexican. See Great Crested. Nocturnal, 125. Pinima, 125. Prince Albert’s 124. Red Wattled, 125. Salvin’s Razor-billed, 1 26. Sclater’s, 125. Urumutum. See Nocturnal. Yarrell’s 125. 232 INDEX Cyanolyseus byroni, Probable first breeding, 109. Danish Gage-bird Society medal award, 46. Dunnock, Rufous-breasted, Notes on, 184. Diirer’s engraving “ Adam and Eve ” sold, 32. Egret, African Cattle, Breeding the, 21, 222. „ „ „ Aviary, 22. ,, ,, ,, Distribution, 21. >> >> >> Egg clutch, 222. ,, ,, ,, Food, 22, 223. ,, ,, ,, Incubation period, 22, 222. Films : — “ Boehm’s birds ”, 224. “ Return safari to East Africa, 1963 ”, 32. “ Wonder of the birds ”, 224. Firefinch, Dark, Observations on : — Behaviour, Adults, 88. „ Young, 96. Description, 80. Fledglings, 85. History of individuals, 80. Nestlings, 84. ,, Mouth markings, 84. „ Voice, 97. ,, ,, Compared with Jameson’s, 103. ,, Gouldian, Incorrect vernacular name sometimes applied, 1 16. ,, Vinaceous, Probable first breeding, 106. ,, ,, ,, ,, Medal award, 224. ,, ,, ,, Nest, 106, 107. ,, ,, ,, Nestlings, 107. ,, Zebra, Sex-linked color inheritance, 48. ,, ,, Genetic terminology. 49. ,, ,, Mutants, 48. ,, ,, ,, X -linked, 50. Flamingoes rescued from Lake Magadi, Kenya, 33. For pus coelestris , Breeding of, 23. Francolin, Natal, Breeding the, 146. „ „ „ Aviary, 146. ,, ,, ,, Description, 146. „ „ „ Young, 147. ,, Red-billed, Breeding the, 72. „ „ „ Chicks, 72, 73. „ ,, „ Food, 72, 73. ,, ,, ,, Incubation, 72. Goose, Egyptian, Medal award for breeding, 74. ,, Hawaiian, World population, 227. Grandala coelicolor, 79. Greenbul, Joyful, Breeding the, 170. Haematortyx sanguiniceps, Note on, 14. Hallstrom, Sir Edward, Honorary Fellow of the Zoological Society of London, IX5* Herons, Night, Colony in Scottish Zoo Park, 227. Honeyeater, White-fronted, Medal award for breeding, 74. ,, Yellow-fronted, Medal award for breeding, 74. Hoopoe, Thailand, Probable first breedings of, 119, 163. ,, ,, ,, Aviary, 119. „ >> 33 Eggs, 120. ,, ,, ,, Food, 121, 165. ,, ,, ,, Incubation, 120. ,, ,, ,, Nest, 1 19, 165. ,, ,, ,, Pre-nesting behaviour, 120. Hornbill, Yellow-billed, Bred, 116. Hybrids : — Indian Ring-necked X Moustache Parrakeet, 150. Mealy X Lesser Redpolls, 227. Nun, White-fronted X Finch, Chest- nut-breasted, 226. Irena p. puella , Breeding of, 18. Ispidina picta natalensis , Breeding of, 15. Jay, Loo Choo or Lidth’s, Probable first breeding, 212. „ „ „ Aviary, 212. ,, „ „ Food, 212. ,, „ ,, Young, 212. Keston Foreign Bird Farm, Breeding results, 56. Kingfisher, Natal, Breeding the, 15. ,, ,, ,, Aviary, 16. ,, ,, ,, Coloration, 15. „ „ ,, Fledglings, 17. „ „ „ Food, 17. ,, ,, ,, Incubation period, 17. Lagonosticta rubricata haematocephalc , Obser¬ vations on, 80. Lagonosticta vinacea, Probable first breeding, 106. Lalocitta lidthi, Probable first breeding, 212. Lendon, Alan, Elected Patron of the Avicultural Soc. of S. Australia, 32. London Zoo, Awarded Certificate of Merit, 1 14. „ „ Notes, 34, 73, 1 13, 149, 188, 225. Lopez, A., Elected President of the Avicultural Soc. of America, 32. Lophoceros flavirostris, Bred, 116. Lorikeet, Purple-crowned, Bred, 190. INDEX 233 Lovebird, Red-faced, Breeding the, 39. ,, ,, ,, Non-success at first attempt, 39- ,, ,, ,, Second attempt, 42. „ „ „ >, Eggs, 43? 44- „ „ „ „ Food, 42, 43. ,, ,, ,, ,, Medal award for breeding, 46. „ „ „ „ Nestling, 44. McKechnie, E. R., Awarded medal, 74. McKechnie, R. W., Awarded medal, 74. Melanoperdix nigra, Note on, 14. Mergansers, Hooded, Rearing problems, 182. Mitu mitu, 1 26. ,, salvini, 126. ,, tomentosa, 126. Mottershead, G. S., Honorary degree conferred, 189. ,, ,, World tour of zoos, 226. Myna, Golden-crested, Breeding the, 2 1 6. ,, ,, ,, ,, Description, 216. „ „ „ „ Eggs, 217. „ ,, „ „ Food, 217. ,, ,, ,, ,, Nest, 217* Nectarinia famosa , Probable first breeding, .158- Nielsen, Aage V., Awarded medal, 39. Norfolk Wildlife Park, Report on, 10. North of England Zoological Society, Annual lunch, 1 90. Nothocrax urumutum, 125. Obituary : — Cecil Stanley Webb, 173. David Seth-Smith, 28. Onychognathus m. morio, Breeding of, 133. Ornamental Pheasant Trust, Annual Report, 2. Ospreys, Young leave eyrie, 227. Otis tarda , Breeding of, 218. Parrakeet, Bourke, Unusual nesting site, 150. ,, Halfmoon, Left- and right-footed- ness, 76. ,, Malabar, Bred, 150. ,, Quaker, For sale, 75. ,, Ring-necked, Breeding results, 33. ,, Sierra, Bred, 74. Parrot, African Grey, Hand-reared, 155. „ Mulga, 136. ,, ,, Description, 136. ,, ,, Distribution, 137. » „ Eggs, 143. ,, ,, Food, 141, 143. ,, ,, Hybridization, 144. ,, ,, Incubation, 143. „ ,, Mating, 142. Parrot, Mulga, Systematics, 137. ,, Port Lincoln, 59. ,, ,, Breeding note, 67. ,, ,, Description, 5g. ,, ,, ,, Criticism of, 229. ,, ,, Distribution, 63. ,, ,, Eggs, 66. ,, ,, Food in captivity, 67. ,, ,, Systematics, 60. ,, ,, Breeding the, 212. ,, ,, ,, Pebbles in nest, 213. „ „ ,, Young, 213. ,, Red-capped, 207. ,, ,, Description, 201. ,, ,, Distribution, 205. » „ Eggs, 209. ,, ,, Food, 205. ,, ,, Mating, 208. ,, ,, Systematics, 202. Parrotlet, Celestial, Breeding the, 23. ,, ,, Behaviour, 23. „ „ Cage, 23. ,, ,, Courtship, 24. ,, ,, Eggs, 25. ,, „ Feeding, 24. ,, ,, Incubation, 24. „ „ Nestlings, 25. Partridge, Black Wood, Note on, 14. ,, Crimson-headed Wood, Note on, 14. Partridge, W. R., Awarded medals, 224. Pauxi pauxi, 126. ,, ,, gillardi, 126. Pavlova, Anna, London home to be preserved, 75. Pheasants, Exhibited at Sydney Royal Show, 169. ,, Method of keeping, 12, 77. ,, Toe deformity in chicks, 38. Pigeon, Bartlett’s Bleeding-heart, Distri¬ bution of, 1 18. ,, ,, ,, Egg clutch, 1 18. ,, Thick-billed Green, Probable first breeding, 146. ,, ,, ,, ,, Medal award, 224. „ „ ,, Aviary, 146. ,, ,, ,, Food, 146. Prunella strophiata, Note on, 104. Psephotus varius, Note on, 136. Quail, Californian, Popular game bird, 1. , , , , Thrive in captivity, 1 . ,, ,, ,, Diet, 2. Quelea quelea, Breeding of, 229. Reviews : — Australische Sittiche [Australian Parra- keets] (H. D. Groen), 35. I name this parrot (Arthur A. Prestwich) , 36. Ecology of sea colony birds of the Barents Sea (L. O. Belopol’skii), 37. 234 INDEX Reviews : — While some trees stand (Garth Christian) , 37- Birds of the Labrador Peninsula and adja¬ cent areas (W. E. Clyde Todd), 1 16. Check-list of birds of the world. Vol. X (A continuation of the work of James R. Peters. Edited by Ernst Mayr and Raymond A. Paynter, Jr.), 117. Zebra Finches (C. H. Rogers), 151. The book of cage birds (Charles Trevisick), !52* The colourful world of birds (Jean Dorst), 1 53-. The birds of the London area (A Com¬ mittee of The London Natural History Society), 153. The world of birds. A comprehensive guide to general ornithology (James Fisher and Roger Tory Peterson), 228. Instructions to young ornithologists. Birds’’ nests and eggs (C. J. O. Harrison), 228. Ripley, S. Dillon, Appointed Secretary, Smithsonian Institute, 32. ,, ,, Corresp. member, S. African Ornith. Soc., 149. Robin, Natal, Breeding the, 70. ,, ,, ,, Description, 70. „ ,, „ Fledglings, 71. ,, ,, ,, Food, 71. ,, Pale-vented, Breeding the, 46. ,, ,, ,, Description, 46. » ,, » Eggs, 47. „ „ Fledglings, 47. Rymill, R. R., Awarded medal, 225. Scaly-leg in captive birds, 69. Scottish National Zoological Park : — Heron Colony, 227. Jubilee, 151. Penguins presented, 151. Screamers, Crested, Uncommon breeding of, 226. Seedeater, Cayenne, Probable first breeding, 1 1 . ,, ,, ,, ,, Medal award, 224. ,, ,, ,, Description, 111. „ „ „ Eggs, 1 12. ,, ,, ,, Food, 1 12. ,, ,, ,, Incubation, 1 12. ,, ,, ,, Nest, 1 12. „ Young, 1 12. Seth-Smith, David, In memoriam, 28. Shellduck, Australian, A clutch of eleven hatched, 154. Speculipastor bicolor , Probable first breeding, 196. Sporophila frontalis, Probable first breeding in. Starling, Magpie, Probable first breeding 196. ,, ,, ,, Aviary, 196. Starling, Magpie, Eggs, 197. „ „ „ Food, 197. ,, ,, ,, Nest, 197. „ „ „ Young, 197. ,, Red-winged, Breeding the, 133. „ „ „ Aviary, 134. ,, ,, ,, Description, 133. j? >> )> Egg, 134* „ ,, „ Incubation, 134, 135. „ ,, ,, Nestlings, 135. ,, Shelley’s, Probable first breeding, 198. „ „ „ Aviary, 198. ,, ,, ,, Chicks, 200. „ „ ,, Food, 199. Sunbird, Malachite, Probable first breeding, 158. „ „ „ Aviary, 159. ,, ,, ,, Chick, 16 1 . » „ » Egg, 159. ,, ,, ,, Food, 160. ,, Scarlet-chested, Near miss at breeding, 166. Swallow, Masked Wood, Note on, 186. Swan, Black-necked, Breeding the, 154. Sydney Royal Show, Pheasants exhibited at, 168. Tanager, Maroon, Breeding the, 55. „ „ „ Aviary, 55. „ „ „ Eggs, 55. „ „ ,, Food, 55. Thomas, Bev., Awarded medal, 32. Toucan, Damaged bill nearly normal, ii5- Touracos, Why red-wing feathers are wanted, 75. Treron curvirostra. Probable first breeding, 146. Turdus fumigatus obsoletus , Breeding of, 46. Upopa e. longirostris, Probable first breeding of, 119, 163. ,, ,, Description of species, 163. Waterston, G., Appointed O.B.E., 225. Waxbill, St. Helena, A cinnamon mutation, 115. Waxwing, Breeding the, 191. ,, ,, Courtship, 192. ,, ,, Diseases, 191. „ „ Eggs, 194. „ „ Food, 191, 194. ,, ,, Nest, 192. Weaver, Red-billed, Breeding the, 229. Webb, C. S., In memoriam, 173. West, David, Appointed Secretary, Avi- cultural Society of America, 32. White-eyes, Indian, At liberty, 27. Whitmore, G. E., Medal award, 224. Woodpecker, Downy, In captivity, 28. Zpsterops palpebrosa. At liberty, 27. SPECIAL BIRD FOODS FAMOUS SINCE 1823 Universal Fortifier Perfort BEKFIN Fort-Egg and 'ictorial Packet) 3 oz. 1/2 4 oz. 1/6 (insectivorous Colorfort 4 lb. 2/9 4 lb. 2/9 41b. 2/9 Red Packet) 41b. 3/- 1 lb. 5/- 1 lb. 5/3 1 lb. 5/3 4 1b. 3/9 1 lb. 5/3 2 lb. 9/3 3$ lb. 15/6 34 lb. 15/6 1 lb. 7/3 34 lb. 17/- 34 lb. 14/9 7 lb. 30/6 7 lb. 30/6 34 lb. 23/- 7 lb. 32/9 7 lb. 27/6 28 lb. 98/- 14 lb. 52/6 7 lb. 39/9 14 lb. 57/6 14 lb. 50/- 28 lb. 98/- 28 lb. 154/- 28 lb. 112/- 28 lb. 92/- HEALTH C.L.O GRAINS “ GREENSTUFF 9 9 Rearing and Condition Food (Condition Seed) 1 lb. 3/3 14 lb. 24/- 3 oz. 1/3 2 lb. 5/9 28 lb. 43/6 1 lb. 5/6 34 lb. 7/9 56 lb. 80/- 34 lb. 16/3 7 lb. 13/9 1 cwt. 150/- 7 lb. 31/- A dehydrated form of green food consisting of lettuce, spinach, carrot, etc., readily taken by all birds. Packets 1/3 & 3/10, also sold in bulk. All the above prices are carriage paid MEALWORMS “ MARBA ” DUTCH BRED “ SANTA ’’ GERMAN BRED (small type) (large type) Whether you prefer the small Dutch mealworm or the larger German type, we can give you the finest service obtainable, with shipments arriving twice weekly. Dispatch guaranteed same day as orders received. 1 oz. 3/- 2 oz. 5/0 4 oz. 8/6 8 oz. 15/- lib. 25/- Also in original Boxes as imported Nett weight guaranteed 2 lb. 47/6 3i lb. 66/6 6* lb. £6 5s. Od. All Carriage Paid. MAGGOTS We sell only the best liver-fed maggots, specially recleaned and ready for immediate use for bird feeding. Packed in bran. No mess or smell. 2 oz. 4 oz. 8 oz. I lb. 3/4 4/6 7/- 10/6 FEEDING SUNDRIES Dried Flies (Chinese) ... Silkworm pupae (Whole) .... „ „ (Ground) .... Dried Dragonfly larvae ..... Dried Shrimp (Fine, Medium, or Coarse) . Ant Eggs . Pure Dried Egg ...... Dried Rowan Berries (Whole) . (Crushed) Pure Breadcrumbs (Fine, Medium, or Coarse), far superior to biscuit meal ..... 2 lb. 3/- ; 4 lb. 5/6 ; 14 lb. 17/6 “ Egg-crumbs,” guaranteed to consist of 90 per cent breadcrumbs and 10 per cent pure egg . . .2 lb. 5/6 ; 4 lb. 10/6 ; 7 lb. 17/6 ALL ABOVE PRICES ARE POST PAID 4lb. 1 lb. 5/- 9/6 3/9 6/6 4/- 6/9 6/6 12/6 2/3 3/6 11/6 21/- 6/6 12/6 2/9 4/6 3/- 4/9 28 lb. 28/- E. W. COOMBS, LTD. CROSS STREET WORKS, CHATHAM, KENT Telephone : Chatham 44969 Telegrams : Avicult, Chatham, Kent BOOKS on BIRDS PHEASANTS SPECIALIST BREEDER can spare few 1964 hatched cock Satyr Tragopans, Koklass and Hume’s Bar¬ tailed (Syrmaticus humiae humiae ), also pairs of Elliot’s, Sonnerat’s Junglefowl, and all the com¬ moner species and varieties. F. E. B. JOHNSON The Grove, Stags den, Bedford Tel.: Bromham Green 345 When Visiting the COTSWOLDS AVICULTURISTS ARE WELCOME TO Set in the charm oj an old English Garden at the lovely Village of BOURTON-ON-THE- WATER THE WORLD 0F BIRDS James Fisher and Roger Tory Peterson A complete guide to general ornithology by two of the world’s leading ornithologists, in a magnificently illustrated book. The World Wildlife Fund receives a royalty from the Publishers on every copy sold. Biology • Evolution < Distribution Maps • Migration-Behaviour Bird Watching • the Relationship of Bird and Man • 5gns CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION Stuart J. Allum, 63 Woodplace Lane, Coulsdon, Surrey. Proposed by W. J. Bourne. W. F. Bartlett, 97 King Henry’s Road, London, N.W. 3. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Thomas Brosset, Kjellbergsgatan 4, Gothenburg, Sweden. Proposed by Y. Ejdfors. Roger French, Brackenhurst, Rappax Road, Hale, Cheshire. Proposed by A. A. Prestwich. Miss Denzille M. Gillett, 2 St. Pauls Road, Richmond, Surrey. Proposed by L. W. Hill. Mrs. Sheilah C. Stanton, The Manor House, Boughton Lees, Nr. Ashford, Kent. Proposed by F. C. Astles. Captain Andrew A. L. Wills, Middleton, Longparish, Nr. Andover, Hants. Proposed by Terry Jones. NEW MEMBERS The ten Candidates for Election in the September-October, 1964, number of the Avicultural Magazine were duly elected members of the Society. CHANGES OF ADDRESS R. T. Bloom, to Flamingo Park Zoo, Kirby Misperton, Nr. Malton, Yorks, M. K. Boorer, to 34 Milton Park, London, N.6. Robert S. Constable, to 17929 Kalisher Street, Granada Hills, California, U.S.A. Saul C. Corwin, to Wikler, Gottlieb, Stewart and Long, 64 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, U.S.A. Frederick A. A. Hansen, to No. 1 Bottle Forest Road, Heathcote, New South Wales, Australia. Major M. Hughes-Halls, to 30 Argyll Drive, Highlands, S. Rhodesia. John E. Ratcliffe, to 82 Richmond Hill Court, Richmond, Surrey. DONATIONS (Coloured Plate Fund) £ s. d. Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt. . W. R. Partridge . 500 2 10 o MEMBERS* ADVERTISEMENTS The charge for Members' advertisements is threepence per word. Payment must accompany the advertisement , which must be sent on or before the 1 5 th of the month to A. A. Prestwich, Galley’s Wood, Edenbredge, Kent. All members of the Society are entitled to use this column , but the Council reserves the right to refuse any advertisements they consider unsuitable. For rare birds contact Baidyanath Acooli. Exporter of rare Indian Animals. — • Post Box 12008, Calcutta 2, India. For Sale — Pairs and males— Shovellers, Philippines, Bahamas, Mandarins, Carolinas. Wanted, unrelated pair Red-breasted Geese. — Mrs. B. E. T. Michell, Whitehall, Ifield, Crawley, Sussex. Wanted, female Versicolor Teal. For sale, Tufted, European Wigeon, Chilean Teal. Mrs. P. V. Upton, Park Lodge, Margaretting, Ingatestone, Essex. STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, HERTFORD. \ A,. % jmA •v ^ v Vv’ * im iliP ^ ww v> V>. Nv 0$F3m ptels w%s*l3!o»»s ' '^jf/ g*wSjjis