498 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 



I brought away two in the hope of rearing them. One died very shortly 

 after but the other, though backward to start with, flourished, and 1 had 

 every hope of succeeding with him when an accidental fall from the hand 

 proved too much for him and he died a couple of days later. 



Since the young of this family are supposed to resemble the adults in 

 plumage, except that the colouring is not so vivid, it will perhaps be of 

 interest to some of our members, to give the progress and development 

 of the little one I had, and show how very far the first plumage is removed 

 from that of the adult. 



A. — Before any quills appeared on the scene ; on 26th June 3 917. Head, 

 neck, upper parts of back and wings and breast, a shiny lead black, like 

 polished india-rubber. Lighter on abdomen, the latter very distended. 

 Legs, a dirty salmon pink. Beak, black on top with the edges of both 

 mandibles orange yellow, darker at the tip and lighter at the gape. Lower 

 mandible slightly longer than the upper. 

 June 28th. — Very little if any difference. 

 July 1st. — One died. The second growing ; wing quills more apparent 



and various feather tracts becoming visible. 

 July 3rd. — Eyes opened. Wing quills about ^" long and those on the 

 back and tail becoming conspicuous. Quills very similar in 

 colour to the skin though somewhat lighter. 

 July 6th. — Wing quills developing very fast and becoming extraordinari- 

 ly long being nearly f as long as the body. The quills on 

 the head and body also very long when compared with other 

 birds in a similar stage. The quills on either side of the 

 abdomen and round vent assuming a faint tinge of pink. 

 July 8th. — Feathers just apparent and bursting through two of the primary 

 quills. The tips of secondary quiJls very light coloured, 

 almost white, but no feathers showing. 

 July loth. — Feathers have broken through all the wing quills. The tips 

 much lighter than the rest which is a very deep green, almost 

 black with a green sheen, tips whitish. A few pink feathers 

 showing round the abdomen and dark grey or brown tips 

 showing through the quills on breast. 

 July 12th. — Most of the feathers come through on the wings, including 

 the coverts. Breast feathers and scapulars also through. 

 Quills on head about J" long but no sign of feathers. Eating 

 ravenously and recognises voices. Sits up in his nest as soon 

 as he hears anyone talking with wide open mouth. Quite a 

 loud, though pleasant, single note whistle. Sits up on his 

 long tarsi but cannot stand. 

 .July lyth. — Fell out of his nest and later on out of the bearer's hand on to 



the floor. Am afraid he is hurt. 

 July 15th. — Not eating well in the morning. Found him in his nest in the 

 evening very limp and icy cold, with all his food coming out 

 of his mouth. Gave a few drops of brandy, wrapped him up 

 in cotton wool and put him between two hot-water bottles. 

 Revived considerably by midnight, and wanted food. 

 July 16th. — Very sorry for himself and completely ofl' his food. Died by 

 the evening. 



Descnption as on IQth. 



Feathers come through the quills everywhere except a few on the head 

 and tail. 

 B. — Colouration. — 



Head dark grey, each feather with a blackish tip. 



