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We had to disturb the hen a good deal as we were making 

 some addition to the aviary just at the very place she had chosen 

 but, although very nervous at first, she gradually acquired con- 

 fidence and finally not even the use of a hammer within a few 

 feet would cause her to leave the nest. Just as the eggs were due 

 to hatch the hen was put off her nest one night by a cat which 

 had in some way managed to make its way into the new division 

 we were putting up, and this was the more annoying because 

 subsequent examination showed that one of the eggs was chipped 

 and would have hatched in a very few hours. 



However, by the 7th of May this same hen had built 

 another nest in a more secluded part of the aviary, in a Cupres- 

 sus, and laid three eggs. I left home on the 17th May on my 

 annual bird-trip (which this spring was chiefly devoted to the 

 Montagu Harrier, the Short-eared Owl and the White Wagtail) 

 and in fourteen days covered a thousand miles by rail and 

 steamer and oue-hundred-and-fifty on foot. On my return I 

 was informed that three young had left the nest, but only one 

 was to be seen, the supply of insect food having, as usual in my 

 absence, been allowed to run rather short. 



In about a week the same hen again laid three eggs in the 

 same nest. It seems to be the habit of this species for the female 

 to undertake the entire duty of incubation, during which period 

 she rarely leaves the nest even for a few minutes as she is most 

 assiduously fed by the male. The latter is most careful not to 

 reveal the situation of the nest, approaching it by a circuitous 

 route and only after seeing that the coast is clear. To give some 

 idea of the quantity of insect food required I may mention that 

 on one occasion I saw the male help himself to foity-nine fresh 

 ants' eggs and then carry off as many more as he could possibly 

 hold in his beak to the hen. 



The young of this species in their first stage are densely 

 covered with blackish-grey down. The feathers first appear on 

 the back and crown and at this stage they look darker than the 

 parents. 



On leaving the nest they completely disappear for a few 

 days, concealing themselves in the thickest covert of the aviary 

 and, as they are very silent, their position can only be conjectured 



