Ncfiting of Hoopoe!^ 221 



Nesting of Hoopoes. 



By Mark Akonstein. 



I think the fact of the nesting' of my pair of this beau- 

 tiful and interesting species Avill l.e of general interest, more 

 especially so, as I believe this to be the first time that they 

 have done so in captivity. 



The birds are a pair I procured from Do Von and 

 Co. in May, 1910, they were somewhat wild at first but, after 

 about three weeks they settled down and d':>vcdo; ed into fine 

 specimens of their kind. 



About the middle of May last, I noticed the hen look- 

 ing- — as 1 thouijht — for a nesting- site, and I immediately sup- 

 plied her with a box and building material, which she took to 

 at once and prepared it for occupation. The first egg- she 

 laid on the ground, the remainder of the clutch were duly 

 deposited in the box. Incubation went forward very satisfac- 

 torily, and the eggs proved to be fertile, they are due to hatch 

 on July ,8th. I have every hope of bein,g successful ,1'^ 

 rearing them, as the pair are exceptionally tame. The cock 

 is most attentive to his mate and is constantl}^ feeding her. 

 The egg-s are leather long in shape and of a pale blue colour. 

 She has sat very clo>e from the commencement. I found that 

 if I trespassed anywhere near the nest she made a peculiar 

 spitting noise, somewhat like the Tits. 



On July 8th, five chicks were duly hatched out, and 

 at time of writing (July 11), are going on splendidly. I 

 had a look at them to-day, and one would hardly believe the 

 development made 'in a few days. When first hatched they 

 were almost white, now they are a dirty grey and about 

 three times the size they were when first I looked at them. 

 I notice their beaks at present are no different from those 

 of young thrushes and blackbirds. 



Diet: I feed as follows — D. D. and Co.'s best Night- 

 ingale Food. This is mixed with raw eggs and silk-worm 

 cocoons and the whole fried in fresh butter — the birds partake 

 of this freely and thrive on it, I should mention I place 

 it in a box, and cover with bran to the depth of four or five 

 inches. I also supply in another box beetles, gentles, and 

 mealworms, which I also cover with bran, as I find this 



