28 Nfsfino; aiifl Rcariiifr of laudraih in Captivity. 



Some Observations on the Nesting and Rearing 

 of Landrails in Captivity. 



By Gerald E. Rattigan. 



Though this species has been apparently sucressfully 

 reared before, in a caije, I belie\-e, no details conc'crning the 

 episode appear to have been recorded, and in any event would 

 hardly be of the same interest under such conditions as a rec- 

 ord of their breeding under the semi-natural conditions of a 

 fair-sized and naturally planted aviary. I think, therefore. <^he 

 toUowmp' record mav be of some interest. 



I obtained my pair of Landrails from Ireland about 

 the end of IMay, 191 4. 



The birds reached me in excellent condition and seem- 

 ingly none the worse for their long journey. They were 

 pleasingly tame and in a very short time became even more 

 so the cock^ which was always tlie tamest of the two, soon 

 learning to take tit-bits out of my fingers without the least 

 concern. In short, they soon obtained and kept the position 

 of first favourities in my aviary. 



In that year (191 4) the first signs of nesting were 

 noted on July 2nd, when I observed the cock carrying bits 

 of dry grass, etc., to the hen, as a gentle hint, I presume, 

 that the time had arrived to take up the responsibilities of 

 married life and commence providing for the future generation, 



The hen, however, seenied to consider that there was 

 no need for haste and taking his offerings from him, proceeded 

 to contemptuously throw them away. 



For a f'ew days previous to this incident, the rock had 

 been making day and night, especially night, hideous with his 

 raucous irasping call " or song "? whi(-h lias been compared 

 to the noise made by a scythe on a whetstone^ not untruly, 

 save that it is a bit of a libel on the latter. I readily admit 

 that about this time serious thoughts of murder and .^udden 

 death entered my (head. 



A Landrail in " ftdl song " ihroughoui the entice hot 

 and breathless night of a hot and breezeless July, is a trial, 



