214 The Breediiifr of Jacksoii^s Whydahs. 



tinned to spend their time in the grass. The cock, as appears 

 to be the custom with whydahs, took no part in the rearing 

 of the little ones, but was lalways somewhere in the neighbour- 

 hood of the nest, where he acted both as sentinel and guard, 

 his warning call enabling the hen to slip quickly out of the 

 nest before anyone could get near enough to sec her do so. 

 By this time he had entirely discontinued displaying or using 

 his playground. The first time I saw the young ones feeding 

 was upon the seeding-grasses growing in the aviary, and of 

 these they seemed very fond. They now visit the feeding trays 

 with the other birds. 



Jackson's Whydahs are the largest whydahs I have 

 kept, and I have to-day Crimson-ringed, Red-collared, 

 Red-shouldered. Queen, Paradise, and Pintail. They are also 

 by far thd inost interesting and' amusing, although all the 

 whydahs make good aviary birds. I shall hope next year, if 

 the young ones survive the winter, to let you know when they 

 first come into- colour. 



[This is the first occasion on which Jackson's Whydah 

 {Drepanoplectes jacksoni) has been bred in captivity and we 

 congratulate Mr. Shore JSaily on a notable su'C;ss, which will 

 entitle him to the Club's medal. — Ed.] 



♦ 



Breeding Red-naped Lorikeets. 



By E. J. Brook. 



I have been asked to record ,my experiences of breed- 

 ing Red-naped Lorikeets. Some nine or ten years since :I 

 obtained two of these birds, at that time a great rarity. They 

 turned out to be both of the same sex, and on the death of 

 one of them I discovered what they Were and was fortunate 

 enough to buy an odd bird, and so made up a pair. It was 

 not long before the pair went to nest in a large box with a 

 deep bed off peat and rotten \vood. Two eggs were laid, both 

 were fertile, and the young birds \vere reared to maturity. 1 

 fully believe tha^t if I liked' to go in for it, I could produce 

 these birds in almost any quantity. They give no trouble 

 whatever, are as hardy as Budgerigars and nearly as prolific. 



