Btccdlii<i of Siilplmr-cresicd Cockatoos. 65 



been the last tv o years— to go up to the nest when the young 

 !)irds liad only b(.'en hatched out ;! t\'\\ hours, and I noticed 

 that the scale--! do not know tlie coriect term for Ji- which 

 on^ hnds oi th^ tip of the beak of newly hatched thicks 

 was in their case silUc^ied at the base of the beak on the 

 frontal. As a match of fact, it vould have bjen no use to 

 them in the orthodox position, but it '.vould make it ajjpear 

 that the fracture of the shell is not caused by lapping, as 

 is popularly supposed to be the case with chieken.-. and the 

 like, but merely by the increasing pressure brought about 

 by the young bird's expansion and jnovements, this pressure 

 becoming greatest in the one case at the end of the beak, 

 and in the other at the forehead. 



In conclusion ! may add what a fine and interesting 

 spectacle these birds make while enjoying controlled liberty — 

 their flight evolutions, expression of vaiious emotions, etc., 

 are most fascinating and interesting. 



1 ha\'e been informed that last spring, shortly after 

 both birds were enjoying full liberty, both were seen at 

 difleiciit times, in one directioiii, about three jniles from here ; 

 this was before nidihcation, if one may call it so, com- 

 menced. They seem to have the homing instinct well de- 

 veloped, and if people with guns could b.- relied on to lea\e 

 them alone, I believe I could safely gi\ e them a " toss 

 (homing pigeon expression) al ten or twelve miles. 



[A medal lias been awarded Mr. Whitley for breeding 

 this specie^ in a state of controlled liberty. Any member who 

 hrst succeeds in breeding it in captivity will still be entitled to 

 a medal. — Ed.]. 



Private importation of Indian birds in 1916. 



li\ Wesley T. Page, k.Z.S., Etc. 



{Continued from page 58E 



Blue Cheeked Barbet. It is rather a noisy 

 bird, its call is very peculiar -<i sort of harsh, 

 rolling chattering rattle. It is a bold, acti\e bird 

 m the aviary, more mcliued to hop from brancli to 



