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Mr. W. Shore Baily,



whose brother brought them over from East Africa. The cock in

breeding plumage is for the most part black, but some of the feathers

on the wing are edged with brown. A white shield at the base of

beak, and a peculiarly curved tail, are noticeable features of this

bird. When on the ground it carries itself very like a small black

Bantam Cock.


Jacksons are particularly interesting from the fact that they

have regular playing grounds. The one constructed by my bird was

about four feet in diameter. In the centre a tuft of grass about a

foot high was left; around this many times a day he went through a

course of dancing and jumping for the benefit of his two hens, who

watched the proceedings from the top of the surrounding grass. The

nest was a very neat one, constructed out of the growing grass, and

lined with the flowering heads of various grasses. I can’t say

whether it was built by the cock, but in all probability it was. At

any rate, the hen lined it, as by seeing her carrying some grass in

her beak, I was led to discover her nest. Three eggs were laid,

greenish white, thickly spotted with brown and grey. Incubation

lasted twelve days, and the young were in the nest sixteen days.

No artificial food of any kind was supplied to them, and the young

ones were principally reared upon grass seeds, spray millet, and

canary seed. They are now quite as big as their female parent, and

I am afraid that when I catch them up shortly I shall have some

difficulty in identifying them. All five birds still keep together, and

spend a great deal of time upon the ground. The male’s song is a

harsh wheeze. I have not heard the hen’s call-note at all.


The Crimson-ringed Whydah (P. laticaucla) is another very

handsome bird. The cock when in full colour is black, the back and

wings being striated with brown. The crown of the head and a wide

ring around the neck, which forms a V at the throat, are crimson.

The hen is a good-sized bird, about one-third smaller than the

•Jackson hen. My birds were imported from East Africa by Mr.

E. W. Harper, from whom I got them. The cock only came into

colour at the end of July. He has built two or three nests, but

has failed to get either of his hens to take possession of them. When

he is displaying, the long tail feathers are spread to their full extent,

the wings are drooped as in the case of the common fowl and



