on breeding notes of 191G.



249



a “rubbing” in the gravelly sand of the aviary floor, and later a

few small flat chalk stones were lying in the hollow evidently placed

there by the birds. However, nothing came of it, and I have a

■note that on June 5th the Stone-curlews had left their rubbing,

though they still seemed wary and suspicious.


On June 6th they had an egg in another place, and on the

7th the clutch was complete, the nest being in a good position, just

within the protection of a lean-to shed; and one bird was sitting

■at 7 p.m. Both birds incubated, and the eggs were seldom uncovered

•for more than a minute or two, though in spite of their real tameness,

the birds’ natural caution led them to slip off the eggs, if they

■heard approaching footsteps. However, after sitting fifteen days,

the birds gave it up, the eggs proving unfertile. Though the Stone-

curlews are looked upon as a link between the Bustards and the

Plovers, besides several of the more obvious points of difference,

■such as the assumption of a breeding dress in the case of the Bustards,

the aviculturist notices that, unlike the Bustards, but resembling the

Plovers, the Stone-curlews are fond of bathing, while the male shares

in the duties of incubation.


On June 7th a Falcated duck was accidentally put off her

■nest in a nettlebed under a pine tree, some thirty yards from the

water. The nest and eggs, of which there were five, closely

resembled those of the common Wigeon, or Gadwall. On the 12th

the nest was disturbed and three of the eggs were broken, possibly

by others of the species, as they were seen quarrelling together.

The two remaining eggs, which appeared quite cold, were put under

■a hen, and they hatched on July 3rd. The ducklings closely

resembled young Wigeons, the most striking points of difference

being that in the young Falcated ducklings, the sides of the head

were reddish, and the bill altogether longer and stouter than in

the case of a Wigeon of similar age. While there was a line through

the eye it was not very well defined. There was no spot on the

ear, and no line from the angle of the mouth backwards. These

notes were made when the birds were about a week old. As they

grew, the reddish patches on the sides of the head vanished, and

they might pass for young Mallard ducklings. The walk of the

duckling is clumsy like that of the adult. Altogether there do not



