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David Seth-Smith



which was done on the 24th of May. On July 2nd one chick was

seen running about in the paddock while the sitting Rhea remained

on the nest. The chick was removed to a warm foster-mother until

two days later when the cock-bird left the nest with four others. I

then examined the nest and found twelve more eggs, showing that

the hen must have continued to lay for some time after the cock

commenced to incubate.* Some of these eggs appeared good, but

although they were placed in an incubator no more hatched. Last

year the brood was increased by four or five, hatched in the incubator

after they had been left in the nest when the parent w r ent off wfith

the first hatched chicks.


Tinamous are birds that breed freely as a rule, but the sexes,

in most species are exactly alike and it is only by chance that correct

paii s are secured. A pair of Rufous Tinamous have done well in the

Su mer Aviary. The first clutch of eggs was taken and incubate

by nestic hen which hatched eight out of nine eggs. Shortly

after these eggs were removed the hen commenced to lay a second

clutch in the same nest which was situated in a clump of iris.

When eight eggs had been laid the cock took charge and commenced

incubation, the hen taking no further interest in the matter. On the

twenty-first day he hatched off eight chicks, all of which have done

well. They are extremely pretty when first hatched, clothed in hair¬

like down and having much the appearance of tiny hedgehogs. They

are most independent after the first day or two, wandering far away

from their parent and searching for food on their own account. In

this Summer Aviary, which -would be an ideal breeding enclosure if

it had a good shelter, breeding results have been most disappointing

this year. Brush bronze-wing Pigeons which as a rule are good

breeders have had several nests, but in every case failed to hatch,

although the eggs have contained young. White-throated Ground-

Thrushes have nested twice, but on each occasion the young have

disappeared directly they were hatched, presumably eaten by their

parents, as there is nothing else in the same compartment that could

hurt them. Scarlet Tanagers are unsatisfactory for the reason that the

young insist on leaving the nest when in a very unfledged condLion.

This would be all right in the hot forests of Brazil, but here the nights



It is best to have two or three males as incubators.—ED.



