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The Marquis of Tavistock,



there is therefore no reason that I can see why they should not with

equal ease learn to sing the songs of melodious birds : yet I have

never heard any of the Crow or Parrot groups reciting the wild songs

of other birds, although they frequently pick up their single notes:

surely if a parrot can learn to repeat the tunes and words of three

songs in succession, as the late Mr. Abrahams’ Amazon did, it should

be capable of learning the song of a Blackbird.



BREEDING NOTES—AND OTHERS-

FOR 1916.


By the Marquis OF Tavistock.


The breeding season of 1916 has been principally remarkable,

as far as my own birds are concerned, for hopes unfulfilled. This

has been due, not I think to bad weather, but to the fact that most

of my stock are confined in small temporary quarters owing to the

war, and while perfectly healthy and contented, are deprived of what

I believe to be a sine qua non for the successful breeding of most

parrots—abundant exercise for many months previous to the nesting

season. I have therefore to record ‘ clear eggs ’ with monotonous

frequency.


A hen Banksian cockatoo, kept with a cock Western black

cockatoo in a small outdoor aviary, laid a single egg last autumn and

incubated on the floor of her cage without result, as the male bird

was quite indifferent to, and rather afraid of her, and cared only for

human society. About a fortnight after ceasing to sit, she laid a

second infertile egg, but made no attempt to incubate it. A few

months ago, to our great surprise, the G. stellatus was seen to feed

his companion, who indeed ceased to take any food but what he gave

her. She again laid on the floor of the cage, disdaining the nest-

box, but though she sat steadily for three weeks, the egg was clear

and her efforts were unavailing. At the time of writing she seems

about to lay a fourth egg. I may add that his marriage has in no

way spoiled the cock’s temper and he continues as friendly as ever

to the human race.


A pair of gang-gang cockatoos nested in a box in a large cage



