Vol. IV. 

 1905 



J Campbell, T lie Kagu of yiew Caledonia. I 6? 



bounce proudly at any intruder. When in a playful mood they 

 throw about with their bills small sticks and stones. The birds 

 call to each other, usually about daybreak, in loud, piercing, yelp- 

 like notes, continued for some time, which can be heard a mile 

 away. 



Mr. Finckh was favoured in getting a pair of his Kagus to breed. 

 They commenced nesting in a hollow on the ground in a secluded 

 part of the aviary, into which they threw a few coarse sticks and 

 leaves for a day or two. When the egg was laid more sticks were 

 placed about it. The male sits continuously on the single egg, 

 but his mate may relieve him occasionally, possibly at night. The 

 birds defend their nest vigorously. Mr. Finckh reckoned his birds 

 were about seven years old when they commenced to lay It was 

 observed that the Q,^g was laid fourteen days after " mating," and 

 that incubation lasted five weeks. The following data, by courteous 

 permission, are taken from Mr. Finckh' s records relating to one 

 pair of birds: — 1902. — Three eggs were laid; first on the 6th 

 April, last the 3rd October. 1903. — Four eggs were laid ; first on 

 the i6th April, last on i6th November. 1904. — Egg laid 14th 

 April, which disappeared in a mysterious manner ; a second egg 

 was laid 23rd June, but it was not fertile. A third egg, which was 

 deposited on 15th September, was placed in an incubator. A small 

 spot was noticed in the egg on the tenth day, and it chipped on 

 the 19th October. The chick has hatched on the 21st October, 

 but it appeared slightly prematurely born, and died on the 24th. 

 A fourth Q.g'g laid this season on the 4th October was also being 

 artificially hatched when incubation ceased after the twentieth 

 day. By these data it will be observed that if the egg is taken, 

 or anything happens to it, the birds lay again. But, probably, 

 in a state of freedom the birds would only lay once or hatch 

 one young a season. 



The egg is a stout ellipse in shape ; surface slightly glossy ; 

 shell comparatively fine ; stony-grey in colour, moderately marked 

 with spots and blotches of umber and dull grey, the latter colour 

 underlying the surface of the shell. Except for its fine texture 

 and elliptical shape the Kagu's egg might be taken for that of a 

 Gull. Dimensions in inches, 2.\ by 2 inches. 



Two eggs presented by Mr. Finckh to the Australian Museum 

 were described and figured in the Records of that institution — 

 vide vol. iv., part No. 7 (1902). 



I had frequent opportunities of seeing the birds fed, chiefly on 

 finely-cut beefsteak, of which a pound weight did not seem to 

 go far with them. They disdain meat that is at all stale. I saw 

 them taking large centipedes, 5 inches long, which were thrown to 

 them. The bird picked up the squirming insect, which was passed 

 by a nibbling action quickly through the bill crosswise and back a 

 couple of times until it was pulped, then swallowed. When these 

 birds fight they peck at each other's legs. Their moult occurs 

 about midsummer. 



In their native island-home Kagus live in pairs about the marshes 



