Avicultural Notes



129



entrance that they forgot the presence of the cameras and ourselves

entirely. When we picked some of the moths out of the female’s bill

she angrily snatched them back ! We were greatly astonished, and

wished we had some of our friends present to witness this remarkable

tameness in wild birds. Unfortunately the photographs taken were

very much under-exposed, and the rain coming on heavily we had a wet

two miles’ tramp to the hut.


The breeding season for the birds extends from August to December,

and occasionally later. The nest is built on the ground or very low down

in a clump of sword-grass or dead bracken. It is a dome-shaped

structure, built of strips oibark, bracken, and gum-leaves. A platform

composed of sword-grass stems and twigs appears before the entrance.

The eggs, which are two in number, are very beautiful, being light

chocolate varying to olive-green.


It is said by some that the Pilot Bird derives its name from the fact

that it is frequently found in close proximity to the Lyre Bird. It

certainly inhabits the same class of country, and we ourselves have

heard the Lyre Bird calling close by when we have been operating at

the nest of a Pilot Bird.



AVICULTURAL NOTES


Blue Budgerigars.— I have been lucky enough at last to breed

Blue Budgerigars, after a lot of trouble, expense, and disappointment,

but have done it; I do not like to be beaten. I have also on eggs Red-

rumps, Peach-faced and Black-cheeked Lovebirds ; also a few Finches,

so if I am as lucky with these as with the Budgerigars I shall have

a good season.—T. IIebb.


Conure Bare of Feathers. —On p. 18 Mr. Shore Baily refers to

a bird of his, and I remember seeing a Conure in the Zoo long ago in

similar bare condition. A stranger with whom I once conversed told

me of a similar “ Parrot ” which recovered. The owner used to water

his other Parrots from overhead with a watering-can in hot weather,

except the bare individual, which he feared would not survive such

treatment. A friend being left in charge watered all the birds. The



