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Hubert I). Astley—Miscellanies



of the smaller enclosures of the western aviary at the London Zoological

Gardens, the roosting-house being but 8 feet square. I do not know

if Monauls have incubated and hatched their young on previous

occasions in captivity. There are Doves and Parrakeets in the same

enclosure, which is by no means a quiet retreat. The hen Monaul

has laid nine eggs these last two seasons respectively. Had she been

in a spacious grass enclosure with trees and shrubs I should not have

been so surprised. She seems to promise to rear her young successfully.

The male, usually quiescent by the middle of July, displayed to her,

in spite of faded plumage ; no doubt inspired by pride in the presence

of a complete family circle.


My Ducks have hatched off broods, but the Ducklings all die or

disappear within a few days, and I failed to find the eggs in the nests.

There was a fine brood of nine Rosybills, some Chiloe Widgeon and

Tufted Ducks, and also three Bar-headed goslings, which I particularly

hoped to save. A stoat must have taken them.


My beautiful Golden-naped Woodpecker (Chrysophlegma flavinucha)

flourishes, although he all but accomplished the opposite. I brought

him to show a friend. The bird was on my shoulders, and I foolishly

failed to notice that one of the windows was slightly open. The wood-

• pecker took fright, flew round the room, and just happened to slip out.

That was on a Saturday. On the following day someone saw him in an

orchard about half a mile from the house, but I was not informed of the

fact until the Monday, when I went to search. My friend, in the mean¬

while, on leaving that morning turned to me as he said good-bye, and

added, “ Your Woodpecker will be found before the day is out.” That

afternoon a small boy — a boy scout—appeared with a basket in which

was the Woodpecker in an apparently moribund condition. It had been

discovered at the foot of a tree about two miles away. I placed the

poor bird near the kitchen fire, gave him a little milk fortified with

a touch of brandy, and after looking as if he would succumb any minute

he so far recovered in a couple of hours as to be able to eat. In two

days he was quite himself again, and evidently very delighted to be

safely home. He had been unable to find food, in spite of having

been at large in a thoroughly “ woodpeckery ” country.


I suppose him to be the only specimen of his kind in Europe. A



