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The Editorship of the Magazine



THE VOICE OF THE KAGU


Sirs, —I do not know how many different notes this New

Caledonian bird can utter, but when in London during August,

1920, the adult in the Western Aviary of the Zoological Gardens

uttered on several occasions a very low chuckle, during which the

throat was conspicuously dilated. It is only the sound which I have

heard the bird utter since first seen in November, 1906, and was

only uttered when I was talking to the bird and getting it to erect

its long crest, never when walking alone and unobserved by human

beings ; and could only be heard when quite close to it.


These latter facts seemed to me to suggest that the chuckle is

usually made either in the breeding season, or when two or more of

these grey birds are performing the curious antics they are said to do

when wild. But perhaps one or other of the co-Editors has heard it

at other times besides as above stated, or heard some other noise made

by the species much louder than the above ? Would it not be of

interest to have a note later on in the Magazine stating how long this

bird finally lived in the Gardens, because such might give an idea

as to the length of life when wild ? A gentleman from Ceylon, with

whom I was in conversation at one time when this bird uttered its

chuckle, asked me : “ How long do these birds live when wild, on an

average ? ” I replied, “ You’ve stumped me there—I can’t say ! ”


Frederick D. Welch, M.R.C.S.


[The Kagu occasionally utters a very loud call.— Eds.]


THE EDITORSHIP OF THE MAGAZINE


May I venture to express not only my own warm appreciation,

but also, I feel sure, that of all the members of the Society, at the

way in which Mr. Pocock and Mr. Seth-Smith have so kindly

stepped into the breach by undertaking a joint editorship until

someone else can be found to undertake the work, and the apprecia¬

tion is enhanced by the fact that both are very busy men with little

time to spare outside their work at the Zoological Gardens and for

the London Zoological Society. The Magazine already promises to

resume its pre-War aspect, and will once again prove a success if

members will do their best to supply avicultural articles and notes.


Hubert D. Astley.



