188



W. H. St. Quintin—Mantchurian Cranes



developed “ soft, moult ” during the voyage, and died the day of our

arrival at the London docks ; the other one arrived in good condition.



MANTCHURIAN CRANES


By W. H. St. Quintin


My old pair of these Cranes did not moult their primaries last year,

hut did so this summer.


The young pair, hatched June 1 and 2, 1919, cast all their flight

feathers within a day or two of June 21 last. These have almost

completed the moult into the adult dress, a small patch of fawn-colour

at the base of the neck, between the shoulders, being all that remains

of the nestling plumage, and as they are still moulting small feathers

the change will probably be completed in the next few weeks. The

crimson skin patch on the crown has been already acquired, and

altogether it would seem difficult to distinguish the young bird of

15 to 18 months from the parents. The growth of these young Cranes

from the first has been remarkable.


This season only one young bird was hatched, the other egg being

unfertile, but though only hatched on May 31, and, of course, still in

the fawn-coloured plumage, this bird is now bigger than its mother,

and is probably a male.



HOBBIES


By A. G. Butler, Ph.D.


It has been truly said that everybody should have a hobby ; it

occupies the mind, gives one an interest in life, and inasmuch as the

mind exercises an influence over the health of the body, undoubtedly

tends to longevity. Of all hobbies the study of natural history is one

of the most fascinating, and the earlier in life that one takes it up the

more enthusiastic one becomes in its pursuit. 1 began when 7

years old to make a collection of British insects, rearing many of my

specimens from larvae found in the garden, and not a few even from eggs.

Some years ago an elder sister gave me a portrait taken of myself when



