Stray Notes



198



more than two or three weeks the keeper found an egg laid in the sand.

We then supplied a heap of sand in one corner, and some brushwood

so as to form a screen. A second, third, and fourth egg were laid at

different places. These were carefully kept in case the birds should

fix on a definite spot. Later on the hen was discovered sitting tightly

behind the shelter of the brushwood. She was left undisturbed, but

the four eggs previously laid were placed in an incubator. In twenty-

one days the Francolin hatched three chicks, and one egg in the

incubator also hatched, the latter chick being placed with the others.

The four grew well and were reared, though one was taken by a rat

when half-grown.


Another success at the Zoological Gardens has been the breeding

of Gambel’s Quail (Coturnix gambeli). A pair of these beautiful birds

arrived with the New York collection in June, and as they appeared

to be in fine condition I decided to put them into the summer aviary

hoping that they might breed. This aviary is thickly planted with

shrubs, and the grass is allowed to grow, so that there is abundant

cover, and the Quails simply disappeared. We saw nothing of them

until one day early in September the hen was seen followed by four

fair-sized chicks.


I had the pleasure in August of visiting the Zoological Gardens in

Edinburgh, and strongly advise every member who has the opportunity

to pay a visit there. The Zoological Park is situated on a hillside, which

is of rock, and by blasting out the rock some very fine natural-looking

enclosures have been made for the animals. The Lion, Polar Bear, and

Sea Lion enclosures are extremely fine. The gardens are not rich in

aviaries or in small birds, but the show of King Penguins is wonderful.

There are six of these magnificent birds, one of which was hatched and

reared in the Gardens, and at the time of my visit two of the birds were

incubating.


The process of incubation in the King and Emperor Penguins is

extraordinary and most interesting. In order to prevent the single

eag becoming chilled on the cold ground of their native habitat, these

Penguins have adopted the novel method of resting the single egg



