222 G. H. Gurney—Some Pre-War Veterans


untidy structure of sticks placed on a large platform in one corner

of the aviary, and in no way hidden from public view. More than

two eggs have never been laid at a time, except once when there was

some doubt about a third ! Several other young ones have been

hatched, but have always died, from some unexplained cause, before

they left the nest. For the last six years the eggs have not hatched

and have generally been clear, though the old birds have sat as well

as ever.


A full account of the breeding of this species has appeared in

Vol. V of the Avicultural Magazine, p. 57.


In the next aviary to the Jackal Buzzards is a South American

Caracara, a beautiful bird which I bought a good many years ago from

the late Mr. Jamrach. It lives a solitary life, having been guilty in

1908 of killing our old Common Buzzard, which we had had for twenty-

five years. For some reason which I cannot now remember the

Buzzard had been stupidly put into the Caracara’s aviary, and after

a terrible fight the Buzzard was defeated and killed—needless to say

when no one was about to separate them. This was all the more to be

regretted, as it was in very good health, and had all the appearance

of living for another twenty-five years.


A Rufous Tinamou is the sole survivor of a large aviary once full

of birds. He is now monarch of all he surveys, and I wish I could

find a companion of some sort for him, as I am sure in many cases

certain birds mope when they are left for long alone. I was especially

struck by this in the case of my White-crested Touracoes. The hen

had died, and for a long time the male bird was all alone in a large

outdoor aviary. He appeared lethargic and moped, which was altogether

wrong for such a very active bird, always on the move in his native

woods in Central Africa. However, on my putting a few small foreign

Finches into the aviary with him he quickly regained his spirits and

appeared to enjoy life once more. But to return to the Rufous

Tinamou ; he is one of a pair I received from a dealer in 1910, so he is

no longer young. I have never bred this species, though eggs were

laid. My bird is now quite bald on the top of his head, I suppose

from old age, but otherwise is in good fettle. Though fed on grain and

some green food he is constantly digging in the ground, and devours



