An Old Australian Bird-lover—Breeding of my Kagus 239


feathered folk are also indulging in courtship displays. The Pheasants,

at all times most beautiful, are to be seen at their best during the mating

season, the cock birds exhibiting their adornments in the most engaging

manner. The Ruff is another bird whose antics are well w r orth recording

by a series of photographs taken during his love-sick days, for few

birds indulge in such comical postures when courting. Then, again,

one cannot resist expending a few plates upon the Peacock, for he is

of a most accommodating disposition when displaying, turning first

one way and then the other in the most obliging manner.


From the writer’s experience it would appear that the majority

of birds are far less shy of man during the mating season than at other

times. The males seem to be so overcome by their amorous emotions

that it is often possible to ajiproach to within a few feet without dis¬

turbing them, although it must be remembered that certain species,

such as Swans and Ostriches, are liable to resent intrusion upon their

domestic affairs in a manner that commands respect.



THE BREEDING OF MY KAGUS, AEE BUT—


By an Old Australian Bird-lover


Readers of the Avicultural Magazine may not remember the mention

of my Kagus in this paper. I will therefore introduce them once more :

.Tames, now about ten years with me, and Mary, his wife, seven years.

Both are exceptionally tame, and will always meet me whenever

I come into their compound, displaying for me whenever I wish. They

are real pets and don’t mind strangers, unless they have bare feet or

tan boots; they hate boys, whom they invariably attack. I had housed

the Kagus in an enclosure 100 by 50 feet, planted with shrubs and trees,

thinking this residence an ideal one for them to raise a family in. They,

however, deemed otherwise, and for years made no attempt at breeding.

My friend Mr. Waxman, living near me. has also a pair, which he houses

in a small enclosure with a shelter-shed. His birds repeatedly laid

in a cask which happened to be on the floor of the shed, but unfor¬

tunately the chicks always died on leaving the shell; it seemed as if

they hatched before their time. Another gentleman who possesses



