VI.



Report of the Council.



the breeding of birds in our aviaries ; nevertheless some of the

results obtained have been of considerable value. The breeding

of the Indian Bustard-Quail or Greater Button-Quail, Turnix

tanki, by Mr. D. Seth-Smith, has taught the cabinet naturalist

that his conclusions, when the aviculturist has not been taken

into his counsels, are liable to be disturbed; and the most

remarkable fact, hitherto totally unsuspected, which has now

been brought to light, that the period of incubation extends for

only about twelve days, could never have been discovered by all

the Museums in the wide world. The timid Rain Quail has

been bred by at least four of our Members, and the beautiful

White - fronted Dove, Leptoptila jamaicensis, (and another

species which we are taking steps to see and identify) by Miss

R. Alderson. The former has likewise been bred by Mr.

Castle Sloane. But Mr. St. Quintin leads the van. Not

only has he bred and fully reared two Demoiselle Cranes, three

young of the Ruff, one Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse, etc., etc., had

young (5) from the Bearded Reedling and eggs from the Blue

Thrush, but his Waxwings have hatched young in two nests ;

unfortunately none was reared.*


The Black-tailed or Rock Pebbler Parrakeet has been suc¬

cessfully bred by the Rev. B. Hemsworth and Mrs. Johnstone,

and Yellow-rumps hatched but not reared by Mr. Fasey ; and the

latter Member, and also Mr. D. Seth-Smith, have each reared a

brood of the charming Many-coloured Parrakeet. An illustrated

account of the nesting of the Silver-eared Mesia in Mr.

Phillipps’ aviary adds to our knowledge of this interesting

species ; and it is not unworthy of being placed on record that

his pair of Bee-eaters, which were figured in April, 1902, and

have been in his hands since the 20th September, 1901, are still

alive and well.


Some of the above species have not hitherto been bred in

the United Kingdom so far as is known, and the Society’s Medal

has been awarded in some cases, and doubtless will be awarded



* In the eighth edition of the Zoological Society’s List of the Animals, there appears

an entry which infers that five Waxwings were born in the Gardens on roth June, 1881

Mr. Scherren, a Fellow of the Zoological and Member of our Society, most kindly in¬

vestigated the matter, and wrote me as follows : “ The Waxwings are all right. The entry

in the List is an error. Mr. St. Quintin is first after all.”— R.P.



