408



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



aviary lined with a few grass stalks; an egg was laid on June 2nd, and one on

each of the six succeeding days when the hen commenced to sit, hatching

out six young ; these seemed going on well, but the lieu spent half her time

watching and chasing away the cock bird ; on the morning of the fifth day

I found the hen alone and the six young dead in different parts of the

aviary.


On July 12th, I noticed another nest close by the old one and on the

i6tli an egg was laid, the hen laying eight altogether, after which I

removed the cock bird. The hen sat splendidly and hatched eight young ;

these, with the exception of a weakly one, which died during very stormy

weather, are now (September 3rd) strong healthy birds—a little smaller than

the hen—the black feathers are showing in the throats of the cock birds.

The period of incubation was eighteen days in each case.


I have not the least doubt in my own mind that this bird is a polyga¬

mous species, and that the young of the first clutch were either killed by the

cock or the hen was driven off from brooding the young at night and they

perished from cold. I should imagine Mr. Seth-Smith’s perished in the

same way.


Geo. C. vSwaiees.



THE RACKET-TAILED PARROT.


In the few notes written to accompany the coloured plate of

Prioniturusplaturus in the Magazine last month, I mentioned that I had

been informed that a member of this Society was privately importing some

Racket-tails from the Philippines, but I added a footnote to the effect that

all had died on the voyage. I am, however, very glad to find that I was

misinformed on the latter point and that Mrs. Johnstone, the member

referred to, has one Racket-tailed Parrot alive at the present time, which

proves to be a specimen of P. discurus, a species which is most probably

absolutely unknown in this country in a living state.


D. Srth-Smith.



THE SOCIETY’S MEDAL.



Two Demoiselle Cranes, Anthropoides virgo, and three young of the

Ruff and Reeve, Pavoncella pugnax, have been bred and fully reared by

Mr. St. Quiutin.


Two White-fronted Doves, Leptoptila jamaicensis, have been bred and

fully reared by Miss R. Alderson.


Accounts of the several cases are now published.


It is believed that these three species have now been fully reared for



