222 From Magazines, S^c. [^^J 



Emu 

 April 



saving the most exceptionally severe, when it is advisahle to put 

 them under shelter. They are so disregarding of the state of 

 the climate that they will wade in a half-frozen pond during a 

 frost and wait until they are literally frozen in and have to be 

 released. In spite of my fears that they would suffer from the 

 prolonged exposure to the ice-cold water, the experience seemed 

 to have no ill-effects upon them, and they were none the worse 

 for it. Although I have not as yet had the good fortune in my 

 own aviaries, these particular Cranes have nested in this country, 

 but I am not certain whether the eggs hatched and the young 

 reared to maturity ; I think that both the Duchess of Bedford 

 and Mr. H. D. Astley were equally unfortunate in this respect.. 

 If the male bird is pinioned there is no need to perform the same 

 operation on the hen, for she does not appear to want to fly away, 

 although fond of long aerial flights, from which she will always 

 return — at least, such is my experience. 



"The Australian Crane is a very jealous bird, quick to take 

 offence, and deeply resents the intrusion of another Crane of a 

 different kind to himself on that portion of the enclosure round 

 which he has set an imaginary boundary, but will, directly a 

 trespasser is noticed, run at him with outstretched wings and 

 clappering beak and fairly chase him off the private territory 

 that has been appropriated by himself and his mate ; in fact, the 

 solitary example of the Common Crane is constantly being chased 

 about by both the pair of Australian Cranes and the two Cape 

 Crowned Cranes as he inadvertently steps into the area reserved 

 to themselves by his companions, the three species being kept 

 in one paddock." 



Bird Protection in America. — The annual report of the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies for 1914, published in Bird-Lore 

 for November-December, 1914, makes interesting reading. In 

 his report Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, the secretary, states : — 



" The influence of the Audubon movement throughout the 

 United States to-day is astounding, especially when one considers 

 the comparatively limited expenditure of funds in the course of 

 a year. It is a work of the people, including bird-lovers and 

 wild-animal conservationists of every type, and new fields of 

 opportunity are continually opening before us. The past year 

 has been marked by a steady maintenance of our more important 

 fields of effort, by distinct gains in many directions, and with 

 loss nowhere along the line. The chief nursery of the sea-birds 

 of the Atlantic Coast of the United States is among the islands 

 off the coast of Maine. During the past summer, thirty-five of 

 these islands have been occupied by breeding colonies, not 

 including several small ledges, where scattering pairs overflowing 

 from near-by colonies gather to nest. The Association has con- 

 tinued to exercise a guardianship, as usual, over these birds, to 

 protect them as far as possible from eggers, and from possible 



