St. Quintiti : Some AvicuUural Notes. 163 



the eggs without disturbing him. He always opened the heaj> 

 almost to the level of the eggs towards the end of the summer 

 afternoon, tilling up the opening, and smoothing all over before 

 sunset. This was probably to cool the eggs. 



Theie is one observation I was able to make, which 1 think 

 has not been noticed. I several times, in the morning, found 

 thai the cock bird had cut away the side of the mound, leaving 

 a perpendicular wall. I believe this was to make the exit of 

 the chick more easy ; and it may have been that the bird 

 heard the cry of the chick, and did his best to help. We found 

 several chicks at different times which had failed to get out 

 owing to the heap getting too much consolidated. The male 

 was, during the breeding season, always upon or close to the 

 mound, and constantly altering its appearance, and I was 

 never actually able to connect the cutting away of the side with 

 the- emergence of a chick, but I was convinced that this was the 

 bird's purpose. 



'The young can fly at least four or five feet up to a perch the 

 day^they are hatched, and, of course, are perfectly independent 

 of the parents. 



' The first young bird hatched at Scampston was found in the 

 next enclosure but one to that in which the mound was ; 

 having somehow managed to get under, over, or through, two 

 wire fences eight feet high ; and it was discovered by the noise 

 it made in vigorously scratching amongst the dead leaves 

 under some bushes. 



'I found the male bird very dangerous to other species. 

 Besides hunting his mate whenever he saw her, he was the 

 bully of my collection, and being very active, it was difficult 

 to ildeep him in his own domain. I once saved an old Caper- 

 caillie cock from at least very severe punishment. The Caper 

 was on the run, with the Brush Turkey after him, hitting him 

 witli his foot whenever he got within striking distance. My 

 Briish Turkeys are now in Sir Edmund Loder's beautiful park 

 at 'Leonardslea in Sussex, and, interesting as they were, I have 

 never regretted their departure ! 



" ' SAxdgrouse. These are peaceable, rather sluggish birds, 

 not difficult to keep in confinement if kept absolutely dry. 

 Thfey are not as often kept as they deserve. I have had 

 fives ■ species, the fine Arenaritis, Alchatiis (both the Spanish 

 and' the Asiatic form); Exustus, and Bicinctus, both of which 

 last' 1 have found delicate ; and Senegal! us, which in plumage is 



191b' Apl. I. 



