100



Correspondence.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ®c.



NESTING- OF THE BLACK-NECKED CROWNED CRANE.


In The Field , of December 14, appears a letter above the initials D. McD.

describing the successful breeding of a pair of Balearica pavonince at Logan,

Strauraer, Wigtonshire. “The nest, raised some inches above the ground, was

in the centre of a large patch of bullrushes in swampy ground on the side of a

loch. Three eggs were laid. The birds began to sit on Aug. 12, and one egg

was hatched on Sept. 9 ; the other two unfortunately were bad. The birds took

it in turn to incubate, the one off duty flying up to the house to feed, remaining

there only a short time. Two days after hatching the parent birds brought the

chick on to open grass near the nest. On this ground they spent the whole day

busily engaged in catching insects to feed the young bird. When hunting for

insects the cranes walk slowly backwards, stamping the ground, doubtless to

drive out the insects, which, owing to the cold weather, are somewhat scarce.”



THE SOCIETY’S MEDAL.



Mr. W. E. Teschemaker has successfully bred the Whincliat

(.Pratincola rubetra ) an account of which appeared in the November

number.


Miss Drummond has had similar success with the Grand

Eclectus Parrot ( Eclectics roratus) and Dr. M. Amsler, with the

Hooded Siskin (Ghrysomitris cucullata), accounts being published in

the December issue. In the present number Mr. Astley records the

successful breeding in his aviaries of the Hooded Parrakeet (Psephotus

cucullatus).


All these cases appear to be the first on record of the species

breeding in captivity in this country, and it is proposed to award a

medal in each case.


Any member or reader knowing of a previous instance is

requested to communicate at once with the Hon. Business Secretary.



