28



Mrs. Johnstone,



surprised at the arrival of the second egg as I had made up my

mind one egg was the usual number laid, as the hen had only

laid one previously and commenced to sit at once.


Both birds brooded the eggs and never left them for a

moment, and almost exactly three weeks after, the hen com¬

menced to sit, the first egg hatched. It was three days before I

obtained a look at the baby, when the mother had left it for a

moment to get some grapes just placed in the aviary. Imagine

a chicken of a day or so old, covered in darkest brown fluff,

bright black eyes, the skin round the eyes bare and grey, where

the white streak appears in the parents ; a yellow beak and

every appearance of health and strength. That the parents fed

it well I have no doubt, and at intervals I obtained a peep at it,



Young Turacus viacrorhynchus

(f natural size).



but it seemed to grow very little, and the feathers were a long

time appearing. But still I hoped all would be well. The old

birds were very attentive, never leaving the baby for longer than

was absolutely necessary, darting down to fetch banana and

grape and returning at once to look after their treasure. I never

could see them feed it; my time was very much occupied and I

had little time to sit and watch, but the man who looked after



