on Breeding Turnix nigricollis in German Bird-rooms. 197


Quails, were placed in the bird-room in April. Whereas the

former selected the dark recess, the latter chose the lighter

position near to the window. *


“ Both species retained these posts from that time

forwards ; yet later they made excursions as far as the middle of

the bird-room. Within their own territory they exhibited no

antagonism, but avoided each ’ other without actual fighting.

After a few days they had settled down, consorted peaceably

one with another, as well as with all their other associates,—

Waxbills and Grassfinches : I never saw the Hemipodes do these

the slightest injury, nevertheless they never got rid of a certain

amount of nervousness ; the warning-cries of the finches were

listened for with strained attention, and their hiding-place

sought when danger threatened.”


After three weeks Mr. Hauth had already found two eggs

among the rushes f in a flattish depression furnished with a few

grass-stems; and altogether the hen laid twelve, sometimes in

this place, sometimes elsewhere. Then the true nesting-fever

awakened for the first time :— the hen strutted with long

strides over the whole territory from dawn to eve ; and frequently

and ever louder uttered its peculiar pairing note.


Contrary to the statements made respecting the wild life

of the Hemipodes, Mr. Hauth was able ... to observe that

the latter built a true nest.


From the building material usually provided for the

Ornamental Finches,—various kinds of fibre, moss, etc., several

completely over-arched nests were constructed. One of these

consisted entirely of moss; and a tunnel about twenty

centimetres in length with a round opening five centimetres

wide, led to the nesting depression about two centimetres in

breadth, wherein several eggs lay upon the sand. As the passage

included several obliquely placed hard rush stems, the breeder

now offered some coarser building materials—stalks of straw,

hay, and rush, with different kinds of dry and fresh grass-stems,



* Although not so stated here, it is evident from later observations that the recess referred

to above was also near to the window.—A. G. B.


■t I believe that in some German bird-rooms clumps of rushes are placed upright in corners

or in boxes of sand, as shelter for the birds.—A. G. B.



