on Breeding Turnix nigricollis in German Bird-rooms . 199


constructed a new one in the same place, in which eight eggs

were laid. On the sixteenth day two chicks crept out, * of which

one soon died and was forwarded to me, the other throve well up

to the age of about six weeks ; then it wounded itself in the

head and back by nervously flapping about during its feeding in

an isolated cage, and died in consequence. The other six eggs

were neglected ; three were found, at the first glance, to have

died, three were infertile.


During the year 1S90 the female laid eight clutches ; but

young were only hatched from three of them. With Langheinz

also the Hemipodes built several nests before they accomplished

a satisfactory hatch :—a similar over-arclied (structure) was found

on the sand, with a tunnel of ribbon-grass and moss thirty

centimetres in length; and then this bird-keeper bred satis¬

factorily several times ; as also Mr. Hautli did freely later on,

with Messrs. Behrens, Kemper, Krohrn, and others.


The observations of all these breeders essentially agree:

I enter into particulars here more especially from the records

of Mr. Hautli, which are the most detailed. The eggs differ

much in size, colour, and markings : they are proportionately

large (21-24, 4 c.m. x 18-19, 5 c.m.), glossy, smooth - shelled, and

delicately moulded; f with white, greenish - white, or rust-

brownish ground-tint, marked with small and large points,

spots and streaks of grey, brown, or black. The duration of

incubation takes 13 days.


The male sits and is guarded by the female : according to

Hauth’s observation, exceptionally relieved by the female in

brooding; otherwise the male alone does this. In individual

cases and under special circumstances only the female brooded

with him, and also fed and led about the young.


As a rule, however, the little cock leads, warms, and feeds

the young; while the hen, particularly during the first days,

shows herself spiteful towards them ; so that it seems advisable



* From what follows it would seem that the cock must have begun to sit immediately

after the laying of the fourth egg, and the sixteen days are counted from the commence¬

ment of the laying.—A. G. B.


+ I cannot find the word in my dictionary ; it should perhaps be translated “ gracefully


tapering.”



