28o



The Kagu in Captivity.



In spite of all this devotion the egg failed to hatch. Per¬

haps it was the turning and turning Jock had given it that did

the mischief, I do not know. I shall never have the chance

again, for this happiest of little trios is dispersed. Ping and

Pong both died, I believe from taking cold. They were not ill

for long, and quickly followed each other. Jock still flourishes,

but he will no longer perch on me as of old. He was always the

shyest of the three. He misses the others sadly, and some¬

times goes through his quaint performances, but not often. It

is rather sad in a way to see him acting, he looks such a forlorn

and pathetic little figure, and one misses his friendly little

audience. They were a small trio, who found life “a very

pleasant thing” and their one joy was their mutual pleasure in

each other’s existence.


I don’t pretend to paint a moral, but there is one, if you

choose to find it, in both these true stories from my bird village,

but if you prefer the jam without the powder don’t look for it.



THE KAGU IN CAPTIVITY.



In the last number of our esteemed contemporary the

Emu, appears an account of that very interesting and aberrant

type from New Caledonia known as the Kagu (.Rhinochehis

jubatus'), a cut of which we print herewith.


About a year ago the British Museum received some eggs

laid by some captive Kagus belonging to Mr. H. E. Finckli of

Sydney, and the present writer corresponded with Mr. Finckli

with the object of obtaining some notes and possibly photo¬

graphs of these curious birds for the Aviculhiral Magazine. Mr.

Finckli had however just given his notes to the editor of

the Emu, but he wrote “ I shall be pleased to send you some

photos, of my birds which you are at liberty to publish.


. . . I am much longing for the autumn when I shall again be

able to try my luck at rearing a chick. It is heart-breaking to

succeed in hatching a bird after three years work and then only

to put into spirits. Anyhow I have great hopes for next year. I

have four birds, but unfortunately cannot get others, hard as I



