THE



23



Hvtcultural flfcagasme,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCI ETY.



Third Series — VOL. III. — No. 1 .—All rights reserved. NOVEMBER, 1911



BREEDING OF THE


$ CANADIAN AND ? WATTLED CRANES.


Gi ns canadensis. Grus carunculata.


By R. COSGRAVE.


In 1909 and 1910 these most interesting birds failed to

incubate their eggs. This year they were successful in doing so

during the last week in April and the first week in May. Nest-

making was a very serious business with them ; after a good deal

of hesitation as to site they settled down in earnest on the grass,

about four yards from the pond, and got together a considerable

heap of grass, sticks, hay, and any sort of rubbish that happened

to be handy.


O11 May 7th one egg was laid, which was the usual Wattled

size but the colour of the Canadian, and to my knowledge no

more were added. Taking equal shares both birds at once com¬

menced to incubate the egg—the period was 35 days. We did

not take any special care or interest in the nest, just merely left

the egg as a natural amusement for the birds.


The young remained on or quite close to the nest for two

days and appeared to be very feeble; from the first it was most

carefully fed and nursed by both parents, and while one hunted

the long grass for insects the other brooded. It began to take

artificial food at ten days old ; although we gave a good variety

of this it preferred the sheep’s heart and rabbit’s flesh, and was

always ready to take it, although the amount of insects taken

from the parents was extraordinary—the search for these con¬

tinued practically all day.



