Mr. F. H. Blaaw,



36



distance I heard a wailing cry, reminding me of that of the

Hobby, under similar circumstances, when there are only eggs

or very young nestlings in the nest: but she was disturbing the

other sitting female, so I could not linger. The nest proper was

low down, in a corner, at the very back of the sheltering heap of

stuff, and contained one egg, a glance at which betrayed its con¬

dition. It is rather slender in shape, with prolonged ends, the

smaller end being almost pointed, and just a trifle smaller and

slimmer in character than are those in my collection of the Red¬

faced Lovebird. This female has not returned to her nest—yet ;

but she and the male are always together, and are now quite

friendly.


September iS :—This female has not returned to her nest,

a nest that has been profaned by the hand of man. She is

sitting as far away from the spot as possible, in a small travelling

cage stuck up in a high corner of the garden aviary. The young

birds seem as if they would come to ^a-sf-maturity at an early

age; one has been singing regularly for some days.



ON THE BREEDING OF SOME BIRDS AT


GOOILUST, HOLLAND.


By F. E. Blaauw, C.M.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


Amongst the birds that have been bred at Gooilust this

season the following are, perhaps, worthy of being noticed.


My Wattled Plovers {Sarciophorns pectoralis'), which reared

a pair of young ones last year, have again laid this season and

reared a couple of young ones. The number of eggs was again

two, so that I suppose this is the usual number.


A pair of Emerald Doves (Chalcopelia chnlcospilos ) which

nested successfully the year before, have again reared a pair of

young ones, which have moulted and are in full plumage now.

Needless to say that the metallic spots on the wings of all the

young ones are green, just as they are in the parents. The old

birds are very prolific and have a pair of babies for the third time

at the present moment. The chicks, when still on the nest, feel



