324 On the Nesting of the Magpie Tanager ,


very handsome, of the size of a Hawfinch’s, in colour a deep

cream, thickly spotted with rufous brown, a broad zone of the

same around the larger end. They were long in shape.


O11 the 30th of July one young one was hatched, the other

egg, which disappeared two days afterwards, having failed to

hatch. The young bird was fed upon banana and grapes, and

throve for four days. Then it completely disappeared! and a

medal with it!! for I do not think that these Tanagers have

ever been known to breed in captivity in Europe. Their nesting

was extremely unexpected, for I had only possessed them about

three weeks, and they were very shy at first, and even now are

anything but tame.


I11 the same aviary were two of my beautiful little North

American Hermit Thrushes, a hen Blue Bird, and a Gardener

Bower Bird, as well as a pair of Malayan Fairy Blue Birds—a

collection of rarities.


When the poor little Blue Bird (American) was found dead

with her head knocked in, I suspected the Tanagers, which were

then commencing to nest. For one thing they look savage, with

their clear and brilliantly yellow eyes. When a few days after¬

wards I found both the Hermit Thrushes dead and mangled, I

was in despair. All had been peace hitherto.


The Fairy Blue Birds (Ire?ia cyanea ) kept in the roosting-

house, and no one seemed to pay them any attention. Then one

morning the female was found with her neck all but dislocated,

and unable to hold her head up, so that she had to be fed by

hand for at least three weeks : and her mate was removed.


There remained only the pair of the Magpie Tanagers and

the Gardener Bower Bird ( Amblyornis stibalaris ). This individual

generally made its appearance only in the early morning and

evening, sitting during most of the day in the roosting-house,

concealed amongst the branches of Scotch fir. On the fifth day

of the young Magpie Tanager’s existence I looked into the nest

to see how its inmate was progressing, and behold the house was

empty ! ! If the culprit was not a mouse, it was the Gardener

Bower Bird. That individual has been removed, and it is to be

hoped the Magpie Tanagers will again nest before the cold

autumn days are with us.



