A fezv Aviary Notes.



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Cranes (Grus japonensis') were breeding in captivity at Kioto

when I was there in April. A pair of these birds could then be

seen feeding their young on large earthworms, numbers of which

had been placed for their benefit in a corner of the aviary.

Although the fledgelings were no doubt capable of feeding them¬

selves, the worms were always first selected by the parents, who

held them in their bills until taken therefrom by the young birds.



A FEW AVIARY NOTES.


By Mrs. Gregory.


I have been asked to write a short paper on my avicultural

experiences of the past year. I have not much to record and

my collection is only small, but I trust the following few inci¬

dents may be of interest, especially to those who keep birds of

the same kinds.


In January, just a year ago, a Red-legged Partridge was

brought to me on a cold snowy day. It was very hungry and

verv wild. I put it into a run with Pheasants and Doves, and all

were friendly, but it was painful to see this wild bird dashing

itself against the wire netting, sometimes making its head and

face bleed. But after a few weeks it became tamer, and one day,

having escaped from the aviary, I was surprised that it did not

fly away. All day it remained in the garden hiding, but at dusk

it came up to the run of its own accord and I was able to drive

it in.


Last March, when I was passing close to a Demoiselle

Crane, I saw her open her beak as if gasping. I ran to fetch

water expecting to find the bird in a fit, or ill. Instead, she was

standing, proudly arching herself, over an egg which she had

just laid. I shut the pair of Cranes apart from the rest, but no

second egg was laid and they did not attempt to sit. All they

showed was an extreme restlessness to join a third Crane—

a male I have had. for six years.


On June 9th, a Silver Pheasant Hen laid five eggs under

one of the dining room windows. She scraped out a hole close

to the house, completely screened from view by a large clump of



