120



On the Kagu.



it seems to have been generally distributed all over the island

(New Caledonia) but it has now nearly disappeared from the

neighbourhood of the more settled and inhabited parts.” Its

•extinction should be very deeply regretted by aviculturists, as it

seems to thrive well in captivity, and no bird could be more

interesting to keep than this, with its varied moods, one moment

walking in stately fashion, the next perhaps indulging in the

wildest antics and frolics, rivalling and excelling the so-called

waltzing performances of the Ostrich, of which we have lately

heard (see Journal S.A.O.U., Dec., 1907). Every note respecting

the habits of this doomed bird should be treasured. We owe Mr.

Finckh a debt of gratitude for having found out so much about its

life-habits. He has told us the duration of incubation and has

described the newly-hatched chick. In Emu V. p. 32, he gives

an account of the nesting of a pair of birds in his aviary,

incubation lasted five weeks and one day, the male bird sitting

about four weeks out of the time, on the 32nd day the egg was

■observed to be cracked, four days after a dent was noticed in it,

the male bird was then seen to carefully peel the egg to about

two thirds without damaging the inside skin, the chick moving

freely and chirruping, towards evening he broke the skin, and

the next morning the chick was perfectly out, and dry—a lively

fluffy ball, with a big heavy head. The old birds were very

anxious to feed it by dangling as many as six worms at once in

their bills round its head. The chick, however, was very help¬

less, and only lived eight days, in colour it was dark brown, with

light fawn markings, legs and feet brownish, eyes black. A

photo of the chick is reproduced, which shows it to be as well-

covered with down as a young gallinaceous bird. It has an

enormous round head, nearly as big as its body, with large

prominent eyes. Once more has the study of the living bird

accomplished that which the scientific collector has failed to do.


T. H. N.



