On the Crested Wood Partridge. 201


It should also be noted that the Shoebill does not frequently

stand on one leg only, as is often stated.


it it a


10. Breeding. Our three birds have so far shown no

inclination to breed, and we do not know their sexes. In a wild

state our knowledge on this subject has been already well sum¬

marized by A. L,. Butler: “ The only first-hand information about

its breeding habits which I have been able to obtain is from Col.-

Sergt. Sears, Egyptian Army, who has been a good deal employed

in sudd-cutting operations in this region. He tells me he has

frequently seen the nests with young birds, on the plains inland

from the Jur, at the end of March and beginning of April. He

describes the nests as mere flattened-down spots in the high

grass on dry ground ; they were found singly and not in colonies,

and contained one or two young only in each case. The eggs he

had never seen.”



THE CRESTED WOOD PARTRIDGE.


Rollulus roulroul.


By Hubert D. Asteey, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


I considered myself fortunate in having a pair of this

remarkable species sent me by Mr. Thorpe of Hedon, (near Hull),

last February, but I proceeded to consider myself exactly the

contrary when the hen bird died about a fortnight afterwards

from disease of the lungs, which she must have contracted on her

long journey from Borneo.


This Partridge—it is not of course a true Partridge—is

about the size of the Californian Quail, perhaps slightly larger.


The male is a lustrous blue black with deep purple and

green tints, ‘reflections’ they are styled, upon the lower back

and tail coverts. The bill is dark, not exactly black; being red

at the base of the lower mandible. The eyelids, and also the

bare flesh behind the eyes, are brilliant scarlet, broadly serrated,

and the legs and feet are red.


The wonderful crest, reminding one of the crest of the

Crowned Crane, is of a bright maroon chestnut.



