29S Nesting of the White-Crested Turaco.


Turaco kept to her nest, whilst the male generally sat on a

branch close by, I believe she came off in the morning and the

evening. Several times I saw him feed her when she was off for

a few minutes in the evening. They are a very devoted couple,

but inexperienced.


On the 12th of August, seeing that both birds were sitting

on the branches outside the nest, I took the opportunity of

introducing my light-weight aviary ladder, a telescopic one, to

have a peep. There is a moment of exciting suspense as one

mounts the ladder to a nest which is placed about twelve feet

from the ground. I did peep, and saw to my great disappoint¬

ment, a poor little dark brown body about the size of a Bantam

chick, but only a body. The spirit had flown ! It might have

waited a little bit, and then it could have taken the body with it.

I packed it off quickly for more scientific eyes than mine to

examine it ; but I noticed that the toes were inclined to be like

the majority of other birds, that is : three in front and one at the

back ; whereas the adult Turaco has semi-zygodactylous feet—

with reversible outer toe, like the Cuckoos, two either way. It is

very difficult to write so that one can satisfy our Museum friends

and not fluster our other friends who wonder whether a Turaco

with a semi-zygodactylous foot is a bird at all, or only some

creepy-crawly ! Ret me comfort them by saying that when I wrote

that mouthful (I am not going to write it again !) I glued my eyes

to a reference book, held my breath, and ran my pen along the

paper for dear life! Even the name Turaco is misleading, for

when I possessed four, I told a young member of my family'- that

he must go and look at them. He did so, and announced at

luncheon that he was quite certain I had said there were two

Racoos, and he had seen four !


I feed my birds on boiled rice, potato and carrot, with

strawberries, cherries, grapes, banana and sometimes melon.

The parents are in such splendid condition that I supposed this

varied ‘11161111’ would be suitable for the young one.


I saw 110 trace of any egg-shell, and I had hoped to find

two young birds, for I believe two eggs are laid in the wild state.

Certainly one has very constantly to murmur “ Pazienza ” along

with the Italians.



