Nutcracker versus Chough.



169



of neat shelter-houses, almost like sentry-boxes, with ample yards

for exercise. The fine mass of vegetation adjoining the yards, with

the great birds running about and playing, almost suggests a forest

scene in New Guinea ! It is amusing, too, to see the domestic fowls

walking unconcernedly about the feet of the Cassowaries, who do

them no harm. There are also fine pheasantries ; a very pretty Ibis

aviary ; and a big enclosure for water-birds extending across the

Gardens.



NUTCRACKER versus CHOUGH.


An Episode at the Zoological Gardens, London.


By Miss Lilian M. Medland, F.Z.S.


I witnessed a very amusing and interesting incident at the

Zoological Gardens the other day, between the Nutcracker (N.

caryocatactes) and the Chough ( P. graculus). I offered the Chough

a grape to see what he would do with it. He took it, promptly laid

it on the ground, dug a shallow hole with his bill, placed the grape

therein and covered it up, as a dog will bury a bone or biscuit for

which he has no immediate need. He came back quickly for

another grape, which he took to the same place, dug up the first one,

and taking both grapes in his bill, carried them to another spot and

buried them together. He came back a third time, took a grape and

hurried back to the other two, dug them up again and proceeded to

try and carry all three in his bill. He picked two up, and in trying

to get the third one, dropped one of the others. This went on for

several moments, and after a successful bit of juggling he managed

it, and took the three grapes to a place about three yards away

under the bushes, scraped a hole and buried all three grapes together

and carefully covered them up. Again he returned to me, and

immediately his back was turned, the Nutcracker, evidently with

evil intention in his mind, hurried to the hidden grapes, unearthed

them and took one away and buried it in a spot far removed from

the others and remained there on guard, with his back turned to the

Ghough, who meanwhile had found the uncovered grapes which the

Nutcracker had left. The Chough, with his fourth grape which he



