52



Cranes in Captivity.



“ creature. And this because of its shape, which is oval, and with

“ clean-cut edges. Thereby it differs from the burrow of the Sand-

“ martin, which is cordiform, the apex upwards. The initial stage

“ of the tunnelling is said to be performed by charging the desired

“ spot at full tilt, using the beak after the fashion of a lance, till a

“cavity is made large enough to afford a grip for the feet.”


“As a rule, such nests take the form of a long ascending

“tunnel, about a yard in length, ending in a brooding chamber, the

“ eggs resting on a platform of fish bones, and the hard part of

“ shrimps and other indigestible portions of food. These remains

“ are the gradual accumulation of pellets, thrown up as in the case

“ of owls, hawks, and many other birds which swallow food con¬

taining much indigestible matter.”


The eggs are white tinged with pink, which tint is due to the

colour of the blood vessels surrounding the yolk, showing through

the shell.


I have seen Kingfishers, evidently on migration, on the Lake

of Como in Italy in the autumn. On one occasion one passed,

flying close above the surface of the w 7 ater when I was in a launch

at least a mile from any of the shores.


Kingfishers ought to live perfectly well in an aviary with a

deepish pool in which minnows could be placed, but unless the aviary

was really roomy, one would not have the pleasure of seeing the

arrow-like flight of this lovely bird.


If any members can try to observe more closely the habits of

the Kingfisher, especially in the matter of the display of the male

(if any) and write an account for the Magazine, we shall be grateful.



CRANES IN CAPTIVITY.


There is something very entrancing in the sight of a well-kept

enclosure of Cranes. The dignified, yet graceful, movements of these

birds as they walk about; their beautiful and, at times, striking

colouration, and the ease with which they are kept, have tempted

more than one amateur to purchase these lovely creatures as additions

to their aviaries or bird enclosures. Several, whose wealth has

enabled them to gratify their natural inclinations in the fullest



