The Kingfisher and Snipe in Captivity.



139



ceases to struggle the bird will instantly give a jerk and gulp the

insect down, making quite a noise with the mouth.


I reared a Nightjar some years ago, taking it at the age

of four or five days; it lived in perfect condition just over five years,

was of course, being hand-reared, exceedingly tame, and was really

a most interesting pet. The bird was allowed to fly about the room

for a certain time during the evening. He would allow me to handle

him freely without showing any fear. He took very little food*

during the day, and spent most of his daylight in attending to his

toilet and dozing. If I placed him in the sunshine, he would jump

off his log (which served as a perch) and lie on the floor of his

cage, spread his long wings out and bask in the heat. He never

bathed, but would dust himself in sand like a fowl.



THE KINGFISHER AND SNIPE IN

CAPTIVITY.


By Gerald E. Rattigan.


Having read Mr. Barnby Smith’s letter on the Kingfisher in

the current issue of the Avicultural Magazine, and noticing shortly

afterwards the request of the Editor for copy, I am prompted to

give my experiences, such as they have been, in the keeping of

these birds, which I hope may be of some interest.


I bought my first Kingfisher and the only one with which I

was at all successful in or about November, 1910. I kept it for the

first three or four w T eeks that it was in my possession in a large

cage specially constructed for it, with a small tank let into it in

which minnows and other small fish could be placed. For the first

few days it was fed solely on minnows, then finding this form of

diet w T as a bit too expensive, “ I was living in London at the time,

where the supply of suitable small fish is limited and none too

cheap what there is of it,” so I tried desperately hard to get it on to

some form of soft food. Every possible form of insectile mixture

was offered it, as well as egg and bread and all kinds of other things,

and to try and make them attractive I placed in the dishes



* We take it that Mr. Galloway fed his Nightjar on “ Life,” mealworms,

moths, etc.—ED.



