■ Notes on the Breeding of the South African Coly. 179


same fashion, apparently from delight at the successful hatching' of

his first family (he was quite a young bird). But I have never

known another of his species forget his dignity to such an extent,

and the Mealy Rosella is the only true Broadtail that I have

often seen play.



NOTES ON THE BREEDING OF THE

SOUTH AFRICAN COLY.


By Gerard H. Gurney, E.Z.S.


A pair of South African Colies (Colius striatus) nested and

successfully reared two young ones last summer; and the following

notes, though somewhat meagre, may be of interest, as I am not aware

that this species has been previously bred in confinement. I see by

my notes that it was during the latter half of November, 1913, that

six South African Colies came into my possession ; these birds in a

wild state always go about in little parties of six to eight, so I was

anxious to keep all mine alive, but all of them were in very poor con¬

dition when they arrived, and, in spite of every care, died oft one by

one, until only two were left. These however began to thrive, and

after having been kept in a large cage all the winter, were turned into

a big aviary with open flight and shelter, during May; here they very

quickly made themselves at home, and were generally in the open,

hanging, often head downwards, by their strong feet on to the wire

sides of the flight, wherever they could get the most sun; or else

climbing about in the thick undergrowth and bushes growing in

their aviary.


In British East Africa, where Colies of two or three species

are found, I used to see them very commonly, flying out from a

bush singly one after the other, with their quick sharp flight, some¬

what like a Parrakeet’s ; the natives used to say they were good

to eat, but I never tried one. In confinement they are rather

greedy birds, and are very apt to over-eat themselves, and become,

unless care is taken to prevent it, enormously fat.


It was not until June 26th that I noticed one of the Colies



