D. Seth-Smith—Stray Notes



107



of the parent. In captivity the feeding of these birds presents no

difficulty, even when they have young, meat, fish, and egg sufficing.

In the wild state they are said to be very destructive, during the breeding

season, amongst the nesting colonies of Penguins and Cormorants,

the young of which they devour.


American Robins. —In the Summer Aviary a pair of American

Robins has reared two young birds and the hen is sitting again. The

cock was unfortunately not to be trusted with the young of other

birds, and after devouring six baby Painted Quails he was quietly

removed from the aviary, while his mate continues to incubate, and

will, we hope, rear her second brood single-handed, unless the young of

the first brood help in the task, which is not unlikely.


Blue-birds. —Blue-birds nested in a box and have reared three

young ones, they are now building again, while another pair in the

other compartment of the aviary have a fast growing brood still in the

nest. They are delightful birds, and it is a long time since they were

regularly imported from the States. They were bred at the Zoo

several times between 1860 and 1880, and private aviculturists have

bred them. I may add that all that are reared this year will be

wanted by the Zoological Society.


Gambel’s Quails. —Gambel’s Quails, which bred for the first time

last year have again done so. The old pair have a brood of six or seven

chicks, and the young pair, those reared last year, are expected to hatch

any day. This Quail, it will be remembered, is something like the

Californian Quail, but to my mind more handsome. It is very rarely

imported, otherwise it would be a great favourite with aviculturists.


Various Birds Nesting.— Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow and

the Pileated Sparrow, both have young in the nest, while Brazilian

Blue Grosbeaks are sitting. Brush Bronzewings, Crested Doves,

Barred Doves, Dwarf Turtle-doves, and Triangular-spotted Pigeons

have all reared young.


An Abnormal Rosy-faced Lovebird.—A very interesting variety

of the Rosy-faced Lovebird has been received at the Zoo with other

normal specimens. The rosy tint, which is characteristic of the cheeks,

has spread over nearly the whole of the body, so that the bird is rosy

pink over the greater part of its plumage.



