40



Mr. E. E. Blaauw,



happy result, however, has been attained elsewhere, by Lord

Poltimore, a record of whose success (in a large aviary) in 1911

appeared in ‘Bird Notes’ for that year, p. 273. The Guira may,

I think, from this be given the first place, with the Radiated Fruit-

Cuckoo a good second, among the very scratch lot of “ Cuckoos as

Cage-birds.” It at least is the only one to have reached the zenith

of having reproduced its species in confinement. All the rest I am

afraid we must class very near the Nadir of the avicultural sphere.*


In a wild state they nest like the Ani and the African Buffalo

Weavers in communities, many pairs sharing in the building and

occupation of a huge tenement dwelling. Their general colour is

light brown streaked especially on the head and neck with black;

in size they are slightly larger than the European Cuckoo.


Ani ( Crotophaga ani).


This is another South American bird, whose range extends

to the West Indies, where it is popularly known as “ Blackbird,”

“ Black Witch,” or “ Cattle-bird,” names derived from its colour

(uniform black glossed with purple) or its habits. A whole flock

will share a large common nest, in which the accommodation is

often so strained that numbers of the eggs laid by the tenants are

crowded out and fall to the ground. See ‘ Ibis,’ 1910, p. 274, where

the eggs are described as pale blue covered with a white chalky

substance, and also ‘Avicultural Magazine,’ 1903, p. 22.


As a cage-bird, this species appears in the Zoo List, its first

appearance being in 1875 according to Russ, who also records it in

the Berlin Zoo in 1892.



ON THE BREEDING OF THE TROPICAL

SEED-FINCH (Oryzoborus torridus ).


By F. E. Blaauw.


On my way home from South America in 1911 I spent a day

in the beautifully-situated capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro.



* [A Guira Cuckoo, which I purchased on November 14th, 1903, when let out into

my aviary, ran rather than climbed about the branches : it uttered a mew¬

like whistle, and shivered its wings in true picarian fashion. When sur¬

prised or interested it crouched down and extended its neck. The iris was

orange red.—G. B.]



