The rearing of Grey Lag Geese.



53



out from the scarred and fissured rock. Once a mother bird in white

adult apparel was seen feeding her dusky, well-grown chick : the food

probably consisted of the abundant locusts which seemed everywhere,

and the remains of which were observed upon or close to the path.

When flying the Vulture’s wing, as in so many other birds, curls up

at the tip, as if warped by the wind. The writer saw a Lesser

Kestrel deliberately attempt to perch on the back of a flying Vulture,

this was most interesting, as the fact has been asserted to occur by

other African travellers, and I think it is Chapman who in his book

published a figure of a small bird actually taking a ride in this way.

Any such occurrences that may have been observed by Members of

the Society resident abroad would make excellent reading for this

Magazine.


“ A glowing landscape of red hills, seamed with cracks and

ravines,” says one’s note book. “ A green tint on them like a feeble

wash of colour toning down the red. Blue haze on distant hills. A

great sense of clear atmosphere and breadth and elbow room. Land¬

scape in a shimmering silky glow of heat.”


Such is the home of the African Vulture.



THE REARING OF GREY LAG GEESE.


By Maurice Portal.


In April, 1911, I obtained four eggs from the Hebrides and

put them under a hen. After twenty-eight days two birds hatched,

the other two eggs were found to be bad. The trouble at first

was that the young birds showed no desire to eat the finely-

chopped egg provided, or, indeed, any of the other delicacies which

were offered. Matters looked serious after twenty-four hours,

but a hurried visit to a farmer’s wife produced the solution. Her

reply was: “Don’t bother them, and just give them a turf of fine

grass.” The advice was followed, and they began to eat at once,

and the coop was moved on to a piece of fine shortish pasture.


After a few days they would eat a little egg and biscuit meal,

but never cared for it; fresh water was given four times a day and

fine gravel, and they thrived fast. After four months a little wheat

was given, and later wheat and barley mixed; but to this day they



