334



Mr. W. E. Teschemaker,



The hen proved a very unsteady sitter, constantly coining

off the nest for a fly round the aviary and, if I came anywhere

near, always making a point of coming to see if I had a meal¬

worm for her. The male bird would fly after her, doing his best

to drive her back to the nest. But he never attempted to sit

himself.


Whilst the hen sat, the male would perch on a small

shrub close by singing. No doubt he did his best, but his efforts

were certainly not melodious—consisting merely of alow, jerky,

intermittent warbling. He sings with the beak closed—not that

this necessarily means a poor performer, for the Indian Shama

does the same.


The period of incubation was 13 days ; and on July 1st

the nest contained two young and one (addled) egg. The young

were very tiny things with dark lead-coloured skin and covered

with black-coloured down.


I have omitted to mention that 011 June 29th we had an

almost continuous downpour of twelve hours duration, nearly

two inches of rain falling, and during that day the lieu Tauager

certainly sat splendidly. I had arranged some boards on the top

of the aviary as a shelter for her, but unfortunately these only

acted as a conduit, allowing a stream of water to fall on the sitting

bird. I therefore made a framework of wood, covered with

linoleum, and setting a ladder against the aviary, pushed it along

the top of the wire netting with a long pole. The bird sat most

courageously until I had nearly completed this complicated

operation, and then she darted into the covered house and helped

herself to a little food whilst I finished.


The male bird had been most aggressive during the whole

period of incubation but he now became simply unbearable.

One day I saw him seize the cock Roller Canary by the neck

and shake him as a terrier shakes a rat. I caught up the Pekius

but the Roller I could not catch and next day I found him in a

dying state. He also killed a cock Ortolan Bunting and I fear

that the bad reputation of the Tauagers is only too well earned

as far as the Black Tauager is concerned.


Both parents fed the young which on July 6th shewed

sheath feathers of a dark brown colour.



