on the Martineta Tinamou Breeding in Captivity. 105


eggs were laid that it was found necessary to give the first twelve

or fifteen to a domestic hen, the remainder being left with the

male Tinamou. The hen did not sit well, and several died

when young.


In the Spring of 1903, M. Dulaurier tried two males to the

one female, and he considers that three might have been better

still, as the female lays a fresh clutch to each male.


At first the two cocks fought and pursued the hen who

laid thirteen eggs, but neither of the males would sit, and the

eggs when placed under a domestic hen were found to be clear.

One male was then removed, and the hen paired with the other

and laid six eggs, upon which he immediately commenced

to sit. The hen was then allowed to be with the other cock, and

laid another clutch of eight eggs, but this cock was disturbed

by some Tragopans and did not hatch.


We are told that the young Tinamous can be reared in the

same way as young Pheasants.


The fact of the female pairing successively with two males

seems to me to be of very great interest. The subject of

Polyandry in birds appears to have been somewhat neglected

by ornithologists, but I am much disposed to think that it may

take place more often than is supposed in species, in which the

male performs the duties of incubation and the rearing of the

3’oung. *


In an account I gave of the breeding of Turnix tanki

(.Bulletin of the B. O. Club. Vol. XIII. p. 72), I remarked that

the female, after laying her clutch of three eggs, took no further

notice of the nest, but went about “apparently in search of another

husband.” I am much inclined to believe that had there been

another male available she would have paired with him and laid

a second clutch, which he would have incubated. I have

noticed moreover in the case of theTataupa Tinamou ( CrypUirus

tataupa), that when the male is sitting the female often calls.

She is not wanted any more for the first clutch, and it seems

probable that she would, if she could, go off and find a second



* Dr. Sclater tells me that the Rheas are known to be polyandrous.—D. S.-S.



