257


THE



Hvicultural fllbagasine,



BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



Neiu Series— \JO L. V. — NO. 9.— All rights reserved. JULY, 1907.


THE KAGU.


{Rhino chetus jzibatus).


The very excellent photographs by Mr. Berridge, which

are here reproduced, represent one of the most interesting and

remarkable of birds. It was discovered in 1852 when the French

occupied New Caledonia to which island it is confined. Two

living examples reached the London Zoological Gardens in 1862,

having been presented by Dr. G. Bennett. In 1866 auother was

received by presentation from the Acclimatization Society of

Sydney, while a fourth was purchased in the following year. In

1884 and 1885 two or three other examples were obtained. Since

the latter date however the species was unrepresented until last

year when a fine specimen was received by purchase, and is still

in the collection in perfect health. It is from this specimen that

the photographs here reproduced were obtained.


In the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1862 (pp.

218-219) tue l ate Mr. A. D. Bartlett gave an interesting account

of the first specimens received at the Gardens. The habits of

the bird as there described may be studied almost any day from

the specimen now in the Western Aviary.


" With its crest erect (writes Bartlett) and wings spread

out, the Kagu runs or skips about, sometimes pursuing and

driving before him all the birds that are confined with him in

the same aviary, evidently enjoying the fun of seeing them

frightened ; at other times he will seize the end of his wing or

tail and run round, holding it in his bill : from a piece of paper

or dry leaf he derives amusement by tossing it about and running

after it. During his frolic he will thrust his bill into the grounds



