KAGU — TOOTH-BILLED PIGEON 



297 



solitary egg is brooded continuously by the cock bird, relieved occasionally, 

 perhaps (and if so, most likely at night) by his partner. Incubation lasts five 

 weeks. If the egg be removed, another will be laid, and the process may be 

 repeated two or three times ; but in a state of nature it is probable that the birds 

 would only lay one, or, at all 

 events, would hatch only a 

 single young one in the season. 

 The egg itself is grejash stone- 

 colour, sparsely marked with 

 spots and blotches of dull grey 

 and umber ; and, except for the 

 finer texture of the shell, might 

 well be taken for a gull's egg. 

 In captivity the birds were fed 

 on chopped beef, of which they 

 would consume a pound at a 

 time ; but they were very fond 

 of large centipedes, which they 

 would reduce to a pulp, by 

 passing several times trans- 

 versely through their beaks, 

 and then swallow. In their 

 native islands kagus live in 

 pairs in the neighbourhood of 

 the marshes, where they feed 

 upon worms, slugs, beetles, frogs, 

 etc., retiring to the scrub-jungle 

 when not searching for food. 

 There appears danger of this 

 interesting bird being extermin- 

 ated, unless measures are taken 

 for its protection. 



Tooth-Billed Samoa like- 



Pigeon. w j se possesses an 

 aberrant type of bird in the 

 shape of the tooth-billed pigeon 

 (Didunculus strigirostris), 

 which subsists entirely on animal 

 substances, especially snails and 

 worms. The beak, which forms 

 one of its most peculiar features, 

 is unusually strong and heavy at the tip, and has the upper half hooked and 

 the lower half toothed, or rather serrated. This pigeon, which is related to the 

 extinct dodo of Mauritius, and represents a family (Didunculidce) by itself, would 

 probably have long since been exterminated, had it not taken to nesting in trees 

 instead of, as formerly, on the ground. As a result of this change of habit, an 



f.m 



TOOTH-BILLED TIGEON. 



