490 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



9.50. — No further change. I now left, it being too dark to 

 observe anything beyond the coming and going of the birds. 



July 1st. — (Raining, but had been fine day.) Came without 

 watch. Must have been about 8.25 p.m. when I got there. Found 

 bird sitting some six inches nearer to me than day before — the 

 first time it has left its original position. Sat facing me. Eye 

 closed or just blinking. Chicks quite covered. Wings of bird 

 not crossed, but some inch and a half between the tips. Chicks 

 came out from under old bird's breast, and jumped up importu- 

 nately to be fed, but, she not complying, went back. A second 

 time meme jeu. And a third; and a fourth; and a fifth; and a 

 sixth. This time the chick pulled at the mother's beak, but she 

 refused to feed it. The other bird settled near, and the one with 

 the chicks flew off. Chicks left uncovered for some minutes 

 before bird came (cannot say which), and fed one of them by 

 regurgitation in the plainest possible way. Could see the throat 

 of the old bird swelling and subsiding. Afterwards it opened its 

 mouth as on night before. Bird relieved and flew off before the 

 other had taken its place. Feeding renewed. Always the same 

 process, but am not quite clear whether the chick put its beak in 

 the parent bird's or vice versa. Bird flew away. Had stayed 

 much less time than the other. After some five or six minutes 

 one of the birds flew back, and settled on elder stump ; then flew 

 down to chicks, which were fed as before. Too dark now to see 

 properly, and also had to go on account of rain. 



July 2nd. — (Fine all day.) At 8.30 found bird sitting in the 

 old place, with tail crossing the dried stalk. Eyes closed. Chicks 

 quite covered. 



8.35. — Bird, which, I think, was the partner, flew near quaw- 

 eeing. The sitting bird took no notice — that is to say, she did 

 not " churr." 



8.37. — Young ones out to be fed, but old bird declined. 



8.40. — Partner flew up and settled on ground near, where he 

 churred softly. Sitting bird did not answer. 



8.40. — Other bird flew up, and settled beside the one on 

 chicks, who immediately flew off. The other, after churring 

 slightly for a second or so, followed. One is much lighter 

 coloured than the other; both are covered with down. When 

 handled they opened their enormous mouths (which seemed as 





