150 EXTRACTS FROM MEMBERS 5 NOTE-BOOK 
going to the nesting hole and feeding the young when I was 
not more than three yards away. 
I have now a young Corythceola cristata (the large blue 
plantain eater) which was brought to me on February 28, 
having evidently fallen from the nest. It was then well 
fledged but could not fly, and now, just a fortnight later, it 
still cannot fly to any extent; whether this is because of 
its cramped quarters I cannot say. Anyway it is a charming 
pet and delightfully tame ; in fact, it never seems really happy 
unless it is out of its cage and on my arm. It has not yet 
learnt to pick up food but has still to be fed by hand. I cannot 
think that in nature it would still be in the nest, and I fancy 
that probably these birds leave the nest and climb about some 
time before they fly, still, of course, being fed by the parents. 
I feed it almost entirely on fruit, but larvae are not objected 
to. A fruit it prefers to all others that I have tried is a forest 
fruit called enziru, not unlike a rather large damson with 
quite a large stone inside. These it swallows whole, the stone 
passing out without difficulty. 
I hope to erect an aviary shortly, when I may have some- 
thing to write on birds in captivity, a subject which has not 
yet, I think, been touched and which has its interesting side, 
although the wild bird, I admit, is a more interesting and 
instructive study. 
L. M. Seth-Smith. 
March 8, 1914. 
Jackal 
I have recently had a report from the District Commissioner, 
Kericho, that the jackals in his district are very destructive 
to the mealie crop. I also remember being shown apples that 
had been partly eaten by jackals. 
Any notes on this subject would be interesting. 
A. B. Percival. 
Jackal Inter-breeding with Domestic Dog 
I have frequently heard of this happening, but have never 
come across a case ; any information on the subject would 
be interesting. A photograph of the progeny would add to 
the value of the notes. 
