G. H. Gurney—Breeding Notes from the Keswick Aviaries for 1933 77


the following consecutive days. Of these, two eggs were broken,

whether accidentally or the reverse I do not know, but knowing the

predilection of this species for eggs, I rather suspected the latter, and

if I had anything sitting at the time, the least bit suitable, I would

have removed the remaining egg, as I feared it would suffer the same

fate as the other two. However, the hen settled down and on the

whole sat well, though always popping out at the least alarm, but

the egg hatched successfully on 11th June. The young Kingfisher

was incredibly ugly, with black naked skin, and its huge beak and

staring eyes. The feathers took a very long time to grow, and for a

good fortnight it remained in practically the same state as when first

hatched, except it increased greatly in size but, when the feathers

did begin to start, it feathered very rapidly and left the nest on 18th July

a very fine bird, which before long became difficult to tell from its

parents. It consumed an enormous amount of food and was for ever

calling for more. This species has been bred at Lifford, and here

many years ago, but I do not think elsewhere.


Black-headed Grosbeak, Orizohorus torridus. This handsome

species nests here regularly, but always with the same result—the

young are thrown out of the nest when a few days old. This year

the first egg was laid on 9th May, and the full clutch of four followed

but, after sitting in exemplary fashion, the old birds disposed of their

offspring as mentioned above after seven days.


Starlings, as a whole, were very disappointing: pairs of Purple¬

headed, Green Glossy, Bed-eyed, and Salvadoris, although in perfect

breeding condition, showed no signs of going to nest.


Superb Glossy Starling, Spreo superbus. I have two breeding pairs

of this species : one pair made no attempt at nesting. The other pair

hatched several young, but none were reared, as they were thrown out

of the nesting log when about a week old.


White-headed Starling, Heteropsar albicapillus. A pair built

several nests, but did not seem able to settle down and no eggs were

laid. They may have been disturbed by other birds, and if they

survive I shall give them an aviary to themselves next summer.


Bose-coloured Pastor, Pastor roseus. I have had a pair of these

birds for several years and, though alone in what I should have



