G. IJ. Gurney—Breeding Notes from the Keswick Aviaries for 1933 79


Ring-necked Parrakeet, Psittacula Jcrameii. Two young ones

reared. Laid 1st April.


Cockatiel, Leptolophus hollandicus. Several clutches of eggs were

laid, but none were hatched.


Black Crake, Limnocorax niger. The first nest was made in a large

tuft of grass near the water pool. On 1st May there were three eggs

in the nest, but only one hatched, this was fully reared. The second

clutch was laid on 8th June—the full lot of four eggs—of these two

hatched, and were successfully reared. It was a pretty sight to see the

half-grown young bird of the first clutch tend and feed his brothers

and sisters of the second brood. Numbers of double brooded birds will

do this, noticeably waterhens and some of the partridges. The young

Black Rails when first hatched are tiny little balls of black fluff, for

the first few days really not much bigger than a large bumble bee,,

and easily able to squeeze through half-inch mesh wire-netting. They

are rather slow in growing, but not specially difficult to rear.


Cayenne Rail, Creciscus cayennensis. Four eggs were laid during

May, but they were unfertile, and I rather doubt if I have a true pair.

This species has been bred here in the past, as well as the larger species r

Aramides ypecaha .


Crowned Lapwing, Stephanibyx coronatus. These birds started to

nest as early as 14th February, on which date the first egg was laid,,

two more being added on the 16th and 18th. The nest was in the open

flight, partially concealed by a large tussock of grass, it merely con¬

sisting of a shallow scrape with a few bents of dried grass laid in it.

Both birds took turns in sitting, but the eggs, although fertile, did

not hatch, and I put this down to the early laying and cold weather

at the time. They laid again on 2nd May, this time the eggs being

placed on the sand in the aviary shelter without any attempt at

concealment. Three eggs composed the clutch, and again both birds

sat tight and were never seen off the eggs for a minute, when the

change was made, one bird coming off to feed, the other immediately

took its place. Again we were disappointed, the eggs for the second

time failing to hatch although containing fully developed chicks.

Possibly they were too weak to break the shells.


Russet-tailed Bamboo Partridge, Bambusicola thoracica. My pair,.



