J. Ddacour—Breeding the Hooded Pitta



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supply of it. On 24th May one young one disappeared, and

was never found.


Feather sheaths quickly appeared, and the growth of the

youngsters was very quick. They came out more and more on

the platform now, so much so that on the 31st one was out of

the nest, flying well enough. The weaker one also came out, but

was found half drowned in the pond, and just saved. A small

screen was put up to avoid further accidents. But it was of no

avail, and this same young Pitta was drowned on 5th June, after

having been flying well for several days. Both parents fed the

remaining young bird devotedly, and did not abandon and bully

it as I had feared, as the mother had started laying again in

the old nest on the 31st, while the cock began another nest, further

away, in a similar situation. Probably on account of the

stimulating food, the hen laid every day, as many as ten eggs, by

12th June. She insisted on laying in the old nest, and all but

one egg dropped on the ground. The old nest had been kept very

clean, the parents taking right away the droppings of the chicks,

but the cock had by then completed the new nest and would not go

to the old one again. The birds were not sitting. On 13th June

I removed the old nest and put eight eggs into the new one (I thought

ten were too many). Very docile, the hen went to the new nest

and incubation started immediately. Two eggs, probably addled,

were rejected after a few days. At the same time, both parents

continued feeding their first young, now quite strong, and eating

also by himself since 12th June. However, on the 21st, I took

him by hand (he is very tame), and removed him into another

compartment, where he now lives happily.


The first plumage of the young Hooded Pitta is as follows :

top of the head streaked dark brown and dull chestnut;

under parts earthy brown, rather pale; belly and vent pale pink;

nape black; upper parts blackish green; quills, as in the adults,

but duller; greater wing coverts dull black with whitish terminal

and subterminal spots; lesser wing coverts blackish green; rump

pale blue; bill brown, with tip and gape yellow; legs and feet

greyish pink.



