8



J. Delacoui—Bird Notes from Cleres



Orinoco, Cereopsis, Boss’s Snow, Bine Snow, Lesser White-fronted,

Maned, Hutchin’s, Bed-crested, and Emperor Geese ; all the species

of Shelldrakes, Common, Bajah, Australian, Paradise, and South

African. During the past two years a few Ashy-headed, Boss’s Snow,

Blue Snow, Cereopsis, Magelan Geese, as well as hybrid Emperor x

Blue Snow and Emperor x Boss’s Snow were bred, with Black and

Black-necked Swans. In 1931 a pair of South African Shelldrakes

produced six young ones, and we reared one curious hybrid Bajah

X Buddy Shelldrake, resembling the Bajah in size and shape : dark

reddish brown, with white head and neck. Also we had a few

Madagascar White-eyes and Meller’s Ducks.


Sea Ducks are doing very well on our clear running water. There

are fifteen Eider and two Barrow’s Golden-eyes, which feed greedily

on grain and mash, with dried meat. One pair of Common Scoters

have now lived for over three years and keep perfect condition, but they

seem to thrive on natural food only, while a male Velvet Scoter,

wounded at sea in August, has quite recovered and looks perfect ;

it has become fairly tame and feeds freely on grain and mash. These

quaint Sea-ducks are a decidedly interesting addition to the Duck

collection.


Many Cranes have laid eggs every year, but so far none have hatched

anything. I am sorry to say that the old Sams which had been free-

flying for more than ten years met with its death last summer, as it

struck a high-tension electric cable, some distance from the park.


There are in the park different full-winged Macaws and Amazons,

as well as one White-headed Caique and two Palm Cockatoos.


Some Stanley Parrakeets, several species of Lovebirds and

Budgerigars of all colours were reared, as well as different small birds

of moderate interest.


My indoor flights have been mainly filled lately with the rare species

of Waxbills and small Finches, while the greenhouse aviary, which

looks better than ever, holds many Sugar and Sunbirds, together with,

as special jewels, the lovely Forktail and Crimson-winged Babbler

(Henicurus leschenaulti and Garndax milni).


As I write, I am on my way to the Far East, and hope to return

in April or May with interesting specimens.



