Correspondence



88



Satyr Tragopan, Tragopan satyra, from S.E. Himalayas.

Temminck’s Tragopan, T. temmincki, from Tibet and China.


Cabot’s Tragopan, T. caboti, from S.E. China.


Argus, Argusianus argus, from Malay States.


Chinquis Peacock Pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum, from Burma.

Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, P. germaini, from Cochin China.

Bulwer’s Pheasant, Lobiphasis bulweri, from Sarawak.


Reeves, Syrmaticus reevesi, from N. and W. China.


Soemmerring’s, S. scemmerringii, from Japan.


Also pair of Vulturine Guinea-fowl and Californian Quails.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


NESTING HABITS OF THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD


In his very excellent Birds of Tropical West Africa , of which the

second volume is just published, Mr. David Bannerman writes of the

breeding habits of Agapornis pullaria : “In Sierra Leone Major Scovil

found it breeding in a Woodpecker-like hole scooped out from the side

of the mud nest of a species of termite which builds in trees. Colonel

Thompson corroborates this £ situation ’, having many times seen

these holes himself. In Cameroon Bates found the same thing, the

ants’ nest he describes as hard and earthy and firmly attached to the

large stem of the aseng tree. Big ants inhabited this nest, and savagely

attacked a boy who climbed it; the Lovebirds appeared not to be

molested, and are evidently permitted by the ants to rear their brood

in peace, the ants successfully warding off intruders ! ”


The fact that the Red-faced Lovebird, although it has been known

to aviculture from a very remote period, has never been known to

breed in captivity, may be accounted for by the absence of suitable

nesting sites. Perhaps some aviculturist will try the experiment of

constructing an artificial mud ants’ nest in a tree and trust that the

birds will excuse the absence of the ants !



D. S-S.



