Delacour—Breeding of Courier Water-Tyrant 171


standing in the salt water, their roots being quite covered at high

tide, though, of course, these do not go far out, the forest usually

trailing off into the mangrove swamps which often go quite a distance

out to sea. It is here that the Kandavu Honey-eater seems to be most

plentiful, and it is heard long before it is seen. It is a shy and wary bird,

and it is only after patient watching that one can get a glimpse of these

peculiar looking creatures.


(To be continued)



BREEDING OF COURIER WATER-TYRANT


(Fluvicola climazura climazura)


By J. Delacour


In most parts of South America one sees along streams and ditches

and even in towns and gardens some very pretty white, grey, and black

birds, which remind one of our Wagtails. But their tails are shorter,

their bills slightly flatter, and their actions quite different, although

they have the same way of running prettily on the soil.


They are Water-Tyrants of the genus Fluvicola. Many years ago

I saw many of the white-shouldered species (.Fluvicola pica) in Guiana

and in Venezuela, and I was very much struck with their attractive

appearance. But I was told that they could not live in captivity.

Fortunately M. C. Cordier, of Pernambuco, has found the way of

keeping most Brazilian birds alive in his aviaries, and afterwards to

send them to us.


I got my first Water-Tyrants (F. climazura) more than two years

ago. They arrived, it is true, in poor condition, and only two survived.

Let out in one of my tropical houses, they soon settled down and

enjoyed immensely the stones and water-lilies of the pond. They

proved tame and harmless to other birds. But they probably were of

the same sex, as after over a year no attempt at breeding took place.

They are purely insectivorous birds and take readily to the usual

mixture, a little raw meat and a few meal-worms.


Last summer I received two more specimens which, after they

sufficiently recovered, were let out with the first two. Things did not



