Correspondence



55



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


THE YOUNG OF THE RUDDY QUAIL DOVE


Captain Stokes, in his account of the breeding of the Black-capped Fruit

Pigeon by Mr. Whitley, mentions the fact that the young leave the nest when

only a few days old. I have been successful this season in breeding the

Ruddy Quail Dove (Oreopelia montana) and was much surprised when the

young flew five days after hatching. Although they were frequently returned

to the nest, as I was afraid they might be injured by Pheasants, they would

not remain there, except if returned late in the evening, when the hen would

join them on the nest. The young, doubtless, in a state of nature leave the

exposed nest in bush or tree at the first opportunity for the comparative

safety of the ground.


P. C. Mackie.



PROLIFIC ZEBRA FINCHES ; FOOD FOR TANAGERS


Last spring I bought a pair of Zebra Finches the offspring of which have

increased to such an alarming extent that I fear my aviary, which is quite

extensive, will be overstocked with these birds, and they continue even now

to keep bringing youngsters into the world. Beyond the fact of catching

them up and making them cease, is there any other way to induce them to

take a rest, or is it best to let nature continue its course ? I shall be very

glad if any of your readers can give me any advice on this subject and inform

me if this is a very common habit amongst these Zebra Finches. I have just

purchased some softbill food which is advertised for Tanagers, etc., but I

cannot induce these birds to look at it. They will only eat bananas and

apparently would sooner starve than touch the softbill food. Have any of

your readers, I wonder, had the same experience ?


Evelyn W. Barclay.



QUEER BEHAVIOUR OF A DUCK


Mr. A. Ezra’s letter upon “ Strange Bird Friendships ” is extremely

interesting and reminds me of a White Runner Drake I once had which never

knew he was a Drake—or never wanted to !


I make these following assertions upon my honour as an F.Z.S., although

I do not expect them to be believed.


Some six years ago I sat a Hen upon thirteen eggs. Having only twelve

Fowls’ eggs I made up the thirteen by adding a White Runner Duck egg.

This egg duly hatched out, as did nine of the Fowls’ eggs. In the next run

separated only by inch mesh wire netting was a flock of White Runners but

“ Sebastian ”, as we named the hen-hatched duckling, never took the slightest

notice of them. He thought he was, or he was determined to be, a Fowl.


My Runner Ducks and Geese were sent out each morning to a pond some

500 yards up the road. Here they swam about all day and were fetched

home at night. People used to come to their doors to watch them waddling

in single file home to bed. Never once would Sebastian join the throng.

He would not go near the other Ducks, neither would he go near water.

We put him out with the others but he would turn back and quack at the door



