434 F. E. Blaauw—The Breeding of the Black-winged Andean Goose


Both species represented in the plate lived out of doors for a con¬

siderable period. The Swallow-tail escaped and was at large for six

weeks ; it was then caught and returned to me not much the worse

for its adventure. The Ruby and Topaz lived in a small all-open

aviary for two months, until it finally escaped through the bars of a

cage in which it had been placed temporarily.


It is neither cold nor sudden changes of temperature that necessarily

prove fatal to the majority of Humming Birds, but they are very easily

upset internally by unsuitable nourishment. It is too much to

expect any bird to endure the combination of a sudden climatic

and dietetic change, such as it is forced to undergo on the Atlantic

between South America and Europe, without it showing some sign

of harmful effect. But I believe that, if the bird is reasonably fit on

arrival, it is worth while spending a week’s toil catching small hedge

spiders on which to feed it, for once its natural standard of health

is re-established it can be subjected to a less complicated treatment.

The only individual ( Chlorestes notatus) I possess of the original spring

consignment (the others having been given way or having escaped)

is so robust, owing, I consider, to its treatment on arrival, that it

will stand 45° F. without ruffling a feather and is a veritable atom of

ceaseless energy “ from dawn till dewy eve ”.


I think that unless aviculturists can spare the time to give each

bird individual attention they had better leave Humming Birds alone,

and the man who keeps his birds solely for the show bench has no

hope of success with these little creatures.



ON THE BREEDING, ETC., OF THE BLACK¬

WINGED ANDEAN GOOSE


(’Chlcephaga melano'pterd)


By F. E. Blaauw, F.M.Z.S.


Since I commenced to keep water fowl, about fifty years ago,

I always tried to obtain a pair of the Black-winged Andean Goose,

but, until recently, never succeeded. I was often the owner of one

or two birds of this species, but they were always males , so that there



