J. Delacour—Breeding and other Notes from Cleres



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On this account, the breeding results of certain birds were very-

poor this year. Although I have some fifty different species of Pigeons

and Doves, only a few reared young and most of them late in the

season. Crested Pigeons, Long-tailed, Jobi, Red-mountain, Talpacotis,

Senegal, Pigmy, Blue-headed, and Galapagos are the only ones which

were successful.


In the outdoor aviaries, we had a number of young of the Forest

Foudij ( Foudia omissa), the rarer of the two red Madagascar Weavers,

larger, with the abdomen greyish olive, the head, neck, back, breast,

and tail-coverts only being scarlet. Also, for almost the first time in

the fifteen years that they have lived in their aviary, Pekin Robins

reared a brood of four, and perhaps more, as nests were overlooked,

and they seem to be now so much more numerous than before.


Some Whydahs and Weavers also nested, but I do not know quite

which species actually succeeded.


Japanese Blue Magpies ( Cyanopica cyana) nested several times,

but always ate their eggs.


My pair of Lidth’s Jays gave us hope at a certain time, but they

did not go any further than carrying sticks. They are very tame and

amusing, and I think the most beautiful members of the Crow family

in spite of their rather dark hues.


A few pairs of the pretty Fischer’s Whydahs were brought to me

from Abyssinia last spring, the males in full colour and perfect condition.

They have done very well out of doors. At the end of November, the

cocks still are in full colour. I keep these Whydahs, as well as Queen,

Pintail, Steel, and Paradise, in large aviaries inhabited by various

Waxbills, Zebras, and Grassfinches in case the Whydahs may some day

lay in their nests, as they certainly are parasitic at liberty. Among the

new inmates of my outdoor aviaries, I should like to mention some

Pink-crested Touracous, Wood-hoopoes, Amethyst Starlings (which

are much hardier than supposed, and do badly indoors), some very

pretty Red-headed insectivorous Weavers ( Anaplectes melanotis), and,

thanks to Mr. Sydney Porter’s generosity, some lovely Mountain Witch

Doves. Five Madagascar Partridges were reared by the parents.


The Pheasants were moderately successful. A good many of the

commoner species were reared, as well as some rather rare ones : six



