Successful Breeding of Cheer Pheasants



27



with many graceful dives. Their extraordinary tameness certainly

makes them an immense attraction to the place in the dry season.


In July a man brought in a young Jabiru, the queerest-looking

little chap imaginable, a study in grey down. I am sure it would

have been a delightful bird to rear, but I already had so much to look

after I resisted the temptation with many regrets, besides it was

another long-legged bird, and very, very young.


A man in Darwin was breeding hybrids between the Pictorella and

Chestnut-banded Finches. He had two or three broods all very much

alike, but I thought none as pretty as either of the parents. Ho one

could have mistaken their parentage. He also had the first living

Yellow-faced Gouldian I have seen. I don’t know if it is a fact, but I

was told that all yellow-faced birds are cocks. This one was, and he had

it paired with a very light red-faced hen .


In an article like this I can only attempt to mention but a fraction

of the birds seen on Melville Island, but I think a good estimate may

be formed of the interesting birds to be found on that far outpost of

the wonderful Australian continent.



SUCCESSFUL BREEDING OF CHEER

PHEASANTS


[One of our members, Mr. P. J. Stallard, has sent notes on breeding

these Pheasants. As it is believed that this is the first time this species

has been bred, in England at any rate, I am sure members will be

most interested to read about his success. —Ed.]


He writes :—-


On the 24th of June, 1935, I have some Cheers hatched, seven

out of ten eggs, the others being fully developed, but probably due

to the dry weather could not struggle through, but the seven are

strong chicks, like overgrown Partridges, and proper gluttons for

their food. They were hatched on the 18th while I was away.


5 th July .—I am not giving the chicks any mealworms yet, but

the baked custard they simply go mad for, and they eat lettuce as

though it was made for them. I give them a little dry bran every





