P. H. Maxwell—Cephalopterus glabricollis



211



Although the nest was examined every day, no more than five

young ones were seen, and it was not until 27th June that we discovered

that there were six young ones. Four were seen flying about in the

aviary, and there were two in the nest. A continuous supply of meal¬

worms, gentles, and small earth worms were given, and as there were

a considerable number of birds in the aviary, the only way of making

sure that only the Hoopoes would be able to get the live food was by

placing it in an oblong tin two inches deep, and covered with half-inch

wire netting.


I may mention that three adult birds out of the six in the aviary

were seen to look after the young. I have now removed the three

adult birds and the six young birds from the large aviary, and have

put all nine in a small aviary which they have to themselves. All

three birds feed the young ones, and at the time of writing (17th July),

one cannot tell the young from the full grown. Although these birds

were bred in captivity in 1911, I thought it would interest members

to have details of the rearing of these lovely birds.



CEPHALOPTER US GLABRICOLLIS


By P. H. Maxwell.


This, to my mind, is the most interesting of the three types of the

Umbrella Bird—the accompanying photograph which is taken from

a museum specimen, shows its remarkable peculiarities.


The male is black above and beneath, with slight metallic reflections

on the back and crest, the whole front of the neck and breast are bare

of feathers, the bill is dark and plumbeous, also the feet are black.

The female is very similar to the male, but the head crest is much

smaller, the ne<?k only slightly denuded, and throat rather small.


This bird which inhabits Costa Kica and Yeragua, was originally

discovered by Worcerniez in the cordillera of Chirqui, at an elevation

of 8,000 feet. The following extract is taken from (Carriker Annals,

Carnegie Museum, vol. vi, No. 1, August, 1909) kindly sent me

by Mr. Kinnear, of the Ornithology Department, the Natural History

Museum, on the habits of this bird :—



