250



H. A. Foolcs—Rollulus Roulroul and Other Birds



foreheads next appeared, and the feathers on the back, a dark olive

green, while the tail feathers were almost a dark bine-green. The breast,

now fully feathered, has merely turned a shade less rufous ; while the

head and neck are still in “ down ”. The third chick was taken out and

hand-reared, owing to both the parents and remaining chicks driving

it off with great brutality. Alas ! poor bird, it met an undignified death

by being sat on by my wife. It was very friendly and most intelligent,

but used to jump on the armchairs and sofas for an occasional siesta.

I measured the unhatched egg and found it to be 33 by 26 mm., rather

a sharp oval in shape, and white in colour, and of a fine, though poorly

glazed, surface. I was interested to note that both the parents and

chicks took to the trees when disturbed in spite of thickly planted

shrubs and grass. Another inmate of the aviary is a Crimson-fronted

Barbet, which I have found impossible to keep alive more than a month

or two unless hand-reared. Out of five reared by hand I have one

survivor now nearly three years old. His diet is mainly any soft fruit

and grain-powder mixed with water. There seems to be no difficulty

with any of the larger Barbets. I have always heard that Zebra Finches

were the world’s record holders as regards reproducing their species,

but in my experience the Diamond Dove should be awarded the palm.

For whirlwind 100 per cent methods can you beat feeding two families

(their own) and sitting on a new clutch at the same time ? All my pairs

have either bred or are sitting for the fourth time since the end of

January (28th). They seem to be in such a hurry to finish off and start

again that they very often throw their young out of their ridiculous

nests. For this reason I hang a small saucer-shaped basket under¬

neath the nest, and should an accident happen a ground-floor only a

few inches away is there to receive them.


Is the Crested or Topknot Pigeon hard to rear ? Mine never get

beyond the fully fledged state. Bronze-wings, however, do very well, and

are easily reared. I have often read that Sunbirds cannot be kept

together, but I find that if each bird is allowed one food-pot to itself

there seems to be no trouble. I have a pair of Purple-rumped and

Purple, as well as a pair of Mrs. Gould’s and a single Nepalese Yellow-

backed—all in the same aviary, 20 by 10 by 11 feet. As an aid to feeding

insectivorous birds, including Sunbirds, I find a meaty bone or a piece



