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J. C. Bennett—Breeding Notes



not seem to notice the absence of his mate but devoted all his time

to watching the Diamond Doves. He spent most of his time on the

highest perch in the flight and immediately the Doves left the nest

would immediately fly down to the nest and brood the eggs or young

Doves. This performance was repeated daily and for each of the nests

and he could be seen brooding two young Doves each as large as himself.

His usual attitude was to stand between the birds with his wings

outstretched over them. When the Doves returned to the nest he

would retire to his perch at the top of the aviary. Even when the

young Doves had left the nest he would sit between them on the

perch, but directly there was another clutch of eggs he returned to

his self-imposed task of brooding the eggs directly the parents left

them. It is interesting to conjecture what might have been the

result if the hen Zebra had not escaped. I have never come across

such a display of the paternal instincts in these birds before and it

would be interesting to hear if other members have.


Zebra Finches, Cubans, and Long-tailed Grass Finches have bred

without any fuss or trouble, although the first-named have not been

as prolific as usual. Of the other Doves, the Emerald-spotted and

the Tambourines have made no attempt to breed. A pair of Carolina

Ducks, although they had a pen to themselves, made no attempt

and never went near the box—made to look as natural as possible

—but in this case I think this was owing to the fact that I had to

go through their pen to attend to a pen of Golden Pheasants and the

Ducks were disturbed. This arrangement—or want of arrangement—

will be altered in future, and as the Carolinas are much steadier now

I hope for better results next season. In August I obtained a pair

of young Mandarins, 1936 birds, and these have quickly become tame

and come running for scraps directly I approach. These small pens

are ideal for taming nervous birds and my method is to enter the pens

as quietly as possible and stand quite still until the birds have settled

down and then attend to their wants without any bustling movements.

I found this worked well with about twenty young Golden Pheasants,

and they are now quite tame, although these birds seem to sense

immediately you enter the pen, however quiet you may be, that you

have come to catch some of them, and their tameness vanishes imme-



