30 D. Seth-Smith—A Young Hybrid Macaw


A YOUNG HYBRID MACAW


By D. Seth-Smith


The following letter referring to a hybrid Macaw reared in Essex

is worth printing as an interesting record. The writer is Mr. J. L.

Tuke, of 202 Hampton Road, Ilford :—


“ The hen Macaw is coloured red and green, the male blue and

yellow. Each year they have mated and the hen has laid eggs, most of

which have been fertile, but failed to hatch. This year twelve eggs

were laid and most of them contained dead young, but out of the last

two laid one young bird has been hatched which is now well feathered

and apparently very strong, with a good appetite. It has already torn

a hole in the side of the shed with its beak and, unlike its parents,

squawks at night, or rather in the early morning, loud enough to

disturb neighbours three doors away. It has a blending of the colours

of both parents, having red feathered head and breast and blue-green

wings and tail.


“ These birds are not caged, but kept in an ordinary garden shed,

free to roam in the garden and house. The flight feathers of the old

birds aie clipped on one wing every six weeks. As yet the young one

has not been able to walk out as its legs are not strong enough, but

it has quite a large wing span and flaps its wings a great deal. Both

parents feed the young one which is now eight weeks old.”


Hybrid Macaws have previously been bred in France, Germany,

and New Zealand. Pure-bred blue and yellow as well as red and yellow

Macaws have been reared in France, Australia, and Germany.


SUCCESSFUL BREEDING IN THE

ADELAIDE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.


By D. Seth-Smith


In the last Report of the Zoological Society of South Australia it

is stated that during the year under review (1936) 182 birds of thirty-

eight different species were bred in the gardens, amongst those reared

being several of the rarer Australian species, concerning the breeding

of which the society is paying particular attention.



