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Lechford Aviary Jottings



at night. A store of well-cleaned gentles was in readiness, and on these

and finely-chopped bullock’s heart the babies throve and grew apace.

They were quick to learn how to pick up food for themselves in addition

to all the insects and other titbits supplied by their parents. Nor were

they long in displaying something of the family temper, for when

the elder chick was three days old its mother accidentally brushed

against it and toppled it over. As soon as it had righted itself it turned

on the younger chick and pecked it viciously until their mother firmly

sat down on both of them.


As a rule each old bird takes charge of one chick—I do not know if

it is always the same one, I fancy not ; but it is difficult to tell them

apart.


Pheasants have laid well, but a considerable percentage of their

eggs are infertile. This, I understand, has been the common experience

this year, perhaps the abnormal weather accounts for it ? The chicks

that have hatched seem vigorous. Imperial Pheasants produced many

eggs but all infertile, though the birds look to be in the best of health

and condition. Scintillans is another failure: all his bluster and fury

have not produced one fertile egg, but unabashed he still challenges

all and sundry.


The Orinoco Geese only gave us one gosling, a pretty little black

and white thing which lived but twenty-four hours, and whose corpse

was gratefully accepted by the South Kensington Museum bird

department.


They are laying again and may do better this time. Ashy-headed

and Emperor Geese both have eggs and a mixed collection of Ducks’

eggs is gathered daily. Kooks were a menace, even taking eggs out of

the nest-boxes until one or two paid the penalty and were hung up

as a warning to evildoers.


The Blue Crossoptilons laid a vast number of eggs in a common

nest with w r hat result remains to be seen ; they are masterful termagants

who believe in keeping their husbands in subjection and live up to

their theories. The surprising thing is that the husbands, though

armed with good sharp spurs, are magnanimous or chicken-hearted

enough to put up with this treatment.



E. F. C.



