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J. M. Derscheid—Breeding of Mitchell’s Lorikeet



other birds of different kinds. They built a nest in some pampas grass

at the foot of a holly bush which is covered with ivy—just a hollow

in the ground, lined with leaves and feathers.—The first egg was laid

on 4th May. After three eggs had been laid the nest appeared to be

deserted, but on the 28th May four eggs were noticed and the birds

started to take an interest in the nest. On examining the nest

on 10th June, eight eggs were found and these were quite warm.

A few days later the hen was seen incubating, and several times after¬

wards both the hen and the cock were seen on the nest. Four young

were hatched by the 30th June, one egg contained a dead chick and the

other three eggs were infertile. The young and the adults were caught

up and placed in a small enclosure measuring 5 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet

high at front and 3 feet at back, with a wooden floor. The young were

at first fed on mealworms, grasshoppers, insectivorous food, maw seed

and chick food. Three of the young died on the 5th, 11th, and 14th July

respectively. After this we decided to discontinue giving the remaining

young one mealworms, grasshoppers and the insectivorous food and

fed him on maw seed and chick food only. This had the desired effect

and this young one has been fully reared and is quite a healthy and

strong bird. It shows that a good many birds do not require a lot of

insectivorous food and certainly not many mealworms. The chick

resembles the chick of a Californian Quail. As this bird is rare in this

country I am pleased to have bred it. I believe it has not been bred

before.



BREEDING OF MITCHELL’S LORIKEET


(Trichoglossus mitchelli , G. It. Gray)


By J. M. Derscheid, Dr. Sc.


Sterrebeek, Belgium


I was most interested by Mr. W. C. Osman Hill’s account of his

successful breeding of Mitchell’s Lorikeet published in the Avicultural

Magazine, August, 1938, page 227. I believe that it is a first record



