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F. E. Thomas—Breeding the Magpie Tanager



young to be reared, also what possible chance had they of surviving

the rigours of a typical English autumn. I duly approached our good

friends, the Keston Foreign Bird Farm, who offered most helpful,

but by no means optimistic advice, so I just hoped for the best. The

eggs were slightly smaller than those of a Thrush, light greyish colour

with dark markings ; period of incubation fourteen days. One bird

only was hatched, 24th September, which left the nest 8th October,

and is already able to fly a matter of four to five yards. The parent

birds were offered a plentiful supply of fruit, gentles, insects, yolk

of hard-boiled egg, and, of course, mealworms.


I have no knowledge of this specimen having bred in captivity and

Keston also expressed a similar view. Need I add my Magpie Tanagers

will be offered every inducement to carry on their good work again

next year.


16 th November , 1938.


I am very happy to state that the young Magpie Tanager is pro¬

gressing quite satisfactorily. At this stage it is now almost impossible

to note any real difference between “ him ” and his parents, except

that in the case of the youngster the beak is considerably duller than

that of the older bird.


21st November, 1938.


The young Magpie Tanager is still making excellent progress, and

is now completely independent and almost identical with the parent

birds. It was observed that the young bird on leaving the nest on

8th October, did not return, but settled down each night in the cover

provided in the flight, whilst the parents took up their positions quite

near him. At this period the nights were cold and very stormy, and

it seemed desirable that they should now be confined to the sleeping

quarters at night, and after a little persuasion we did manage to get

them inside, where the youngster chose for himself the highest possible

perch, and the parents were apparently content to remain just near him.


One curious point, however, was the fact that although a good

supply of food was provided in the shelter, they simply touched nothing,

not even mealworms, and consequently had to be let out very early



