166



A. F. Moody—Cereopsis Goose



Material used was white raffia and white manila rope teased,

although a variety of colours was available including green. The

nest was about 2 feet long, the narrow tube entrance being absent;

in its place was an overhanging flap only 4 inches long.


On 20th November I put my hand in the nest and was delighted

to feel an egg. It was dull white, slightly pointed at one end, and large

for the size of the bird, being almost twice the size of the egg of the

Grenadier Weaver (two of which I bred this season), I did not measure

the egg, as I was too frightened to remain near the nest.


On the night of the 22nd, three eggs had been laid (normal clutch

two), and I did not venture near the nest again for fourteen days,

which I thought long enough for them to be hatched, but was dis¬

appointed to find only one egg in the nest and no signs of young dead

or alive.


No more eggs have been laid since, although the hen spends most

of her time on or around the nest.


The odd cock never interfered, but amused himself building a

beautiful nest 3 feet away from the other.



CEREOPSIS GOOSE


By A. F. Moody


The photograph represents a female Cereopsis or Cape Barron

Goose [Cereopsis novas hollandiae) with her week-old brood of two

chicks now being reared at Lilford Hall, Northants.


Natives of Australia and Tasmania, the Cereopsis are true land

birds. They rarely enter the water but graze most persistently on short

turf. For the latter reason, they are essentially birds for the country

dweller, but thrive equally well in an extensive park or moderately

sized grass pen. About equal in size to a domestic Goose ; the plumage

of both sexes is a soft French grey, ornamented on the upper parts by a

few dark heart-shaped spots. The legs are a pinkish red ; the feet

black ; the irregular uniting of the two colours gives the effect of their

having walked in tar.



