180



E. F. C.—Nesting of the Sandhill Crane



3*6 per cent of the total breedings whilst 16-1 per cent of the breedings

were partial failures.


The total number of wholly and partially spoiled eggs or broods

was 11 or 19*6 per cent.


Of the total breedings on the Ahlby estate 28 Alsten boxes were set

up in the spring of 1934 of which 24 were intended for Tits and the rest

for Starlings. The boxes were placed mainly in the orchards and nearby

parks with fairly old trees.


The analyses of the boxes were made at the same time and in the

same manner as at Experimentalfaltet, the only difference being that

the extra investigation relative to more than one annual occupation

was not effected here. During the trial period nesting has increased

from 58 per cent in the summer of 1934, to 75 per cent in 1935,

whilst it fell again in 1936 to 66 per cent. The reason for the drop last

summer is probably to be found in the fact that a number of boxes

were occupied by bumble-bees which may have prevented the Tits

from entering. In the case of the boxes 110 and 126 the birds were

kept at a distance by two families of Owls which occupied the same

tree. In the boxes intended for the Tits 48 breedings out of 72 possible

have taken place during the three trial years making a frequency of

66-6 per cent. The mortality among the broods has amounted to three

entirely destroyed sets of eggs of Flycatchers and one partially of

Great Tits’ and Flycatchers’ eggs. Complete failure has thus occurred

in 6*3 per cent of the total breeding.



NESTING OF THE SANDHILL CRANE

By E. F. C.


A year ago Monsieur Delacour kindly sent Mr. Spedan Lewis a

young pair of these rare Cranes. At first sight they were rather dis¬

appointing, for their plumage was a somewhat dull brown and their

red caps not nearly as bright as they subsequently became. They

were very tame from the first, would feed from hand and allow them¬

selves to be stroked, arching their necks and uttering a low rather

booming note meanwhile. After their moult they assumed adult

plumage and are extremely beautiful. Their feathers are like grey

watered silk, they lie so smoothly and the red on their heads is deep

and glowing. They have a curious habit of picking up a wisp of grass

and wiping themselves down with it. Monsieur Delacour told us that

his pair had found a patch of yellow clay in their paddock and quite

spoilt their appearance by daubing themselves all over with it. Our



