File:Cassell's book of birds (1875) (14749733195).jpg

Identifier: cassellsbookofbi04breh (find matches)
Title: Cassell's book of birds
Year: 1875 (1870s)
Authors: Brehm, Alfred Edmund, 1829-1884 Jones, Thomas Rymer, 1810-1880
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London (etc.), Cassell, Petter and Galpin
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
THE SPOONBILL (PUtatea leucorodia). ONE fifth natural size, principally of fish and water-snakes, which they have been seen to catch and devour. They willalso feed on the intestines of dead animals, the carcases of which they easily rip open with the stronghook of the upper bill. Their breeding-time is in the rainy season, during the months of July andAugust; and the spot chosen is among reeds or high grass, immediately at the waters edge, or onsome small elevated and dry spot, entirely surrounded by water. The bird, before laying, scrapes ahole in the earth, in which, without any lining of grass or feathers, the female deposits her eggs. Asmany as a dozen have been found in the same nest. Numbers of these nests. says Mr. Petherick THE STILT-WALKERS. 61
Text Appearing After Image:
THE WHALE-HEADED STORK. OU SHOE-BEAK (BalesnicepS rex). 62 cassells book of birds. have been robbed by my men of both eggs and young; but the young birds so taken invariablydied. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to rear them, continued for two years, the eggs wereeventually hatched under Hens, which were procured at a considerable distance, from the Raiknegroes. As soon as the Hens began to lay, and in due time to sit, a part of their eggs were replacedby half the number of those of the Balaniceps, as fresh as possible from the nest, the locality ofwhich was previously known, and several young birds were successfully hatched. These young birdsran about the premises of the camp, and, to the great discomfort of the poor Hens, would persist inperforming all sorts of unchicken-like manoeuvres with their large beaks and extended wings in a smallartificial pool, constantly supplied with water by several negresses retained for their especial benefit.Negro boys were also employed to suppl

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