Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/109

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Breeding of the S. African Galago in Confinement.—The interesting little animal known to the Boers as the "nagt-apie," and to zoologists as , was generally an inmate of my small menagerie in the Transvaal, and is a common pet both there and elsewhere. It can usually be purchased at Pretoria from the bush-veld Boers who bring their waggons to the market, and the little animals—for they are usually pairs—are simply secured by a light thong round the neck.

The first pair I kept, and in a moderately small cage, bred within the initial twelve months of captivity. One was produced at birth, which evidently died at a very early age, for after death it was thrust outside the sleeping or day-hiding chamber, when I first saw it. I should probably have succeeded in rearing stock from this pair, but for one of those untoward and unforeseen events which dog the steps of the keeper of live animals. The cause of the trouble in this instance was a, Psittacus meyeri, between which and the male Galago a remarkable antipathy existed; the last would leave his nest, even in the daytime, if the bird was loose and came in front of his cage. One morning, when the Parrot had been loose all night, I found the male Galago dead, his snout being lacerated where the bird had bitten him through the wire netting. This proved that he had sought to fight the Parrot, as otherwise he was perfectly safe and protected in his cage. It is an interesting question whether there is a general antipathy between the Parrot and the Galago, and if so, why? Dr. Günther informed me that G. maholi bred in captivity in England in 1894, and, as the animal is frequently brought home, success in breeding may probably be obtained by those who will take the trouble to secure it. That possibly may be best achieved by interfering as little as possible with the sleeping or day-hiding place of the animals, or, in other words, by leaving them alone.—

Eared Grebe in Cumberland.—An Eared Grebe, apparently an adult bird in winter dress, was shot upon the river Wampool early in December, 1896. It was quite alone, and was resting on the sand at the water-side