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Notes and Comments
There were three eggs, which subsequent early hatching proved to have been already well set at the time of discovery. It is worth noting that the eggs were pale buff coloured spotted with reddish-brown towards the larger end, which seems to be the normal form, though there is a great variation remarked upon by all observers. In the Hong Kong Naturalist, No. 1 of Vol. IV, plate No. 2 shows a Violet Whistling Thrush's egg which has a plain ground colour of creamy-brown and no markings what- ever. In an earlier issue of the H.K. Naturalist, No. 1 of Vol. II, Major Hutson stated:-"The ground colour may be reddish stone or pale green, and is speckled and blotched with reddish brown. One clutch examined was a very pale stone or buff colour and free from any marking." Again, Caldwell's "South China Birds" has the following note:-"The eggs vary greatly in colour from pale greenish almost entirely unmarked, to yellowish-green or pale brownish, minutely spotted with reddish, the markings being so thick as to appear almost as a smear over the entire egg, often forming a wreath around the larger end."
It was not possible to visit the nest except at weekly intervals: and on the following Saturday, June 15, it was found that three nestlings had hatched. They were some four or five days old. A week later, on June 22, the nest was empty. A careful scrutiny of the spot failed to reveal any signs of a human raid, nor was it likely that any other form of enemy had discovered the nest or been able to reach it. The conclusion is that the nestlings had grown sufficiently to leave the nest for the shelter of a dense copse nearby, where they would gradually attain full strength and maturity. Presuming they had left the nest that day or the day before, this gives them at the most about eleven or twelve days from hatching to becoming full fledged: perhaps other observers can state whether such rapid development is likely or usual.
V. H. C. J.
Nest
South China White-Eye, Zosterops simplex simplex Swinhoe. containing four eggs found near Kimberley Road. It was hanging at the end of a small tree suspended only by its rims and fully exposed. The eggs measured 14 mm. x II mm. on the average. Later three eggs hatched out, the fourth having mysteriously disappeared. When the birds had left we collected the nest which is a deep cup approximately 60 mm. in diameter and 50 mm. in depth. It was built entirely of rootlets and lined with partially decayed leaves.
Chinese Bulbul, Pycnonotus sinensis sinensis (Gm.) Nest with three young located almost in the very top of a large tree in a garden at Chatham Road, Kowloon. This is the only nest found of the above species this year. They are not very numerous within town limits as are the Red- whiskered Bulbuls and we believe the birds prefer to nest in the country, where Chinese villagers often find them.
A
Chinese Red-whiskered Bulbul, Otocompsa jocosa jocosa (Linn.) friend residing at the Hermitage, Kennedy Road found a nest containing four newly hatched birds within a stone's throw from the house. They are now almost fully fledged and are expected to leave the nest at any time.
The Hong Kong Naturalist.
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