The Zoologist/4th series, vol 6 (1902)/Issue 731/Editorial Gleanings

by editor W.L. Distant

 

EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.

 

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In a Supplement to 'Great and Small Game of Africa,' published by Rowland Ward, Ltd.,^[1] Mr. Lydekker naturally describes and figures the Okapi. He writes:—"No European appears hitherto to have seen a living Okapi, and such accounts of its habits as we possess at present are derived from native sources. According to the information elicited from the forest dwarfs by Sir Harry Johnston, the Okapi generally goes about in pairs—male and female—and neither sex has horns. It inhabits only the most dense portions of the forest, and feeds chiefly by browsing upon leaves. One curious problem connected with this animal awaits explanation, namely, the reason for its very peculiar type of coloration, which is almost certainly of a protective nature. The striping of Zebras, as is well known, renders these animals practically invisible in the open at a comparatively short distance; and a similar explanation naturally suggests itself in the case of the striped limbs of the Okapi. If we could imagine the creature living in such circumstances that its body was concealed among foliage while the limbs were exposed to view, such an explanation would fit the case. The darkness and gloom of the densest parts of the forest in which the Okapi is said to dwell are, however, described as being so intense that protective resemblances of this nature would apparently be superfluous. Before a definite opinion can be given on these points it will be necessary for a competent observer to see the creature in its native haunts."

 

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Mr. D. le Souëf has contributed to the last number of the 'Emu' a second part of his paper on "Protective Colouration of Australian Birds and their Nests." We read:—"Honey-eaters vary much in colour, but the males and females do not, as a rule, vary much in markings, but by far the larger majority of hen birds have greenish or dull-coloured backs. Their nests are mostly hanging, and built in varying situations, according to the colour of the bird, and you can generally make a good guess at the shade of the owner's back by the place it builds its nest in: if among green leaves at the end of a branch, the bird will probably be greenish, as, for instance, Ptilotis pencillata (White-plumed Honey-eater); if lower down among the dead branches, grey or brown; and if in very thick vegetation low down, the markings will be fairly conspicuous, like in Meliornis novæ-hollandiæ (White-bearded Honey-eater). Honey-eaters are a large group, but if notice be taken it will soon be seen how the various kinds are protected, mostly by the birds building in places which assimilate with the colour of their backs, as before stated."

 

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In 'Annual Reports, Proceedings, &c. (vol. xv.) of the Barrow Naturalists' Field Club' is the report of a very interesting lecture by Mr. Harper Gaythorpe on "The Blackbird in Furness: its Nesting Habits." In his researches among published works, and from careful observers, the lecturer stated that he had been unable to get any very definite information as to which bird, the male or the female, was the nest-builder, or whether both took part in building the nest. Out of about three hundred "British Birds" referred to by the author of 'Forty Years in a Moorland Parish,' he found that as to the building of nests, fifty-six birds were referred to in connection with the nest, thirty-five by its nest, eleven by their nest, eight by her nest, and only two by his nest, the latter being the Blackbird and Ring-Ouzel. As these remarks were entirely at variance with his own observations, the lecturer thought it was very probable that locality had something to do with the matter, and that the shyness and wariness of the Blackbird prevented the male from assisting in the nest-building where the site chosen by him was near to a dwelling, as in the case he brought before them.

Mr. Gaythorpe has proved himself a good recruit to the body of "bird-watchers," and the results of his prolonged observations are as follows:—

a. No nest-building was done after 7.30 a.m.
b. The male bird did not assist in building the nest, but he chose the site.
c. He seldom sat on the eggs during incubation.
d. But was most attentive to the young ones after they were four days old.
e. The eggs were hatched on the 14th day; and
f. After the same number of days the young ones could fly, and in about four weeks could take care of themselves.

 

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We are glad to welcome the first number of 'The Field Naturalist's Quarterly,' edited by our sometime contributor, Dr. Gerald Leighton. It is addressed to all lovers of nature, rather than to more serious students of zoology, and we trust will meet with a deserved success. Messrs. Wm. Blackwood and Sons are the publishers, to whom we are indebted for a copy of the publication.

 

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1. online copy in Internet Archive (Wikisource-ed.)