Nagahisa Kuroda

A chick ofChloris sinica born with one wing

Ein flügger Jungvogel vonChloris sinica minor (Temm. & Schleg.), der am 15. Mai 1969 in einem Park in Tokio gefunden wurde, war einflügelig geboren. Wie in einigen anderen bekannt gewordenen Fällen fehlte der linke Flügel; für diese Erscheinung wird der Terminus „Asinistrismus“ vorgeschlagen. Die Entwicklung des Sternums, des Schultergürtels und der Brust-und Armmuskeln wurde untersucht und wird beschrieben; während derM. pectoralis keine Degeneration zeigte, waren die Armmuskeln schlecht entwickelt, jedoch noch zu identifizieren. Ähnliche Fälle entgehen oft deswegen der Feststellung, weil die einflügelig geborenen Vögel nicht lange überleben.

A bird census in the Imperial and Akasaka Palaces for 1965

1. Based on the request made by the Imperial Household to Yamashina Institute, monthly bird censuses were conducted by seven researchers in the Imperial and Akasaka Palaces in Tokyo during April, 1965 and March, 1966.2. Census by line transect was made usually by two observers about 50m apart, once or twice per month: 15 times in the Imperial Palace (except August and September) and 11 times in the Akasaka Palace (except January to March).3. In total 56 species (including wintering ducks and colonial herons) were recorded in the Imperial Palace and 46 species in the Akasaka Palace.4. The number of species and individuals per census day varied 15-24 and 319-923 (2 hours course) in the Imperial and 9-24 and 150-306 (1 hour course) in the Akasaka Palaces respectively.5. The result of each census day is shown by species in three tables (two for the Imperial and one for Akasaka Palace).6. A comparative table is given showing the relative abundance of main species in the two palaces with indexes of: occurrence rate, mean number of occurrence, its dominance value in avifauna, recorded season and breeding evidence.7. Specific accounts are only given briefly for main species. More migrants were recorded in spring and autumn in the Akasaka Palace, probably due to its elevated position.

Utilization of group nest-boxes by the Grey Starling and experiments with colour paints

1. In 1957, His Highness the Crown Prince had two kinds of group nest-boxes set up in his garden for the Grey Starling, Sturnus cineraceus. The author had the honour of examining the result of nesting experiments with these interesting nest-boxes during the seasons of 1957-1963.2. One was Danish type of four sided group nest-boxes with 5 nest-cells (one upper and four lower) on each side. Usually the upper cell was successfully used but lower nests were also occupied by putting a few nest material or by completing the nest. Some birds indulged in nesting in different nest-cells in turn exchanging the nest material, thus losing the time of egg laying. Others laid a single egg in incompleted nest or laid half clutches in two adjacent nest-cells. In this case, both were incubated (possibly by a parent) but did not hatch at normal date (the 12th day) and the eggs were found abandoned at 14th day.3. These confusions in breeding were also noticed in the other type, the lateral group nest-boxes consisting of 30 nest-cells, with the entrance on alternate sides. This newly devised type was colour painted from the second year by units of 5 nest-cells, white-yellow-unpainted-green-unpainted-red from right to left (red and green were reversed in later years).4. It was proved that the distal nest-cells particularly of the white (and yellow) end were better used than those of the middle part where no successful clutch was laid. This was probably because the birds tended to extend the nest territories from the free end toward the middle.5. The white was best used (though with favourable position effect of being at the end), yellow, red and unpainted were almost the same, but green could be suspected to be disliked by the birds. Red when at the end was used successfully but was only nested when at the middle. However, no egg was laid in green even when at the end though was nested possibly merely as territory occupation. It was least used when at the middle.*6. In conclusion, the group nest-boxes were readily used by the starlings and were proved to be useful for experiments with colour preference and other behaviours, but had some inefficient effects due to their nest-territoriality. A new type of lateral group nest-boxes was set up in 1964.