Whitc-brcastcd Waterhcu. 163 



fig"ure as one of the outstanding attractions and valuable 

 assets of the Islands. 



THE MACUATA DISTRICT. 

 Thanks to the courtesies extended to him by the Hon. 

 the Colonial Secretary, the C.S.R. and the officers of the Fiji 

 Shipping Co.. Dr. Casey-Wood wasi also able to investigate, in 

 a comparatively short time, a number of interesting" peculiarities 

 of the Macuata District. He was much impressed by both the 

 climate and scenic conditions of the Coast, and wonders why 

 people of Suva do not take advantage of its refreshing air and 

 other recuperating agencies. 



The Nesting of the White-breasted Waterhen. 



(Erythra phoenicura). 



Bv W. Shore Baily, F.Z.S. 



It must be at least seven years ago that I first kept this 

 handsome bird. At that time I got two pairs from, our Editor, 

 Mr. Wesley T. Page, and I have never been without one or 

 more of these birds in my aviaries since. Whether any of the 

 original birds are still with me it is impossible to say. From 

 time to time I have picked up a single bird at the dealers, but 

 until this last spring I have never seen more than one bird in 

 any of the shops at the same time. 



This year De Von's had several, and I bought four of 

 them. One died on arrival, its feathers being all gummed up 

 by the food on which it had been fed--gramm, I believe-another 

 had a mortitied foot, which had to be amputated, and the other 

 two were in good condition. These birdsi were turned in with 

 my others. Just how many of my old birds had survived the 

 winter I don't know, but probably a couple, so I had every 

 chance of a true pair amongst them. In previous years I 

 probably had the one sex only, as although nests had often 

 been built, no attempt at laying had been made. This spring 

 several nests were built in the rushes, but when T left for my 

 holiday no eggs had been laid, and T thought that the results 

 would be the same as in previous years, viz. •;;//. 



