204 Reviezvs. [JtU 



was, of course, at once treated as a joke. At mid-day, when the sun was 

 well overhead, we visited the spot together, and with the aid of the field 

 glasses could see a nest with masses of the said tree-climbing fern built into 

 it, as well as cast-off snake skins dangling from it and the vines close by. I 

 climbed up, after erecting a long pole, and securing it with three guy lines, 

 but did not put my hand near it, nor did I smash or disarrange any twigs or 

 limbs on my way up and down ; it was a new nest, and quite green with the 

 vast quantities of the climbing fern that had been utilised in its construction. 

 It was rather deep, and looked nearly ready for eggs. Next day the camp 

 was left in charge of my assistant, and I proceeded to Sydney by steamer 

 from Lismore, in order to attend to some business matters there, returning 

 to the scrub again within seven days. Mr. M'Enerny assured me that no 

 person had been near the tree containing the nest during my absence, and 

 according to my instructions no gun had been fired in that neighbourhood. 

 So, with the full determination this time of taking a set of eggs froin the nest 

 (8 days since I last climbed up), I again erected the pole and ascended ; but 

 how my heart dropped when I found the nest filled level to the top with dead 

 leaves {indtrcncE), and different to any of those on the trees towering above 

 the nest ! I did not knovv what to do. Had the birds abandoned the nest ? 

 was the question, or had they filled it with the leaves for their own purpose? 

 which no doubt would be their object, thus keeping intruders away until they 

 were ready to lay, and so give the nest a desolate effect. No doubt that 

 this is the precaution the birds had taken for doing so. 1 took some of the 

 dead leaves from the nest with a pair of forceps, and compared them with 

 those on the trees growing in the immediate surroundings, but found none 

 to correspond with them. I was then satisfied that the birds had placed 

 them in the nest themselves. I then left -it for seven days more, and after 

 hearing the birds screeching early one morning behind the camp, having 

 been silent for that time, I erected the pole, and after securing it with three 

 ropes, climbed up to the nest and found in it not ' dead or twisted leaves,' 

 but instead two magnificent eggs, which were quite fresh. It was a glorious 

 sight to look into the nest this time, when I took those two lovely specimens 

 from it, and knowing they were the first and only pair then recorded to 

 science* made me feel as though I had suddenly and unexpectedly inherited 

 some big fortune. I was all excitement. This took place on the 2nd of 

 November, 1899, and it was only very great patience and perseverance that 

 won for me these highly treasured specimens. The tree was then cut down, 

 the nest and eggs replaced in their natural positions and photographed." 



The numerous photo.-block reproductions are exceptionally 

 fine, while the subjects, although naturally captivating, have 

 been skilfully handled by Mr. Jackson. For instance—" Nest 

 of the Rufous Scrub-Bird," "Home of the Parra" (depicting 

 nest and bird among water lilies), " Satin Bower-Bird's Nest " 

 (set in mistletoe), " Playground of the Regent-Bird," " Nest of 

 Black-shouldered Kite," " Camp in the Booyong Scrub," &c., &c. 

 Some of the nest illustrations are accompanied by a scale, useful 

 for the sake of comparison as to size, &c. 



To such a wealth of first-hand data as Mr. Jackson's " Cata- 

 logue " contains no exception can be taken, but possibly No. 

 344, Prion arid, and No. 348, Prion desolatus (eggs of both 



* Mr. Jackson is quite correct in stating that this is the first pair or full clutch, hut 

 a single egg (the type) was taken by Messrs. Lsaac Foster and W. T. Bailey in the 

 Richmond scrub, igih November, 1896, and was described in the Victorian 

 Naturalist, vol. xiii., p. 145, with a photo, of the nest (1897). See also " Nests and 

 Eggs" (Campbell), p. 68. 



