61.2 Mr D. Le Souef on Nests 



What struck me most about the binlsof the New Hebrides 

 was their extreme wiklness. nearly all have to be stalked 

 M'ith the greatest care. I expect, when the islands were 

 more densely populated, small birds were much hunted with 

 bows and arrows for food. As an instance of the decrease 

 of population, the island of Aneityum had by census a 

 population of 3500 in 1859, to-day it has barely 500; 

 Futuna by census a population of 970 in 1870, to-day 

 barely 300. 



It is sad to think of these fair islands being- sMcpt of tlieir 

 inhabitants; one is inclined to ask if these people were 

 not more comfortable in their days of cannibalism and 

 heathendom than now, when to their other vices they have 

 added those of the white man and his diseases, which have, 

 I fear, taken a quicker hold than the tenets of Christianity, 

 in spite of the earnest work of courageous missionaries, to 

 whose kindness and assistance I owe so mucli. 



XXXIX. — Description of some Nests and Eggs from New 

 Guinea. By D. Le Souek, (/.M.Z.S., Melbourne. 



Manucodia atra. (Glossy-mantled Manucode.) 

 This bird is found generally over New Guinea and al<o on 

 the adjacent islands, and is especially plentiful in the southern 

 districts. They seem to keep in the dense scrub and are 

 very shy, but can easily be brought up by imitating their 

 drawn-out plaintive whistle. A nest of this bird was found 

 by Mr. C. Barnard on October 6th, 1899, on Sariba Island, 

 which is about four miles from theS.E. coastof New Guinea. 

 The nest was situated about 25 feet from the ground, in a 

 large mangrove-tree near the beach, the water at high tide 

 surrounding the tree. When taking the nest the birds flew 

 about ill evident distress, but did not attack the intruder 

 in any way. Mr. Barnard saw another bird on Nov. 2nd 

 carrying twigs in her bill, apparently to build her nest with, 

 but he lost sight of her in the thick scrub. 



The nest (fig. 1, p. 013) is an open structure, being composed 



