203 



opinion and will take some proving either way. \^vide 

 Editorial Notes. — Ed.] 



All my Gouldians have been very fond of a tub, 

 though they are not regular bathers by any means, but 

 once started they have a good one. Rain will always 

 start mine even late in the evening, as it does with 

 many birds. 



My Gouldians have always nested in a husk or a 

 box, using fine grass. The song is certainly low, but 

 as a rule audible for some way. Two or more cocks 

 singing together make a very pleasant, soothing, 

 bubbling music of which I am very fond ; the song is 

 often without the dance accompaniment and is then 

 louder. 



The courting ceremony is most curious. I must 

 own that this year I have seldom seen it carried out in 

 full, but with my first two pairs it always took place just 

 before pairing. This year my birds are not qnite so 

 tame, and with the exception of one pair are not so 

 eas}' to watch. I have seen the ceremony this year, 

 but generally in part only. It consists of a series of posi- 

 tions taken by each in regular turn. First position — 

 Body perfectly erect but not on tip toe, so to speak : 

 head bent sharpl}' down, beak almost into the breast, 

 the head quivering from side to side all the time ; pro- 

 bably love whispering is going on, but no sound is 

 audible to the human ear. Second position — The 

 body is held obliquely, the beak in continuation of 

 the line of body, the two-syllable call-note is uttered 

 from time to time, and the tail is held sideways towards 

 the partner. Third position (cock only) — Body erect 

 on tip-toe, head slightly drawn back, beak at right 

 angles to the body, singing violently, often without 

 sound, generally with dance accompaniment, hopping 

 violently straight up and down. The show usually 

 commences with the cock singing to the hen in the 

 third position, without dancing and in a casual sort of 



