Fairy Blue-Birds. 



99 



'out a moult; lln' fcalhci-s of the upper parts first become 

 ' friiigi'd Willi biiulit liluc; llic tail -coverts next become chang'cd; 

 "the lower pliima,i,M' (akrs tlir lunucst to cliaiige, and young birds 

 'may frcqut'nlly lu' init wiiii liaviii.^- Ilic lower plumage mixed 

 ' blauk and dull bhu', bul the upper plumage tliar of the adult. 



'■ It would be most interesiing if any member of tiie club 

 ■;who is fortunate enough to induce this beautiful species to 

 Tjrced could trace the progress of the above changes in his 

 ' young birds, keeping a detailed diaiy of the same. 



''The habits are given as follows: — 'This bird is common 

 ill most of the tracts it frequents, going about in small parties 

 or in pairs. It feeds principally on fruit, and is generally 

 found on the larger forest trees. It breeds from February to 

 April, constructing a shal'ow cup-shaped nest, sometimes of most 

 and sometimes of small twigs in a sapling or small tree. The 

 eggs, which are generally two in number are greenish-white, 

 marked with brown, and measure about 1.14 by .22 inches.' 



'' The distribution sti'ikes me as curious and I e.xpect 

 'that critical examination of specimens will show that the species 



