210 Some Iniercsting Birds. 



and wool, to which succeorls a layer of fme twig-s lined with 

 grasses and fibrous roots, the whole l)eing- suspended to the 

 horizontal 'branch of an apple- (AngopJiora) or gum-tree with- 

 out the least regard to secrecy, frequently within a few feet 

 of the ground. Eggs, usually thre(^ in number and of a pale 

 salmon -colour, with zninute darker spots. Here, again, one 

 appears to be fairly safe in assuming that the nest and eggs, 

 etc., of the Silvery-crowned would be similar. 



In a state of nature Gould states they are almost gre- 

 garious, the nests are so numerous and in such close proximity; 

 though in the breeding season they become very animated and 

 fierce, readily attacking Crows, Hawks, and Magpies that may 

 venture near the nest ■. In the aviary the Silvery -crowned soon 

 gave indications that the two pairs would soon have to be 

 separated, and I have no he station in saying that it would not 

 be possible to keep two adult pairs in the same enclosure in 

 captivity. 



I am pleased to say that three of the quartet referred 

 to are still alive, two of them (l)oth males) at the London 

 Zoo can be regularly seen disporting themselves in the Western 

 Aviary, where they delight visitors with their dexterity in 

 catching insects on the wing, their beautiful flight and hand- 

 some, if s:omewhat sombre, plumage. While a pair of them 

 remained in my possession they proved most interesting and 

 but for the breaking up of my aviaries in 1910, and the death 

 of the hen, while fresh aviaries were going up, I think they would 

 have bred, as they gave every indication of doing so. On one 

 occasion the cock bird escaped while they were being trans- 

 ferred from the birdroom to the outdoor aviary. It at once 

 flew away to some distance and I gave it up for lost. It 

 was out of sight for longish periods, though its weird and 

 strange cries, sounding most un-English, were frequently re- 

 peated with about ten to fifteen minutes silent intervals. I 

 presume it must have attracted much attention and wonder. 

 Fortunately for me, after six hours of liberty, it returned, 

 and went into the greenhouse -birdroom, flew into its enclosure, 

 the door of M'hich I had left open and quickly settled down 

 on a perch, to my very great relief. Though the period of 

 its liberty was a most anxious one for me — a commingling of 

 much interest and anxietv— was softened in a measure by the 



