153 



than one pair of birds frequent the same bower — a lovers' 

 bower — a rendezvous for matchmaking. 



In Mr. Phillipps' aviary these birds made quite a huge 

 erection, while the birds in the Western Aviary at the Zoo., a 

 comparative small one, and but a poor apologj' for that built in 

 a state of nature, as shown in the fine reproductions, from 

 photographs taken on the spot, illustrating Mr. Campbell's 



article. 



* * * 



Regent Bird {Sericulus melinus). He describes this as 

 being one of the most gorgeous birds that emblazon the sub- 

 tropical scrubs of E. Australia. The male has strikingly 

 beautiful plumage of black and gold, j'ellow colored eyes and 

 bill. The female is more soberly clad in a brownish olive 

 mottled dress, dark brown eyes and bill. 



The eggs (mostly two) are strikingly and beautifully 

 marked, judging from the illustration; the color is not stated. 

 Its nest is constructed entirely of sticks and twigs, and is very 

 difficult to find. The bower comparatively small, 7 or S inches 

 high, 7 inches long, 3J inches between walls. 



{To be continued). 



]et)itoiiaL 



The Breeding of AvocetS : The Waders' Aviary at 

 the Zoological Gardens has always a great attraction for 

 ornithologists as well as others, it has been doubly so recently, 

 for a pair of Avocets ( RecurvirSstra avoceltaj, of which there 

 are a fine flock in this natural enclosure, has successfully 

 nested, and hatched out three fledgelings, of which one 

 survives, with every appearance of being fully reared. The 

 following details are partly from my own observation, and 

 from details courteously supplied by the attendants and 

 Garden officials. 



The nest was commenced just before Whitsun, dead laurel 

 leaves and twigs were gathered together and a mat-like struc- 

 ture formed ; three eggs were laid and incubation commenced 



