2 26 From Mngasines, &^c. [isfAp"ril 



into the shrubbery and disappeared. From first to last, during 

 the whole time they remained in sight, the male retained the 

 feather in his bill." On 29th August a similar occurrence 

 was observed. In the same number of the magazine cited there 

 is given another instance of a young brood (Gouldian Finches 

 this time) feeding a second and younger brood (p. 303). 



Malurus cyaneus. — How this Blue Wren was bred in 

 captivity was described by Mr. R. Phillipps in a preceding 

 number of the Aviciiltiiral Magazine, and some of his remarks 

 on the habits of the birds, &c., quoted on p. 179 of The Etnu. 

 Mr. H. Gronvold has since sketched parents and young, and the 

 coloured reproduction is well worth preserving. The pose of 

 the birds is exceedingly good. As the young bird grew it and 

 its mother " were inseparable, hunting, feeding, and cuddling 

 together, for they had been absolutely deserted by the 

 male. . . . Had he a touch of migratory fever, or was the 

 old villain thinking of a certain fair damsel, hitherto referred to 

 in these pages as the spinster aunt, who .... had 

 suddenly and mysteriously disappeared ? Is this, then, the 

 secret of the reputed polygamy of the Blue Wren ? Is it 

 his custom, after nesting with one wife, to hand all care 

 of the young brood, when fairly independent, over to her, 

 and himself start afresh with spinster aunt No. 2, and so 

 on until he has reared a brood by all of the three or 

 four spinster aunts, one after the other, in due order and 

 succession ? " " They seem to be wholly insectivorous." Some 

 of what Mr. Phillipps has to say rt' their change of plumage is 

 quoted elsewhere. He has been awarded a medal for success- 

 fully breeding them for the first time. 



Satin Bower-Birds. — Some experiences with three pairs of 

 these birds (one of the hens did not live long) are valuable as 

 throwing further light on their habits. One noticeable fact is 

 that the male parent had not assumed his full adult garb when 

 the young were hatched. Mrs. Johnstone, of Bury St. Edmonds, 

 England, says {^Avicultural Magazine, vol. i., No. 2, new series) 

 she had the birds in a garden aviary wherein were wild rhodo- 

 dendron bushes, from 3 ft. to 10 ft. high, in profusion, and plenty 

 of sticks. A bower was made and frequented by all five birds. 

 The first nest was in a rhododendron bush, about 36 ft. from the 

 bower ; this was pulled to pieces and reconstructed. It was only 

 frequented by the one pair of birds, and the male drove all 

 intruders away. On the completion of the nest (7th June) the 

 hen began to sit. She was seen carrying mealworms to the 

 young for the first time on 28th June, "and from that until 29th 

 July, when the young birds left the nest, she was kept busy, as 



