Further Notes on the Regent Bird. 367



not to be found materially nearer than Australia, but very present

in her own inner self at the proper season—such are the wonders

of Nature !


The nests were a kind of hybrid between a Wood-Pigeon’s

and that of an English Jay, adapted to the surroundings—a stout

structure of fairly thick sticks, lined with finer twigs and hay.

They had a definite cup, some five inches across by two and a

half deep. As regards the last, from my ‘watch-tower’ a few

feet away, which brought my eyes slightly above the level of the

nest, I could not see the eggs, nor the young when in repose

At first the female sat like a wild bird, and all that could be seen

of her was just the line of the crown and bill. Soon she relaxed,

and a little of the body might be seen ; and sometimes, when very

warm, she would half stand : two slight depressions in the nest

indicated where the feet were wont to rest. She was very incon¬

spicuous and absolutely mute. When feeding the nestlings at

first, she could not be seen to carry food nor were there signs of

regurgitation ; she held her head down and seemed to allow a

semi-fluid to flow from her mouth into theirs, doubtless the

product of severe mastication. She swallowed the excreta. Tike

the female in 1905, she was a most devoted mother.


I obtained my first Regent Bird twenty years ago this

August; and since August, 1899, the species has been represented

here without a break ; but I have now parted with my old friends

—for the male was a sore robber. The two birds I have now

been writing about have gone to the Zoo., and their nest has

gone to the Natural History Museum.



THE SOCIETY’S MEDAL.


Medals have been awarded to the following gentlemen for breeding

species for the first time in this country.


Mr. T. H. Newman for breeding the Snow Pigeon (Columba leuconola)

P- 173 -


Mr. Duncan Parker for breeding the Red-Vented Br.UE Bonnet (Psephotus

hcematon hous) p. 269


Mr. W. PI. Teschemaker for breeding the Sprosser (Daulias philomela )

P- 3 W-


Mr. H. D. Astley for breeding the Orange-headed Ground Thrush

(Geocichla ciIrina) p. 368.


Mr. H. I). Astley for breeding the Cub\n Bobwhite Ortyx cubanensis)

P- 369-



