SILVER EAKED MESIAS. 



31 



i-eaenible those of Liolhrix lutea in size and structure, 

 and are similarly situated, but instead of having the 

 egg cavity lined with dark-coloured material, as that 

 species has, all I found had light-colourod linings; such 

 was even the case with one nest I found within three 

 or four yards of a nest of the other species." 

 " The eggs are usually four in number.' " 

 " Other eggs found by Mr. Gammie correspond with 

 tho.-o given me by Dr. Jeidon. They are as like the 

 eggs of L. lutea as they cm possibly be, and if there is 



Phillipps's possession went to nest five times in his 

 giii'den aviary, nearly, but never quite successfully rear- 

 ing young. He has published a most interesting account of 

 his exi)erience, illustrated by a beautiful coloured plate 

 of the two birds and an uncolourod plate of nests 

 and egg, in 77ic Arirultiinil Mai/aziiu-, 2nd serie.«. 

 Vol. I., pp. 379-390, and Vol. II., pp. 36-45. The young 

 of the first nest were fed from the crop on mealworms, 

 small cockroaches, and wasp-grubs, and Mr. Phillipps 

 thinks that "a garden of earwigs, wuodlice, ants, etc.. 



BLU£-\VINGEU Siv.vs. 



any difference, it consists in the markings of the present 

 species being as a body smaller and more speckled than 

 those of L. lutea." 



"The six eggs that I have vary in length from 0.82 to 

 0.9, and in breadth from 0.6 to 0.65." 



In its general habits, its confiding nature, its call-note 

 and scolding-note or note of alarm, this bird is remark- 

 ably like L. lutea. On several occasions I watched a 

 pair in Mr. 8eth-Smith's aviaries, and was much struck 

 by the similarity in the behaviour of the two sp'Scies. 

 Its song, however, is very inferior, consisting only of 

 five or six notes ; these are clear and musical, but 

 rather pall upon one when frequently repeated; yet 

 the bird is so beautiful and trustful that one can for- 

 give it its lack of musical ability. 



In 1903 a pair of Silver-eared Mesias in Mr. Reginald 



would be of priceless value when such a species as the 

 Mesia has to be reared." 



A young bird which died after leaving the nest was 

 forwarded by Mr. Phillipps to Mr. Frank Finn, who has 

 described it as follows: — "The general hue above is 

 smoky drab, with a well-marked black cap ; the ear- 

 coyerts are silver-grey as in the adult ilesia, and the 

 quills have light outside borderings, dirty creiim-colour 

 on the early primaries, passing into ochre yellow on the 

 secondaries. The smoky drab colour extends on to the 

 breast and flanks, but the throat and centre of the abdo- 

 men are dull cream-colour, the throat verging slightly 

 on yellow. There is a slight wash of olive-green on the 

 back of the neck. .Such little of the tail-featherinc as 

 has grown is dull black like the inner webs of the 

 quills. The under tail-coverts are dull brick-red. The 



