Vol. IV. 

 1904 



J Vivian, Some Bird-Life in British Papua. C 7 



make the owners of chickens very wrathful, owing to their 

 depredations in the poultry-run. 



It may not, by the way, be out of place to devote a few 

 lines to the native breed of domestic fowls. The male is a 

 very pretty bird, very like a game-cock, with a long pendant 

 on either side of the tail. A pure white variety is also bred, 

 and is highly prized by the Papuans. Query — Where did these 

 birds originally come from ? All explanations are vague on the 

 matter. 



In the islands and several parts of the mainland Curlews, Golden 

 Plovers, and Herons, both black and white, are free agents, and 

 at as high an altitude as 6,000 feet on the main range the rare 

 Orange-crested Bower-Bird {Amblyornis subalaris) has its play- 

 ground. 



Respecting the " Death-Bird " of New Guinea, too much credence 

 should not be indulged in until confirmed. Native myths are 

 numerous and extraordinary, even precise in details. The moon 

 — we are impressively told by some Papuans — was originally 

 found in the soil by one of their number, who, in attempting to 

 carry the luminary to his village barely escaped with his life 

 through not relinquishing the prize as it ascended heaven- 

 wards ! 



The School in Wild Life. 



By Frank M. Littler, F.E.S., Launceston. 



The author of a paper under the above heading in Chambers s 

 Joiirnal for May, speaking of the song of both wild and cage 

 birds, evidently does not believe that birds inherit their vocal 

 powers from their parents, but that each and every young bird 

 has to " learn " how to whistle or sing its range of notes. He 

 states that breeders of cage birds often put the eggs of the Rose- 

 Linnet into the nest of the Canary^ who will hatch them out. 

 The young Linnets do not attempt their own song, but imitate 

 as closely as possible that of the Canary. Personally I am of 

 opinion that many birds do inherit their vocal powers froni 

 their parents, and would place birds on a higher plane of in- 

 telligence than of mere automatons. Those who have kept 

 Jackasses " and " Magpies " must have noticed that when 

 they are old enough they commence practising their native 

 notes so long as thqy have not had " Sweet, pretty boy," &c., 

 &c., whistled at them. In a short while they will, without 

 ever once hearing another bird of their own species, whistle 

 as well as any in their native state. Tame birds of the species 

 mentioned are great imitators, and they will rather learn a 

 " foreign " language than allow their native harmony to mature. 

 The author of the paper under notice admits that young birds 

 inherit the aptitude for the song of their parents, but thinks 

 that this aptitude is equally strong in picking up the song of 



