Nests, Eggs, and Play-grovMcls of Australian Boyer-Birrh. 37 



the dense scrub of the high country, He was usually 

 attracted to the particular spot by the birds whistling 

 near. 



Upon the cleared play-ground is placed about nine oval- 

 shaped moderately-sized (about 3 inches long) leaves, a few 

 inches apart. Mr Le vSouef agrees with Mr Broadbent that 

 the leaves are from one kind of tree, with the additional 

 information that the leaves are always placed face down- 

 wards — perhaps the soft, lighter-coloured appearance of the 

 underside of the leaf is more pleasing to the birds. 



Mr Le Souef took a photograph of one of these play- 

 grounds, but the difficulties of the dense shade mitigate 

 against its complete success. 



Oologists are on the tip-toe of expectation for the discovery 

 of the nest and eggs of this interesting scrub- dweller, also for 

 further information respecting the nidification of its cousin 

 of more "architectonic wisdom " — the richly-coloured Golden 

 Bower- Bird {Prionodura nevjtoniana). 



Sericulus melinqs, Swainson. 

 Regent-Bird. 



Figure. — Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iv. pi. 12. 

 Reference.— (j2X. B. Brit. Mus., vi. p. 395. 



Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay, P.L.S., N.S.W., 2ad Series, vol. i. 

 (1886) ; Campbell, Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria (1892). 



Geographical Distribution. — South Queensland and New 

 South Wales. 



Nest. — Flat, slightly concave ; loosely constructed of coarse 

 twigs or dead branchlets, lined on top with fine brownish 

 twigs and long yellowish wire-like stems of a climbing plant, 

 the latter being chiefly placed round the side ; usually 

 situated in dense scrub at the height of from 12 to 25 feet 

 from the ground. Dimensions over all, 12 inches long by 

 6 inches bioad, and by 2 inches thick. 



Eggs. — Clutch 2 ; sometimes 3. In a clutch of 2 — (1) is 

 a beautiful, well-shaped specimen, with texture of shell fine 

 and surface slightly glossy ; colour, light yellowish-stone 



