BIRDS — GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. 325 



and kept circling round half a dozen of their fellows, one of whom 

 had been clearly told off for punishment, for the five repeat- 

 edly attacked it in quick succession, allowing no opportunity for 

 their victim to escape, which he was trying to do, until they 

 had cast him fluttering on the ground about thirty yards from 

 my chair. Unfortunately I rushed forward to pick up the bird, 

 prostrate but fluttering on the grass which was like a lawn 

 before the building. I succeeded only in touching it, for it 

 "wriggled away from my grasp, and flew greatly crippled and 

 close to the ground into the neighbouring bushes, where I lost 

 sight of it. All the others, after circling round me and 

 chattering, angrily as I thought, flew away, on my resuming 

 my seat, in the direction taken by their victim. 



[Since going to press I have seen, through the kindness of Mr. 

 Seebohm, some specimens of cuckoo's eggs coloured in imitation of 

 those belonging to the birds in the nests of which they are laid. 

 There can be no question about the imitation, and I add this note to 

 mitigate the criticism which I have passed upon Professor Newton's 

 theory of the cause. For Mr. Seebohm has pointed out to me that the 

 theory becomes more probable if we consider that a cuckoo reared in the 

 nest of any particular bird is likely afterwaids to choose a similar 

 nest for the deposition of its own eggs. Whether or not the memory 

 of a bird would thus act could only, of course, be certainly proved by 

 experiment ; but in view of the possibility that it may, Professor 

 Newton's theory becomes more probable than it is if the selection 

 of the appropriate nest is supposed to depend only on inheritance. 



I must also add that Dr. Sclater has been kind enough to draw my 

 attention to a remarkable description of a species of Bower-bird, 

 published by Dr. Beccari in the Gardener's Chronicle for March 16, 

 1879. This species is called the Gardener Bower-bird {Amhlyornu 

 niomata), and inhabits New Guinea. The animal is about the size of a 

 turtle-dove, and its bower — or rather hut — is built round the stem of a 

 tree in the shape of a cone, with a space between the stem of the tree 

 and the walls of the hut. The latter are composed of stems of an orchid 

 with their leaves on — this particular plant being chosen by the birds 

 apparently because its leaves remain long fresh. But the most extra- 

 ordinary structure is the garden, which is thus described by Dr. 

 Beccari : — * Before the cottage there is a meadow of moss. This is 

 brought to the spot and left free from grass, stones, or anything which 

 would ofEend the eye. On this green turf flowers and fruits of prett}- 

 colour are placed, so as to form an elegant little garden. The greater 

 part of the decoration is collected round the entrance to the nest, and 

 it would appear that the husband offers these his daily gifts to his wife. 

 The objects are very various, but always of a vivid colour. There were 

 some fruits of a Garcinia like a small-sized apple. Others were the 

 fruits of Gardencias of a deep yellow colour in the interior. I saw alsc 

 small rosy fruits, probably of a Scitamineous plant, and beautiful rosy 

 flowers of a new Vaccinium. There were also fungi and mottled insects 

 placed on the turf. As soon as the objects are faded they are moved to 

 the back of the hut.' There is a fine-coloured plate of this bird ia 

 its garden, published in the Birds of Neiv Guinea, by Mr. Gould, 

 Partix., 1879.] 



