^°i9io^' ] Gilbert, Notes on the Regent-Bird. 4C 



a southern peripheral point, I concluded that they were wont to 

 look for their guardian in that direction. 



Previous to nidification, Regent-Birds are to be seen in pairs 

 around Ourimbah, but once incubation has commenced the 

 male seems to retreat, leaving that function entirely to the 

 female. Neither does the male seem to participate in nurturing 

 the young. His brilliant plumage would, no doubt, betray the 

 whereabouts of the female and her nestlings, whereas the female's 

 plumage harmonizes with her surroundings, and that, together 

 with her shy habits, enables her to move about obscurely. 



Although I have no evidence myself, nor have I seen it 

 stated elsewhere, still I have reasons for believing that the 

 female Regent-Bird alone constructs the nest. On the Cambe- 

 warra Mountain I had under observation two female Satin 

 Bower-Birds {PtilonorhyncJius violaceus) which were building. 

 One was closely watched for several days, and in no instance 

 did I see the male assisting in the construction of the nest, or 

 even observe him in the immediate vicinity until the work was 

 finished. It seems reasonable to suppose that the nidificating 

 habits of the Satin Bower-Bird are similar to those of the Regent- 

 Bird as regards the female alone building the nest. 



Destruction of Birds. 



By J. W. Mellor, A.O.U., Fulham, S.A. 



I HAVE received from Mr. Edward Millen, of Rosemount, 

 Dawlish, South Devon, and once a resident of Echunga and 

 Port Elliot, a letter relative to the destruction of birds for 

 plumage and ornamental purposes, and also a copy of an issue 

 of TJie Journal of the Royal Society of Arts containing a report 

 of a lecture delivered by Mr. James Buckland on the same 

 subject. 



Mr. Millen writes :— 



" From long residence in South Australia I know (who there does not ?) 

 that you are the friend and protector of birds. But I should not have sent 

 the Journal had it only referred to that which is going on in the West 

 Indies, Venezuela, United States of America, &c. Australia does not 

 escape the destroyer, and before long, perhaps — no one can say — some 

 ' undesirable immigrants ' will land in South Australia bent on the destruc- 

 tion of as many of its plumage birds as possible. M. Rostand's play, 

 ' Chantecler,' has given an impetus to the wearing of feathers in women's 

 hats, which are now more than ever ' decorated ' (?) or trimmed with large 

 masses of them of all lengths and colours. It is not uncommon to see whole 

 birds stuffed and doing service as hat 'orn.iments ' (?). What a shock it 

 would be to a South Australian to see the wings of the Magpie used for 

 mourning wear, or the pretty wing of the 'Jack' for gayer occasions! 

 And what a gem-like ornament the stuffed skin of the Blue Wren would be, 

 not to mention numerous other useful birds found in the Sunny South. 



