171 



confinement. And I make the record of this particular instance 

 with greater confidence, because the previous experience of the So- 

 ciety's Menagerie affords proof that the bird discovered by M. Steurs 

 in Gillolo, and described in the Proceedings of 1 844 under the name 

 of Gotira Victoria, by Mr. L. Fraser, is not the female of Goura 

 coronata, as has been suggested, but a true and distinct species. 



The number of Crovmed-Pigeons in possession of the Society having 

 been reduced to a single female of Goura Victorice, and a male of 

 Goura coronata, they were placed, by my direction, in the same divi- 

 sion of the old Aviary. In the beginning of June last it was observed 

 that they had paired. About two months afterwards they began to 

 make attempts at the construction of a nest. In the open part of the 

 Aviary there was a large branch of a tree fixed transversely, as a perch, 

 about six feet from the ground. They commenced their work by 

 carrying up twigs and pieces of stick which had been purposely placed 

 within their reach, to the extremity of the perch, and vainly endea- 

 voured to fabricate a platform on this slippery and insufficient foun- 

 dation. The careful keeper watched their difficulty, and supplied 

 them with the necessary support by fixing there a flat piece of basket- 

 work. 



They now began in earnest, and on the 15th of August they ceased 

 from their labor, during which the male had generally carried up the 

 materials and the female disposed of them. On this eventful day it is 

 supposed the single egg was laid, but it was so constantly covered by 

 one or other of the birds, that the keeper did not get sight of it for 

 some time afterwards. The nest was vvdthin a few feet of the front of 

 the Aviar)"^, which during the period of incubation was passed by many 

 thousands of visitors : still so adroitly did the birds watch their oppor- 

 tunity, that I heard of no instance, except that in which the keeper 

 saw the egg, in which they were discovered in the act of relieving 

 each other. The exposed situation of the nest, which was very 

 slightly protected by the thin foliage of a climbing rose, rendered me 

 apprehensive of the effects of the weather on the young bird, which 

 was hatched on the 1 3th of September. It was covered with con- 

 stant assiduity by one or other of the parents, who fed it while be- 

 neath them. Whether from excess of care or from accident I know 

 not, but it was found dead in the nest on the morning of the 1 7th, 

 the mother still sitting there with unmoved constancy, and over- 

 shadowing the dead corpse with her warm breast, as if incredulous of 

 her bereavement. Knowing the interest with which I regarded this 

 Malasian child, my accomplished friend Mr. Wolf was kind enough to 

 preserve its aspect in the characteristic sketch which forms the sub- 

 ject of the annexed engraving (Aves, PI. XIII.). 



On the 24th of October another egg was produced, but, having 

 been dropped from a perch in the house, was found broken on the 

 ground. These birds are still in admirable health, and I have hope 

 that if they breed at an earlier period in the approaching season, they 

 will have better fortune, and succeed in bringing their produce to 

 maturity. 



While upon this subject, I may perhaps not inappropriately advert 



