Vol. xvi.] 20 



her clisjjla}' to tlie male and call him to feed after the 

 manner of tlie fully adult bird — in fact, she was perfectly 

 adult at about seven weeks old. I have described the dis- 

 play of the female very fully in the number of the " Avicul- 

 tnral Magazine " for last Aug-ust. 



(2.) Young Regent Bower-Bird {Sericulus melinus). 



" This bird was bred this year in the aviary- of my friend, 

 Mr. Reginald Phillipps, w^ho has kindh" supplied me with 

 notes on the subject. 



" He has had a male and two females together in his 

 aviary this smnmer, the male ha^dng been in his possession 

 for over six years, and the two females since January, 

 lOOo. On July 20th a nest built of hay was discovered in 

 a large basket, and the female liad probabl}' been sitting 

 some three days. On August 6th the eldest yomigster 

 was hatched, and Mr. Phillipps believes the second was 

 hatched two days later, and he therefore concludes that 

 the second Gg^ was laid two days after the lirst. On 

 August 22nd both young birds left the nest, with wings 

 well develoj)ed, but miserably clad about the body, although 

 in their own warm climate they would have been sufficiently 

 protected. The youngest died during the night of Sep- 

 tember lOth-llth, being apparently poisoned by nibbling 

 at the shoots of an elder-tree. 



'' The period of incubation appears to be nineteen or 

 twent}' days. 



"• The female alone attended to the eggs and young, and 

 was much annoyed at the presence of the male and second 

 female, Avliom she persistently endeavoured to drive away, 

 occasionally attacking them fiercely. 



" The male and second female appeared to be anxious to 

 breed, and would most probably have done so had it not 

 been for the cold weather and the persecution the}' endured 

 from the nesting female. 



" Mr. Phillipps believes these birds to be polygamous. 



" The other young bird is now full grown, and almost 

 indistina-uishable froni its mother.'' 



