Nesting of the Partridge Bronzewing Pigeon. 337


Fairy Blue Bird. They are related to the Bulbuls. In

size they may be compared to a rather large British Starling. In

colour, speaking sketchily, the male has the upper parts of a

gorgeous Turquoise blue which shines like satin, inclining to

silvery cobalt 011 the head, while the underparts and wings are

rich velvety black, and the eyes scarlet.


The female is a duller powdered blue green all over. A

pair of these treasures I carried home.


Finally there are three pairs of Three-coloured Parrot-

Finches (.Erythrura trichroa'). Their colouring is a rich green,

with faces of cobalt blue ; their rumps and tails (which are

pointed) are dull red. A great many might have been caught,

had the seed supply not been exhausted.


I may add that Mrs. Johnstone benefits her avicultural

friends by allowing them to purchase of her any birds which she

may not have room for. Most certainly all bird-lovers will be

grateful to her for giving them this opportunity, and to Mr.

Goodfellow for his zeal and perseverance in bringing to England

such rarities as have been safely deposited in Mrs. Johnstone’s

aviaries at Burrswood.



NESTING OF THE PARTRIDGE BRONZEWING


PIGEON.


Geophaps scripta.


By T. H. Newman, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


The interesting notes on the Squatter Pigeons by our

Editor, which appeared in our August magazine of last year,

will be fresh in the minds of all. At the time that paper ap¬

peared the birds had already passed into my possession, as they

came to me on July 5th, 1907. Needless to say how pleased I

was to obtain these most interesting and rare birds through our

Editor’s kindness. I would advise all to read his paper before

this article, as I propose to follow up the history of the pair of

Partridge Pigeons. They have nested freely this summer, and

I hope my notes, made during the rearing of the young, may be

the means of clearing up some of the mystery which has hung

round the nestling of the genus Geophaps , for apparently the



