on Birds of Paradise in the West Indies.



41



to have left the nest only about ten or twelve clays. If this is really

the case, it is curious as showing that the Apoda breeds at a different

period of the year from that in New Guinea. There the Paradise

Birds breed in the latter part of October or November (see Dr.

Simson’s account of Journey in New Guinea, Ibis, Yol. for 1907).

I am also informed that, in the far corner in the north part of the

island, there are three separate pairs of Apodas which remain in

that locality and may have nests ; at any rate, it is satisfactory to

know that after nearly four years on the island the male birds are

now easily distinguished from the females, as they have now obtained

the distinctive colouring on their heads and necks, and, according to

Heroic!, have recently grown short “ wires,” although up to the

present no side plumes have been observed by the guardian. I am

told that the birds were moulting' in April; in New Guinea they

change their plumage at the end of November and December.


Now that the different sexes can be recognised I expect to

have more reliable accounts of the habits of the Apodas. To assist

Bobert Heroic! in his observations a good pair of glasses has been

sent out to him, and perhaps in a few weeks I may have further

interesting notes to contribute. [We shall be very glad to publish

them.—E d.]


As to the number of Apodas on the island, I estimate there

may be thirty, but do not feel certain of more than sixteen, out of

which there may be six or seven females. I shall soon know more

on this point, and one can only hope the number of females may be

more than my estimate, as so much will depend on the “ ladies ” for

the success of my experiment in acclimatizing the Birds of Paradise

in the West Indies.



