THE



51



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BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURA L SOCIETY.



New Series. —VOL. IV. — NO. 2 .—All rights reserved. DECEMBER, 1905.



THE REGENT BIRD.


Sericulus melinus (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. VI., p. 395 .J

By Reginald Phillipps.


In connection with the fourth Congress of the Australasian

Ornithologists’ Union, a visit was made, apparently in December,

1904, to the Tuggerah Rakes in New South Wales, situated about

60 miles north of Sydney ; an account of the excursion appeared

in the Emit for July last; and, at p. 4, Mr. J. W. Mellor, a member

of the Union and of the excursion, wrote as follows :—“ In the

afternoon another direction was taken, to a piece of virgin scrub

where the sleeper-cutter’s axe had laid low many forest giants.

Our trip here was almost expressly to try and get a glimpse of

the Regent Bird (Sericulus melinus), and, after spending some

time in vain clambering through thick undergrowth and tangle,

we were just giving up to return when quite a covey was observed

in a very tall tree. In a minute or two the birds had dispersed,

being very shy, but after a little circumvention we were able to

get nearer and observe them ; we were, however, unable to get a

specimen, owing to the exceedingly high trees that they persisted

in occupying.” Even in Eastern Australia, the home of the

Regent (South Queensland and New South Wales), the species is

still regarded with great interest, and much remains to be learnt

about it. In captivity the bird seems to have done better with

me than with others. Moreover, one of my females has presented

me with a couple of bonny bairns, a remarkable occurrence.

I say advisedly “presented me for very much more credit, at

any rate for the bringing up, is due to me than to that gay



