52



Mr. R. Phillipps,



deceiver the old male. The following notes about the species

may therefore be of interest and not wholly without value.


So far as I have been able to observe, aviculturists, at any

rate in this country, have not been very successful with the

Regent Bird. Since 1867, examples have been arriving at the

London Zoological Gardens from time to time; and private

individuals have occasionally been exhibiting the male at the

Bird Shows. In January, 1903, a good many were brought over

—their last arrival I think—and the country was as it were

flooded with them. What has become of all these birds? Only

one female survived when I visited the Gardens in June last; and

with the exception of this bird and those in my own possession I

do not know of one, although of course there may be others un¬

known to me.


Remarkably interesting as the Satin Bower-bird undoubt¬

edly is (VII., 136-7; N.S.'I., p. 63), and as the Spotted Bower-

bird probably is likewise, a few years ago I cleared both species

out of my aviary in order to make way for the Regent. The

former two species bullied the latter and other inmates of the

aviary, the latter seemed unquestionably to be the more desirable

bird, and so it came to pass that, not having room for the others,

of recent years I have clung to the Regent alone—and I have

never had occasion to repent my choice.


It is not often one meets with a more handsome bird than

an adult male Regent, the brilliancy of the yellow, the richness

of the orange, and the unsurpassed depth of the velvety black

forming a striking combination. So intensely black are the

under parts that it (the black) seems to offer no resistance to the

eye, somehow one’s look goes into it as into the darkness of

night, the brain fails to perceive it. The female, too, with her

simple brown honey-comb marked dress is neat and trim. But

the attractive character of the species is not based on the

plumage alone, nor even chiefly. It is a bird of much character,

its ways and habits are exceptionally interesting, its movements

are quaint and curious, and its manner of courting absurdly

fantastic. A healthy Regent in a roomy place must play the fool,

and if it has not a fellow to play the fool with it will play the



