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Mr. Reginald Phieeipps,



first were eight Terns’ nests, containing one to three eggs each.

In contrast to the first nests fonnd, these were large deep hollows

lined with bits of white shell and quite conspicuous. There was

also one Spurwing Plovers’ with three eggs. On the second

sandbank the holes in the ground under every rock contained

one and often two or more Sparrows’ nests; in all there were

hundreds on this and neighbouring islands. Several more Spur¬

wing Plovers’ nests showed up, but the Thicknees’ I could not

find. The only other Thicknees’ nest I have found since was on

an island, in a hollow of loose sand under a bush. My attention

was drawn to it by noticing a number of tracts leading to it.


From the Plovers’ and Terns’ eggs that I took, my

cook made two excellent, though strong and richly-coloured,

omelettes, and the five gooses’ eggs came in well for cooking.

The shells were of course kept for the collection.



FURTHER NOTES ON THE BLUE WREN.


Malurus cyaneus.


By Reginald Phieeipps.


In the September and November, 1902, numbers of our

Magazine, I gave an account of the successful breeding, in my

garden aviary here in London, of this very interesting Australian

species. At page 247, vol. VIII., while carefully pointing out

that too much importance must not be attached to my experience

which was limited to my own three birds, a male and two females,

I stated that the evidence, so far as it went, did not altogether

support the generally received opinion that the male Blue Wren

is a polygamist. I was informed—of course by those who had

never kept the bird—that I was mistaken and all the rest of it;

and I had to receive the rebuff with due humility, not having

anything further of value to say on the subject.


A few days ago, on looking through the latest number of

the Emu, I found that at last, even in Australia, it has been pub¬

licly asserted that the Blue Wrens (. Malurus ) are not polygamous.


In a paper read by Mr. A. G. Campbell, Melbourne, before

the members of the Australasian Ornithologists’ Union at

Adelaide on the 13th October, 1905, which is published in part



