on the Silver-eared Mesia.



4i





especially above, but in the full light of the afternoon sun. The

birds have had enough of the Owls and gloom, of tossing

billows and nests of doubtful stability, and long for a little

brightness and warmth. It is not suspended, but fixed in the

“hand,” and firmly lashed to each of the holly “fingers”

coming up around it. These latter come up so close to the nest

as to render unnecessary any such cables as held No. 2 (and.

doubtless No. 1) in position. From the remarkable manner in

which these birds so securely fix their nests, one feels inclined

to suppose that their ancestors must have been in the habit of

nesting in localities where storms and hurricanes were not

unusual. From the look of the female 011 September 7, she was

then about to lay.


And now I must bring this long account of the nesting ot

the Silver-eared Mesia in the rain of H.M. King Edward VII.

to a close—a very long but really only a skeleton account, for a

book might easily and not unprofitably be filled with the story of

this interesting species alone. The young Mesia died at 5 p.m.

on the 7th September, apparently from apoplexy, but it has not

lived its little life in vain, for it has taught us the plumage of the

species in its first feather; and surely its parents have set us an

example of patient perseverance under difficulties and dis¬

advantages, and how to vary and adapt our work as circum¬

stances may require day by day, and to do our work well, how¬

ever adverse the circumstances under which we may have to

strive.


On the 7th, after the death of the young bird, a very low

mournful six-note wail came up occasionally from the Mesias’

aviary.


But joy came in the morning, at any rate to the Mesias,

for soon after dawn the light-hearted male was issuing his usual

invitation to that hopeless boy—and in the afternoon, for the fifth

time, the female commenced to sit, presumably upon one egg, to

be followed by a second in the morning.



Immediately after its death, I forwarded the body of the

young Mesia to Mr. Frank Finn, who most kindly furnished the

accompanying Report. I may briefly state that, during life, the



