NOTES AND QUERIES. 465 



is possible that the pairing-platform is used by the hen as a corre- 

 sponding resting-place " (p. 538, par. 3). This assumes two special 

 structures besides the nest, but, from my own observations, I cannot 

 yet admit even one, built with a consciousness of its being such. 

 Briefly, the evidence is not yet sufficient to allow us to say with 

 certainty that these platforms are not, by the bird's first intention, 

 nests, either begun and then abandoned, or imperfectly made. Their 

 being put to a subsequent use, along the line of the birds' habits, 

 would not, in itself, prove that they were specially made for this 

 purpose alone. Were it proved, however, as it may be on further 

 evidence, I may point out that " aberrant nests " (as, in their origin, 

 Professor Huxley, like myself, would consider them), now become 

 resting or pairing platforms, very much favour my suggestion as to 

 the possible origin of the so-called "bower," "run," "garden," &c, 

 of the "Bower Birds" (Zool, 1901, pp. 177, 178); "Bird Life 

 Glimpses" (pp. 60-67). — Edmund Selous. 



