Editorial. 
53 
He guarded her carefully while she was collecting material aud 
suffered no other bird to impede her movements. 
He followed her into the shed and stood on guard, on a near branch, 
while she was disposing of each instalment in the building up of the nest 
fabric, permitting no other bird to come near. 
It was of much interest to me to note, that, apart from the details 
given above, he had no part in nest construction. He has not been seen 
carrying a single straw, bent, or particle of mud during the whole peiiod, 
not even when courting the hen. 
The hen not only collected the material, but searched for it as well ; 
the male simply saw that she was not impeded. 
The nesting site— this is well chosen, being as close under the roof as 
a good base permitted them to get, and when the nest is finally complete I 
should say it will be very difficult of access for marauders. 
It will be interesting to note the forces the male has had to contend 
against, viz. : Rosella Parrakeets, Jendaya Couure, Cockateels, Budgerigars, 
Rosy Pastors, Black-headed Sibias, and several species of Cardinals. He is 
master of all ! All the above birds have been out of doors through the 
recent blizzards, and are in exquisite condition. 
I am hoping to be able to describe the eggs and callow young in our 
next issue. Will this hope be realised.' 
OUR VANISHING SPECIES. British birds come quite within 
our scope, and our membership covering the whole British Isles, I think we 
might do much to aid apparently fast vanishing species of our nature avi- 
fauna from becoming totall)' extinct by say — 
(1) Refusing to acquire such when offered, even if we do lose choice ex- 
hibition specimens by so doing. 
(2) By reporting every known case of contravention of the Bird Protec- 
tion Laws to the Police, whether as affecting eggs, dead birds, or 
living specimens of such species. 
(3) By using our influence among our circle of friends and acquaintances 
for this purpose, even to the acting as a sort of Vigilance Committee 
over such species as are in danger in our own locality. 
Such a vSociety as ours, if fully alive to the need, should be able to do much 
in this direction, and now the subject has been mooted, may I urge that 
those of our members acquainted with the subject will send in lists of 
species in danger in their district. Such lists to be published in Bird Notes 
so that none may plead ignorance. 
I feel that the above will commend itself to our whole membership, 
and thatallwill render what aid they can, so that none of our native avifauna 
go under, save such as become exterminated by the inexorable march of 
bricks and mortar aud the consequent absorption of their native wilds. We 
can do much by lending our influence and pecuniary aid (as individuals) for 
the provision of district sanctuaries, where at any rate a small number may 
be still retained. 
