Ediioiial. 
Blue Bikds of Paradise {Paradisorjiis rudolphi.) He 
describes the male as being a very cheerful bird and qnile tame; 
he sings to liiniself a rather melodious warbling song nearly all 
day, evidentl}' quite satisfied with his own voice and his own 
company. 
Princess Stephanie's Bird of Paradise {Asirarchia 
siepha7ii(B). Mr. Brook states that these birds make a curious 
sound with their wings, exactly like the rustling of silk; they 
are very clean birds, bathing several times a day, keeping their 
plumage in faultless order. This species has tlie upper plumage 
rich olive-green ; lower back and tail black, tlie latter glossed 
with purple ; head and neck sliaded green ; the ear coverts form 
a steel-blue fan on each side of the nape ; lower surface, bronze, 
merging into copper-red. The whole of the plumage has a beau- 
tiful velvet-like gloss and surface. 
Bower Birds: Two species are included in the consign- 
ment, viz., The Gardener {Amblyor7iis inornata) and the Orange- 
crested (^A. subulafis). Mr. Brook finds these all shy, retiring 
and rather wild, and forms the opinion that this is quite natural. 
Mountain Cassowary. This is a young bird and Mr. 
Brook's notes are quite interesting. It delights to play with any 
children that will race about with it. It also takes great interest 
in any work the gardeners may be about, and evidently concludes 
that the lawns are mown for its special amusement. 
All the consignment are doing well and only two losses 
have occurred, a Stephanie Bird of Paradise, which arrived in 
poor condition, and a Victoria Lory ((9. grajidis) which, unfortu- 
nately killed itself. The Meyer's Sickle-billed and Stephanie 
Birds of Paradise are imported for the first lime, as also are some 
of the Lories and I^orikeets. We shall hope to return to some of 
the species in near issues, but lieavy claims upon our space this 
moutli have prevented us fully describing the species. 
Nesting Notes: These are not numerous this month, 
but nevertheless are somewhat notable. Mr. W. E. Teschemaker 
is now the happj' possessor of three young Giant Whydahs 
{Chera proaie), which are at present disporting themselves among 
the reeds and bushes of the aviary and foraging for themselves. 
