The Breedinfj of the Silver-eared Mesia. 79 
prevails until I leave their oITspring severely alone. There is, 
however, excitement of a very different order when I enter 
witli the mealworm tin. Then they seemed pleased to see me 
— the male would utter its loud sweet call -note, and immedi- 
ately the worms are placed within their reach both fly to the 
tin and extracting a worm, prepare it as aforementioned, then 
strut proudly to where the young bird is and place it gently, 
but surely into its open beak. Soon, however, fresh attrac- 
tions interest them, and on June 3rd they begin to repair the 
old nest. On June 6th, the first egg of their third clutch' 
was laid, and on June 9th, the clutch (four eggs) was com- 
plete, and incubation was commenced. Their first off-spring was 
now apparently left to fend for itself, for June .5th was the 
first day I noticed it pick for itself. Then I fondly imagined 
all was well, and that the greatest difficulties were over, and, ever 
impetuous, looked forward to soon having quite a team of 
young Mesias. Hopes were high, but alas! the outlook did 
not remain bright for long. Nothing of any particular interest 
occurred until the 18th June, when to my deep regret I found 
the young Mesia dead with what is termed " down behind," 
a most disheartening discovery. Dead! after having appeared 
always so hearty, so fit, and so well. I am inclined to think 
its sudden decease was due to its weakness for mealworms, 
for experiences teaches me a too liberal diet of these dainty 
(?) morsels for small insectivorous birds often causes consti- 
pation, and in so young a bird " down Taehind," is only another 
stage. 
On June 21st, I glanced to see how the other nest, 
was faring, and found one young bird hatched and another; 
leaving the shell. Disastrous results followed this nest — the 
old birds neglected the young and "three were dead in the 
nest on June 28th — the remaining one dying on the 30th. 
Their actions by this time had wearied me — true they had car- 
ried out their duties sufficiently well to honour us with being 
the first to breed in captivity a young Mesia capable of 
catering for itself, but I wanted more — young Mesias to live 
and mature was my desire, a desire at present unrealised. 1 
did not follow with any degree of interest another nest of four 
eggs in July. In this instance, however, the old nest was not 
utilised. They built a new one, o'f quite a different order, 
