BIRDS — GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. 
32o 
and kept circling round half a dozen of their fellows, one of whom 
had been clearly told off for punishment, for the five repeat- 
edly attacked it in quick succession, allowing no opportunity for 
their victim to escape, which he was trying to do, until they 
had cast him fluttering on the ground about thirty yards from 
my chair. Unfortunately I rushed forward to pick up the bird, 
prostrate but fluttering on the grass which was like a lawn 
before the building. I succeeded only in touching it, for it 
wriggled away from my grasp, and flew greatly crippled and 
close to the ground into the neighbouring bushes, where I lost 
sight of it. All the others, after circling round me and 
chattering, angrily as I thought, flew away, on my resuming 
my seat, in the direction taken by their victim. 
[Since going to press I have seen, through the kindness of Mr. 
Seebohm, some specimens of cuckoo’s eggs coloured in imitation of 
those belonging to the birds in the nests of which they are laid. 
There can be no question about the imitation, and I add this note to 
mitigate the criticism which I have passed upon Professor Newton’s 
theory of the cause. For Mr. Seebohm has pointed oat to me that the 
theory becomes more probable if we consider that a cuckoo reared in the 
test of any particular bird is likely afterwards to choose a similar 
lest for the deposition of its own eggs. Whether or not the memory 
of a bird would thus act could only, of course, be certainly proved by 
experiment ; but in view of the possibility that it may, Professor 
Newton’s theory becomes more probable than it is if the selection 
of the appropriate nest is supposed to depend only on inheritance. 
I must also add that Dr. Sclater has been kind enough to draw my 
attention to a remarkable description of a species of Bower-bird, 
published by Dr. Beccari in the Gardener 8 Chronicle for March 16, 
1879. This species is called the Gardener Bower-bird (. Aniblyornis 
niomata ), and inhabits New Guinea. The animal is about the size of a 
tut tie-dove, and its bower — or rather hut — is built round the stem of a 
tree in the shape of a cone, with a space between the stem of the tree 
and the walls of the hut. The latter are composed of stems of an orchid 
with their leaves on — this particular plant being chosen by the birds 
apparently because its leaves remain long fresh. But the most extra- 
ordinary structure is the garden, which is thus described by Dr. 
Beccari : — 4 Before the cottage there is a meadow of moss. This is 
brought to the spot and left free from grass, stones, or anything which 
would offend the eye. On this green turf flowers and fruits of pretty 
colour are placed, so as to form an elegant little garden. The greater 
part of the decoration is collected round the entrance to the nest, and 
it would appear that the husband offers these his daily gifts to his wife. 
The objects are very various, but always of a vivid colour. There were 
some fruits of a Garcinia like a small-sized apple. Others were the 
fruits of Gardencias of a deep yellow colour in the interior. I saw also 
small rosy fruits, probably of a Scitamineous plant, and beautiful rosy 
flowers of a new Vaccinium. There weie also fungi and mottled insects 
placed on the turf. As soon as the objects are faded they are moved to 
the back of the hut.’ There is a fine-coloured plate of this bird in 
its garden, published in the Birds of New Guinea , by Mr. Could. 
Part ix.. 1879.1 
