SEEIOULUS. 
181 
Genus SERICULUS, Swainson. 
SERICULUS MELINUS, Latham. 
Regent Bird. 
Gould, JTandbk. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 282, p. 456. 
“ This, perhaps, the most beautiful of all the Bower-builders, 
and one of the earliest known species, was described by Latham 
in 1801, under the name of Turdua melinus; since that date, 
however it has been redescribed many times and under various 
names, of which that given to it by Swainson, S. clirysocephalus, 
appears the most appropriate, if not the oldest. Dr. Ramsay 
discovered the bower of this species on Ash Island in 1861, 
(although at the time lie was not aware that it belonged to this 
species), and again in 1866 while in the Richmond River district, 
an account of which is given in the Ibis for 1867, p. 456, as follows: 
‘ Allow me to confirm the facts respecting the bower-building 
habits of the Regent-bird, (Sericidm melinus). Several years 
ago (September 23rd 1861) I found what I thought was the bower 
of the Satin-bird (Ptilonorhynchus lwlosariceus); but it was a very 
small one, and in my diary I mentioned that 1 the only birds seen 
near it were two or three Regent-birds.’ I thought no more of 
the matter until I saw some remarks on the subject by Mr. Coxen 
of Brisbane. [Cf. Gould, Handbook Birds Australia, Yol. i., pp. 
458 — 461.] During my visit to the Richmond River I determined 
to pay close attention to the fact, and was not long before I had 
an opportunity of making some observations. On the 2nd of 
October 1866, when returning to our camp, some twenty miles 
from the township, I stopped to look for an Atrichia, which, three 
days before I had heard calling at a certain log; and while 
standing, gun in hand, ready to lire as soon as the bird, which 
was at that moment in a remarkably mocking humour, should 
show itself, I was somewhat surprised at seeing a male Regent bird 
fly down and sit within a yard of me. Between the two I hardly 
knew which choice to take— the Atrichia, which was singing close 
in front of me, or the chance of finding the long-wished-for bower. 
I decided on the former, and remained motionless for full five 
