612 
Mr D. Le Souef on Nests 
What struck me most about the birds of the New Hebrides 
was their extreme wildness, nearly all have to be stalked 
with the greatest care. I expect, when the islands were 
more densely populated, small birds were much hunted with 
bows and arrows for food. As an instance of the decrease 
of population, the island of Aneityum had by census a 
population of 3500 in 1859, to-day it has barely 500; 
Eutuna by census a population of 970 in 1870, to-day 
barely 300. 
It is sad to think of these fair islands being swept of their 
inhabitants; one is inclined to ask if these people were 
not more comfortable in their days of cannibalism and 
heathendom than now, when to their other vices they have 
added those of the white man and his diseases, which have, 
I fear, taken a quicker hold than the tenets of Christianity, 
in spite of the earnest work of courageous missionaries, to 
whose kindness and assistance I owe so much. 
XXXIX .—Description of some Nests and Eggs from New 
Guinea. By D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., Melbourne. 
Manucodia atra. (Glossy-mantled Manucode.) 
This bird is found generally over New Guinea and also on 
the adjacent islands, and is especially plentiful in the southern 
districts. They seem to keep in the dense scrub and are 
very shy, but can easily be brought up by imitating their 
drawn-out plaintive whistie. A nest of this bird was found 
by Mr. C. Barnard on October 6th, 1899, on Sariba Island, 
which is about four miles from theS.E. coast of New Guinea. 
The nest was situated about 25 feet from the ground, in a 
large mangrove-tree near the beach, the water at high tide 
surrounding the tree. When taking the nest the birds flew 
about in evident distress, but did not attack the intruder 
in any way. Mr. Barnard saw another bird on Nov. 2nd 
carrying twigs in her bill, apparently to build her nest with, 
but he lost sight of her in the thick scrub. 
The nest (fig. 1, p.613) is an open structure, being composed 
