44 PTILONOUIIYNCHID.K. 



collected by the late Mr. F. W. Andrews at Overland Corner. It consists chielly of the usual 

 species found in the same situations as the Spotted ISower-hird freijuents in the southern limits 

 of its ranj^e. Overland Corner is about thirty-five miles in a direct line from the \ictorian 

 border, and about one hundred miles from Mildura. in the latter State. There are two 

 unlocalized specimens of C. iiuniiidta in the .\ustralian Museum collection, obtained by the 

 late Mr. S. White in South .\ustralia. 



This species evinces decided preference for open grassy plains, interspersed with low bushes, 

 or belts of timber and scrub. Usually it is met with in pairs or small companies in the neigh- 

 bourhood of its plav-house, when it is extremely shy and difficult to get near, unless, when 

 disturbed, one secrets oneself in the \ icinitv of the bower and awaits its return. \\ hen resorting 

 with its progeny in flocks after the breeding season is over, to the neiglibouring orchards 

 or gardens, it is more easily obtained: so also is it during periods of drought, when it will visit 

 stations and farni-liouses in search ot water. 



Mr. R. Orant succeeded in getting manv specimens on ( ilenariff Station, between Coolabah 

 and Byrock, in i.S8g, principally through a device resorted to by a kangaroo-hunter, Mr. lulmund 

 Parker, a native of the district. The latter, knowing that red has a powerful attraction for these 

 birds, although none were at that time seen in the neighbourhood, threw a red ll.mnel 

 blanket he had in his tent over the branch of a W'ilga tree. In less than an hour, a male and 

 a female alighted close to the blanket, and began to examine it in their inquisiti\e manner, when 

 they rapidly fell at the discharge of Mr, Grant's gun; many others, on dilfeient parts of the rim, 

 were secured in a similar way. Later on, at lUickiinguy Station, Mr. (irant, while collecting 

 on behalf of the Trustees of the .\ustralian Museum, in J ime. i^\)J, succeeded in obtaining 

 several females, young males, and one of their bowers. While there he observed seven fine old 

 adult males in (apli\'itv, that had been snared with horse hair nooses, at the bowers, of which 

 there were thirteen known at that time to be on the run. 



The note it utters when disturbed is a liarsh and grating one, like that of the Satin 

 Bower-bird, and the introduced Indian 'Slynn I A cfidol heirs ti'istis): when near its bower, or 

 sitting (]uietlv in a tree, a low plaintive noise is made, like the mewing of a kitten. ,\s is now 

 well known, and was pointed out by me years ago, this bird is an excellent mimic of the notes of 

 other species, and of any sound it may hear. Nevertheless I believe this kitten-like scjueal is 

 one of its natural notes, for 1 ha\e also heard it uttered by a young Satin Bower-bird I have in my 

 possession, that had only left the nest a few weeks before, and had no o]iportunity, even if it 

 were able, to acquire this feline call. About Moree the male Spotted Bower-bird imitates to 

 perfection the liquid-like notes of the 1 Slack-throated Crow-shrike, the shrill call of the Kose- 

 breasted Cockatoo, the plaintive but clear note of the Peaceful Dove, and the whirring-like 

 noise made by the Crested Bronze-wing Pigeon during flight. It is needless to enumerate the 

 different species it successfullv mocks, for not only does it imitate the notes of many birds in 

 the vicinity, but the barking of a dog, wood-chopping, the crack of a wlii)): -in fact any sound 

 it may hear that is often repeated. 



Wild fruits, berries, and insects, constitute the usual food of this species, but it is \ery 

 destructixe in gardens, eating nearly every kind of cultixated fruit anti berries, being especially 

 fond ot chilies, and the seeds of the introduced Pepper jilant (Silninn mollc i. In the stomachs 

 of the specimens I have examined, I also found portions of unripe tomatoes, grape-skins and 

 seeds, and whole raisins. Others were filled entirely with the heads, legs, and elytra of 

 coleopterous insects. Like the Satin Bower-bird, in confinement this bird will eat almost 

 an)thing: -bread, cake, fruit, meat, insects, etc. 



