45 



CHLAMYDOUERA. 



The bowers of this species are built generally near or under the shelter of a bush m the 

 scrub or in clumps dotted over the plains. In Northern and North-western New South \\ ales 

 thev are frequently constructed under the shade of a Lemon-bush (Canthium olafohnm), 

 or a Currant-bush (Apophyllum anom.lum ), 3.nA are occasionally further sheltered above by 

 a WKle-spreadmg wilga, belar, or myall. They are larger, more arched in form and more highly 

 decorated tluan the bower of PHlonovhynchus violaceus. The two walls, formed of slightly curved 

 twicrs stuck upright into a platform of twigs firmly trodden into the ground, frequently meet or 

 c ols each other at the top, but more often they are nearly parallel. The walls at the base are 

 thick, and the inner portion, which is usually lined with dried grass-stalks is nicely rounded at 

 the bottom. At either entrance the bower is profusely decorated with the bleached banes of 

 mammals and birds, land and fresh-water shells, pebbles, pieces of glass, berries seeds, etc.; 

 in the centre are generally a few stones, berries, shells, or bits of glass. Metallic substances, too, 

 possess a great attraction for these birds, and they will readily enter tents and houses in the 

 more thinW settled districts to procure them. Scissors, knives, plated spoons and forks, thimbles, 

 coins, etc'are frequently pilfered, and carried off to their bowers. At one of their play-houses, 

 on a station near Collarenebri, a brooch was found that had been lost for two years Galvanised- 

 iron nails and washers, bits of wire, blades of knives, pieces of bright tin and bottle capsules are 

 common metallic decorations, but of course they vary according to their environment. The 

 size of the playground averages from four and a half feet to six feet m length, and rom three 

 to four feet in breadth, the disposition of the decorations materially affecting its length, bones 

 and .lass, which form their chief part, may be scattered around close to either entrance, or 

 depotited in large heaps, sometimes in a straight line at either end of the structure, or in a 

 para line with the walls at one end. The walls measure fron. eighteen to thirty-six mches 

 Z length at their base, being as a rule narrower at the top, their average height measuring from 

 ten to fourteen inches. 



Unusual shaped bowers are sometimes found. One on Ikickiinguy StationMr. Grarit 

 informs me, is curved like a boomerang, owing to a branch of the bush under which it is built 

 interfering with the bird's making it straight. .Vnother, found near Cobar, was formed of curved 

 twigs, as usual, which met near the top, and recurving again formed a second bower above, 

 much smaller than the one underneath. The lower bower measured about two feet in length, 

 and the one on top-which was in the centre^one foot. It was decorated with bones, fresh- 

 water shells, and a few of F:iey's brass cartridge-cases. 



Twic^s with or without a lining of dried grass-stalks, constitute the tisual material with 

 which the walls are constructed. ' During my visits to Northern and ^-^'^^f ?- !;2 

 South Wales I found, however, that the walls of the bowers m those parts of the State 

 were more frequently formed entirely of dried grass-stalks. This was first brought under my 

 notice by Mr. C. J. McMaster, then of " Wilga," near Moree, who pointed out to me a bower on 

 ;lbolLolla stition. It was built near the edge of a belt of timber on the P -ns un er a 

 large Currant-bush (Apophyllum anomalum), overgrown with a creeper known m the district by 

 the aboriginal name of "Nepine," and bearing long spikes of beautiful white ^^^^^^^^ 

 resembling orange-blossom. The walls were constructed entirely of Spear-grass (SUpa etaca), 

 on a slight foundation of very thin twigs. It measured eighteen inches m length fourteen 

 inches i . breadth at the base, and twelve inches across the heads o the grass-stalks 1^ 

 height of the walls being twelve inches. The run was well trampled down and cleanly s.ept 

 at :ither end and around the sides of the bower ; and, owing to the disposition o ^^^^^^^^^^ 

 which consisted of three neatly made and piled up heaps, was nearly six ^-^ ^ -f " ^^ '^^ 

 awav from the entrance at one end was about a bucket-tuU of glass; -'i' ^^ ^^^^^ ' ;^ 

 buckets-full of bleached bones. In a direct line, six inches away from the ^eap of glas was 

 another same-si.ed heap of bones, with which were intermingled a few nuts of the Grome-tree 



