294 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



THE BOWER-BIRDS. 



There are few Australian birds better known by repute 

 than these, of which several species are met witb. They 

 are easily kept in confinement, and are extremely interest- 

 ing and handsome. They are about the size of the jackdaw. 



Their principal characteristic is building bowers, or play- 

 ing runs of considerable extent, the entrances to which 

 they decorate with any glittering object they find lying 

 about, and, failing such, with .shells, bits of glass, bone, and 

 with feathers. 



They are classed and divided as follows : — 



Fani i 1 y — Ft Honor Jiy nicJi idic. 

 Genus — 



1. PtilottorhyncJiiis. P. vio/accus. Silky Bower Bird. 



/-*. sinitlii. Cat Bird. 



2. CJuilaniydodera. C. niaciilata. Spotted Bower Bird. 



THE BIRDS OF PARADISE. 



These gorgeous creatures are well known, and, with 

 one or two minor exceptions, are found in the comparatively 

 unknown island of New Guinea ; perhaps it would be 

 better to say were found, for owing to the request for their 

 marvellous plumes for the decoration (?) of feminine liead- 

 gear, they have become much more scarce than they were, 

 if some of them have not been altogether exterminated. 



At one time they were classed with the crows, but 

 recently they have been divided from them, and placed by 

 themselves. 



