136 



Bird- Lore 



about twelve feet from the ground, in a shrubby tree or bush, is 

 loosely constructed of twigs, leaves, etc. 



The curious play house, or 'lover's arbor,' is built upon the ground. 

 It has apparently no connection with the nests, which may be any 

 distance away. One of these bowers I collected in Gippsland, 

 Christmas-tide, 1884. It was situated amongst brackens in open 

 forest. There was a cleared circular space about twent}-six inches 

 across, in the ferns, floored with twigs well trodden down. In the 

 center were erected two parallel walls of pliable twigs, tapering and arch- 



BOWER OF THE SATIN-BIRD 

 Photographed from nature by D. Le S-uei 



ing towards the top, which was twelve inches in height. The walls were 

 ten inches long and six inches apart. In the avenue and roundabout 

 were placed gay feathers of Parrots. It is strange that the builders 

 of so neat a structure should construct a slovenly made nest. It has 

 been ascertained that more than one pair of birds frequent the same 

 bower, which is really a 'lovers' bower' — a rendezvous for match- 

 making. 



The illustration of a Satin-bird's bower /// situ is from a photo- 

 graph by my friend Mr. D Le Souef. 



The Spotted Bower-bird ( Clilainxdodcra //laculata) is a fine species 

 inhabiting the arid and dry interior provinces, being especially at home 



