250 



THE USEFUL BIRDS 



Jack ' shows an agitation that is painful to look at. When 

 clearing for fine weather, and about as quickly as the 

 barometer gives the information, he is all serene. ' Jack ' is 

 fond of small and large grubs, for, when I let him out some three 

 months ago, my garden was badly infested with white slugs. 



Head of Satin Bower-bird (nostrils hidden). 



The slimy pest soon disappeared. ' Jack ' introduced a friend 

 of his kind to the garden, but it had bad manners, because no 

 sooner had it arrived when it must start mischief among the 

 fruit-buds." One might take a hint from the information 

 given above — that is, Bower-birds might be of considerable 

 use in a garden if the wings be cut so that they cannot fly 

 into the fruit trees. 



The Greek word Ptilonorhynchus, meaning feathered bill, 

 refers to the bird's feathered nostrils. These organs in the 

 Spotted Bower-birds, on the contrary, are bare. 



Nest. — Open, and placed high in a sapling or other tree ; 

 made of twigs, and lined with finer twigs, kc. 



Eggs. — Two to a sitting ; long ovals ; rich cream, spotted 

 or blotched and dotted with sienna-brown. Length, 1.75 

 inches ; breadth, 1.15 inches. 



