the Birds of North Queensland . 623 



the centre of the bower, though some have three openings 

 and others none at all. A little fruit is scattered about in 

 and outside the bower. 



Iris yellowish white; feet black (in younger specimens 

 greenish slate) ; bill brown. 



20. tTfiCTONORNis DENTiRosTttis (Ramsay), 

 Scenopceus dentirostris Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. vi. 



p. 394 (1881). 



Occurring in company with the preceding species on the 

 higher levels of Mt. Bellenden Ker. 



Iris brown; feet greenish white; bill black. 



The " playground " of this species is a bare space 6x4 feet, 

 cleared of sticks and old leaves and ornamented with freshly 

 plucked green leaves placed with the upper surfaces down- 

 wards. The birds amuse themselves by hopping about in 

 this open space and arranging and rearranging these leaves. 



This genus is evidently a transitional form between 

 Chlamydera and the Gardener Bower-birds [Amblyornis) of 

 New Guinea. 



21. fJ^LURCEDUs MACULOsus Kamsay ; Sharpe, t.c. p. 385. 

 Many specimens. 



Evidently exceedingly common in the dense scrubs of the 

 coast range, although rather difficult to procure as it is very 

 shy and in plumage assimilates closely to the surrounding 

 foliage. " Iris red ; feet lightish slate or greenish slate ; 

 bill bluish white" [Olive). 



A nest with two eggs in an advanced state of incubation 

 was procured on November 22nd, and the male bird was 

 shot off the nest, which is bowl-shaped in form, 160 mm. in 

 external diameter and 120 mm. internal. Its external depth 

 is 110, internal 50 mm. It is composed almost entirely of 

 fine twigs neatly wound round and covered on the outside 

 with the leaves of what is known locally as the Moreton Bay 

 Chestnut, some of which are partially skeletonized. It was 

 situated in dense scrub on the branch of a tree at a height 

 of some 15 feet above the ground. The eggs are somewhat 

 swollen ovals of a delicate creamy yellow approaching the 



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