18 XrULIXG, The Satin Bozver Bird. TisffuTy" 



leaves, wliicli would curl up very much quicker, when ])ut u])si(le 

 up. instead of vice versa, as is done by the Tooth-bill. 



Lea>ing some pieces of blue paper ( from a blueprint ) in the 

 vicinity of the bower at 6.15 p.m., I walked through the scrub 

 towards the creek. About 10 or 12 yards from the bower 1 <lis- 

 covered a beautiful Coachwhip's nest, about four feet from the 

 ground, in a large tussock. It contained two lovely eggs, with 

 a pronoiniced blue ground colour. Returning to the bower about 

 15 minutes later 1 found three pieces of blue paper on the plat- 

 form. I removed them. llaving been occupied for a short 

 while some 18 feet away in scra]>ing out my billy. I casually 

 glanced towards the bower, wlien I noticed seven pieces of blue 

 ])aper which the bird must have put there whilst 1 was scra]Mng 

 my billy. Later, Mr. I 'otter arrived, and we spent the night 

 under the rocks. 



Passing near by at 4.^^o next morning 1 saw tlie Satin fly 

 up from the bower, to which during the next three-quarters of 

 an hour he repaired four times, bringing new decorations, or 

 sticks, comporting himself in the usual quiet way. and enjoying 

 his treasures new and old. During his absence I repeatedly 

 heard beside his usual call a note sounding like '"cheai." We 

 also observed him near our fire-place with a green female. \t 

 7.15 we found new empty shells of Cicada larvse and hfieen 

 pieces of blue paper. 



So far we iiad not seen tlie green female on the playground, 

 lie now uttered, whilst in a eucalyptus, a number of short calls, 

 like "chra" and "chrfie." Three-quarters of an hour after that 

 he api)roached along the fringe of the scrub, iiopping over the 

 ground, closely followed by a female. His wings were slightly 

 raised and his tail was uj). He uttered continually the last- 

 mentioned two notes, and we ])repared ourselves for an event of 

 some kind. IJoth birds jiassed over the platform into the tus- 

 socks. Presently they returned, the female being chased round 

 and through the bower by the male. She then slipped into the 

 bower, whilst the male stood in front of it. a little to the side, 

 facing her. and beginning at once wnth his strange antics, niid 

 uttering various notes. On the click of Mr. Potter's camera 

 both went off, but soon reappeared, when the performance 

 ■was repeated. When the camera clicked a second time, they 

 again left. Tlie female sto])ped some <S feet away, where from 

 she watched her partner, who returned alone. ]Mcking up and 

 dropping some of his treasures, and uttering his strange calls. 

 The female, wdio seemed indifTerent to the whole thing. Hew into 

 a tree, ])reenefl herself, and hnally departed. The male repaired 

 to a log nearbv. where he remained in view for a while, absorbed 

 in his own thoughts, and evidently not minding our presence. To 

 our regret the plates were mider-exposed, the light not being too 

 favourable. 



